WHAT AFFECTS PUBLIC WILLINGNESS TO CONSERVE COASTAL AREAS?

Abstract

Public involvement in conservation and management of coastal areas is important especially in those countries, such as Japan, where fishermen are decreasing. Both local residents living adjacent to the ocean and urban residents could contribute to sustainable management of coastal areas through various activities. In order to effectively foster public participation in sustainable management of coastal areas, factors that affect people’s behavioral intentions for coastal conservation need to be identified. We conducted studies to understand cognitive factors affecting residents’ 1) willingness to invest in time and efforts to make a coastal area a better place, and 2) willingness to make financial sacrifices for the sake of the coastal area. Questionnaire survey was distributed around Hinase Bay (western part of Japan). Total of 2,851 responses were collected. Multiple regression analysis revealed that residents’ willingness to know more about wildlife of the coastal area had the strongest effect on their behavioral intentions for conservation of the coastal area. Our findings followed the findings of the previous study conducted in northern part of Japan and revealed that residents living in different regions showed similar cognitive mechanism regarding their intentions for conserving coastal areas. Suggestions for fostering public participation in coastal conservation included promoting wildlife and biodiversity of coastal ecosystems to residents. These outreach programs could increase residents’ interests and curiosity toward wildlife which would consequently raise their willingness to contribute to coastal conservation.