Awareness Of Conservation Issues Research Articles

Emotional responses from families visiting the zoo: a study at Parque das Aves in Foz do Iguaçu

In this study, we aim to analyse human emotional responses towards animals, specifically birds, in the context of a visit to a zoo. The study was carried out with seven families in Parque das Aves. The visits were recorded using the point-of-view-camera method, and the data was analysed using qualitative software to identify emotion descriptors. The findings from our study reveal that the physical characteristics of birds, such as their patterns and colours, as well as their behaviours and abilities, triggered emotional responses that were associated with admiration for the species, concern for their well-being and awareness of conservation issues, enabling these families to construct meaning.

New Zealand's media and the crisis in the ocean: News norms and scientific urgency

Abstract To date, no studies have analysed New Zealand's media coverage of ocean‐related threats, potential harms, or sources used for their coverage. This is concerning given that marine media coverage is linked to public support, awareness of conservation issues, and policymaking. This research helps fill this gap, examining all ocean‐related articles 2 weeks before and after the 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report's release on the oceans and cryosphere. It first analyses the media's reporting of threats, potential harms arising from the threats, and the sources on whom journalists relied and gave voice, then it tests a report of global significance for influence on reportage. Second, it examines whether the threats covered by media align with scientists' main concerns (from the IPCC report and a survey of New Zealand scientists). In contrast to previous studies on media sources for environmental conservation, this study found that journalists in New Zealand relied considerably on scientists as key sources. However, it found that coverage of ocean‐related threats did not match scientists' main concerns. Finally, the research found that the IPCC report appeared to influence coverage in two areas: reporting on threats to island nations, and multiple potential harms. Otherwise, New Zealand's media covered the IPCC report as any other news item, reporting on it and then shifting to other matters. The lack of coverage on primary scientific concerns and that a globally significant momentous report did not dramatically impact the marine media landscape is problematic for conservation of ocean habitats, species, and broader environmental and societal outcomes owing to poor understandings by policymakers and the public, which can lead to inaction and policy failures. The potential reasons and solutions to advance communication of marine conservation issues for a more educated and mobilized public are explored.

Challenges Facing the Conservation of Historic Buildings Through Local Eyes: The Swahili Town of Kilwa Kivinje, Tanzania

ABSTRACTThis study explores the state of conservation of historic buildings and the challenges facing their conservation from the perspective of resident in Kilwa Kivinje in Tanzania. The findings based on observation of 34 buildings indicate that the majority are in a relatively poor state. Ethnographic inquiry with 22 residents indicates that this situation is due to not only a limited awareness of conservation issues and responsibilities, but also socio-psychological and relational challenges such as a limited sense of heritage ownership, the lack of interest and motivation to conserve, neglect by owners and occupants and lack of trust in the conservation authorities; and socio-economic challenges such as limited economic benefits and scarcity of resources. Residents also perceive that there is weak enforcement of antiquities legislation, limited assistance from the antiquities’ agencies and that they are not involved in the decision-making process. Unlike past research that engaged in the authoritative discourse to explain the challenges of conserving heritage, this study has engaged in the under-researched resident discourse. It thus broadens our understanding of the challenges and further enlightens experts on the significance of considering residents’ perspectives when designing and implementing conservation strategies. It also makes broad locally-based practical recommendations to cultural heritage management in Kilwa Kivinje and related sites in order to rectify the situation of poor state of conservation.

Exploring saiga horn consumption in Singapore

AbstractThe Critically Endangered saiga antelope Saiga tatarica faces an uncertain future, with populations dwindling from epidemics in its range countries, and ongoing demand for its horns in the traditional Chinese medicine trade. Singapore is a major hub for the global trade in saiga horn and an important consumer country, with saiga horn products widely available in the domestic market. Despite this, little is known about the consumers that drive domestic demand. Before interventions are carried out, it is important to understand who the consumers are, and their motivations. We conducted an investigation into consumption prevalence and consumer demographics, knowledge and motivations. We surveyed 230 Chinese Singaporeans, through a combination of face-to-face interviews and self-administered questionnaires. Recent consumption incidence (in the previous 12 months) was relatively high, at 13%. Younger respondents (18–35 years) had the highest prevalence of recent consumption (25%), often as a result of influence from an older family member or friend. Bottled saiga horn cooling water was the most popular product among recent users (50%), followed by horn shavings (31%) and tablets (13%). Awareness of conservation issues and regulations was uniformly low. Awareness raising may have an effect in reducing consumer demand in Singapore. However, given the exploratory nature of this study, it is best used to guide and inform future research underlying behavioural change interventions in a relatively understudied but important consumer group, Chinese Singaporeans.

