Wild boar management in Norway – a system of selective prioritization and conflicting inter-governmental opinions
Summary
Invasive species cause global challenges with massive long-term impacts, and reduction of impacts relies on both international and local interventions. At national level, mismatches between how AIS are classified and managed, and how different governmental bodies deal with these species, produce a messy reality of changeable standards for the species and the people who are expected to manage them. We explore such mismatches through the case of wild boar in Norway. While native in Sweden, wild boar is an AIS in Norway and to be eradicated. By comparing management of wild boar in Norway with management of other invasive mammals, we found clear mismatches between risk assessment, species-specific action plans, management aim and management interventions. We also found that selective prioritization and inter-governmental conflicts shape the current eradication policy for wild boar in Norway. The consequences are many, including changing priorities, declining political legitimacy, and lack of public participation.
