Human-Animal Reconciliation: Franciscan Faith-based Interspecies Communications and Its Implications For Wildlife Management

Despite what some Christian ecotheologians might imply, Christianity does in fact have something constructive and tangible, to offer the feilds of wildlife and ecosystem management.

Daniel Salomon, publishes his timely findings in the format of a scientific article, using both scientific methodigies couplied with theological reflection, combined with the employment of conflict resolution paradigms, demonstrating that the legends of Saint Francis of Assisi, written over seven centuries ago, speak to the twenty-first century issue of wildlife-human conflicts, providing an alternative to the eradication of nuisence wild animals, which is non-lethal, non-invasive and nonviolent.

Although much more research and study needs to be done in this area, Salomon provides a prophetic challange to the nilhistic consensus in much of the wildlife management feild, that hunting and eradication are the only valid sollutions for dealing with wildlife pest problems and invasive species. Instead of searching for more humane alternatives, such as the Christian interspecies communications tradition of the saints updated with sound animal behavior science and solid Christian theology, combined with conflict resolution goals and techiques, where one reasons with versus eradicates nuinence animals, like Saint Francis did many years ago, when he "tamed the very fierce wolf of Gubbio." Taking into consideration the mutual interests of both the effected human beings and the problem animals themsleves, as well as the surrounding biotic community. The focus of this text. This is the contriubtion that Christianity can make to building the knowledge and praxis of wildlife and ecosystem management.

Also at the same time, beginning science-faith diologue between Christianity and animal behavior science, which has not happened yet. Consistant with the work of preemimment primatologist Dr.Jane Goodall, modern-day attempts and understandings of interspecies communications and efforts by animal welfare groups to identify humane alternatives to eradication, Salomon provides a Christian animal theology response to hunting and eradication which in addition, draws from the disciplinary perspectices of animal ethics, ethology, wildlife management and conflict resolution. Providing detailed analysis, practical gudience and a model in the process.

Salomon provides a challange to the paradigm in wildlife management, that violence should be the first recourse to solving wildlife-human conflicts.Leading to his most radical conclusion-that it is both possible and desireable to repair human-animal relationships, despite thousands of years of estrangment, and for human beings with God's grace to facilliate nonviolent and just, multi-species alliences, between species liken to the Peaceable Kingdom in Isaiah 11. And, with a model and guidence on how to do.

A project which can benifit both Franciscan Studies scholars and secular wildlife managers alike, as well as all who have an interest in animal behavior science or just plain loves and cares about animal life.

Salomon has a Master of Arts in Research from Andover Newton Theological School, as well as a Certificate in Science and Religion from the Schools of the Boston Theological Institute. His undergradaute degree is in Liberal Studies with concentrations in Biology, Environmental Studies and Conflict Analysis/Dispute Resolution, as well as a Naturalist Certificate from the Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies.Salomon is author of three other books on the environment.