Motivational functionalism and urban conservation stewardship: implications for volunteer involvement

AbstractConservation in urban areas faces growing financial challenges and inadequate stakeholder involvement. Conservation psychology can mitigate these challenges in many ways. One way is through conservation volunteerism, if we attend to and capitalize on volunteers’ motivations. Conservation volunteerism significantly contributes to ecological knowledge acquisition, and public education and awareness of conservation issues. In this study, we explored volunteers’ motivations and how those motivations influence frequency of participation in urban conservation activities. We found that volunteers’ frequency of participation is most motivated by personal and social benefits rather than by environment‐related reasons. Environmental motivations, otherwise marginally significant, were more salient predictors of participation to the extent that personal and social motivations were met. We discuss how ecologically focused strategies are likely to be less effective for motivating more frequent participation than motivationally based appeals to personal and social motivations of urban conservation. We discuss implications for urban conservation stewardship initiatives and suggest ways that decision makers can harness volunteers’ personal and social motivations to meet urban conservation practice and policy goals.

Observations of Everyday Biodiversity: a New Perspective for Conservation?

Cosquer, A., R. Raymond, and A.-C. Prevot-Julliard. 2012. Observations of everyday biodiversity: a new perspective for conservation? Ecology and Society 17(4): 2. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-04955-170402

The Dummies Guide to Promoting Wildlife Conservation in the Middle East: Telling Tales of Unicorns and Ossifrages to Save the Hawk and Leopard

In the Middle East there are great pressures on the environment and wildlife. Indeed, many species are teetering on the edge of extinction. Wildlife health, management, and welfare are poorly understood concepts and are not important priorities for regional governments. What can be done to raise the level of awareness to wildlife health, management, and welfare in a region where most people live in large modern cities detached from nature? In this article, I relate the story of how a small group of colleagues and I harnessed our frustration at the pervasive indifference to conservation to positive effect. We took action to establish Wildlife Middle East News, an information resource to raise awareness of conservation issues and to enable better management and welfare of wildlife. This case study demonstrates how individuals, such as biologists, veterinarians, and environmental educators working with wildlife in narrow professional arenas can play a role in the solution of wider environmental problems.

Current trends in conservation education in Japan

Conservation education (CE) is an important component of environmental education. Its goal is to teach the theory and practice of preservation and restoration of biodiversity affected by human activities so that people can increase their awareness of conservation issues and change their attitudes and behavior to promote environmental conservation. This paper describes two successful case studies to highlight trends in CE in Japan. One case is a project implemented to create “agricultural wetlands” that resulted in the establishment of a Ramsar Convention site comprised of a restored wetland and its adjacent rice paddy in a rural area near Sendai City in northern Japan. Rice paddy fields are a major component of Satoyama, which are traditional agricultural ecosystems in Japan and occupy 40% of the undeveloped landscape in Japan ( Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, 2007. Third National Biodiversity Strategy of Japan. Ministry of the Environment Government of Japan, Tokyo). Restoration of Satoyama and wetlands by local citizens is a key component of CE practices in Japan, where practical, hands-on, community-based learning is important. The second CE project, geared toward university students and citizens in Yokohama, restored degraded dragonfly ponds and created butterfly biotope in the second largest city in Japan. Restoration of habitat that is centered around highly visible, popular species such as dragonflies and butterflies also benefits other, less prominent species that share these habitats, yet allows residents to easily monitor the benefits of the project.

Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling: A Retrospective

Conservation BiologyVolume 7, Issue 1 p. 200-203 Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling: A Retrospective Joseph P. Dudley, Joseph P. Dudley Current address: Department of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska—Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK 99775, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this author Joseph P. Dudley, Joseph P. Dudley Current address: Department of Biology and Wildlife University of Alaska—Fairbanks Fairbanks, AK 99775, U.S.A.Search for more papers by this author First published: March 1993 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1993.07010200.x AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Volume7, Issue1March 1993Pages 200-203 RelatedInformation

Awareness of Conservation Issues among Visitors to Three South African Nature Reserves

Abstract The awareness of conservation issues among visitors to three South African nature reserves, and the enhancement thereof as a result of their visit, were tested using a longitudinal survey design. Interpretive facilities in each of the reserves were well utilized, though limited in scope and availability. Although a statistically significant increase in awarenesss of conservation issues was recorded in all three reserves, the levels of awareness were very low—particularly as the nature reserves tend to attract a privileged, well-educated sector of the South African population. The results were corroborated using a cross-sectional survey design.