Mapping stakeholders in plover bird conservation: An expert-based analysis of interest and influence

In this study, a panel of 13 experts assessed a group of 34 stakeholders involved in the conservation of the Kentish plover (Anarhynchus alexandrinus), a shorebird that breeds in a coastal nature reserve located in central Italy. Stakeholders were assessed and grouped based on their level of influence and interest (as selected variables) in conservation objectives, following the Mendelow and Murray-Webster & Simon matrices. This expert-based approach allowed to group stakeholders into six groups: “Key Players”, “Context Setters”, “Subjects”, “People”, “Unconscious Saboteurs”, and “Time Bombs”, each requiring distinct strategies to reduce conflict with the target species and increase engagement. We observed an opposite pattern: “Key Players”—highly influential, interested, and motivated—contrast with “Time Bombs”, with low interest and high negative influence, who, conversely, threaten the target species and require careful management to prevent/mitigate negative impacts. “Unconscious Saboteurs” (high interest and high negative influence) comprise a highly heterogeneous and numerically significant category of stakeholders—summer beachgoers—who negatively impact the coastal habitats through dune trampling. However, they demonstrate strong conservation potential and could be raised through conservation education and communication strategies. These findings provide practical guidance for targeted operational conservation strategies at the local scale, compatible with the sustainable development of the coastal dune ecosystem.