Exploring motivations for volunteers in nature conservation to inform local p...
Frank DR Presentation
1. By: Frank Sicignano
Siena College
515 Loudon Rd.
Loudonville, NY 12211-1459
School for Field Studies
Centre for Rainforest Studies,
Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia
29th April, 2015
Research Advisor: Dr. Justus Kithiia
2. Background Info
54% of the worlds population lives in urban
areas.
83% of Australia’s population lives along
the coast within 5 large urban centers
Wet Tropics WHA established in 1988 to
protect Rainforests of Far North
Queensland
3. Background
Many environmentalists have shared the
claim that human detachment from
nature is the prime cause of
environmental problems.
Programs working to bring rural country
experience to residents of Urban Areas
4. Study Aim
The aim of this study is to examine residents’
proximity to protected natural areas and urban
centers in relation to their environmental values
and sense of place
Determine present effects that urban development
has on how people connect with nature develop
ways to mitigate disconnect.
6. Participants/Location
• 10 towns in the Wet
Tropics Region
• Interviews were
conducted in Mission
Beach, Port Douglas,
Mossman, Daintree,
and Cape Tribulation
• Previous data used
from Yungaburra,
Atherton, Innisfail,
Malanda, and
Kuranda
• Total
interviewees=376 Frank Sicignano Google Earth
7. Ethical Considerations
All surveys were conducted under strict
confidentiality.
No personal information besides age,
occupation and, town was recorded.
Personal consent forms were made
available to those who wanted them.
8. Importance of Protected Natural
Areas
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00
PercentofResidentsSurveyed
Average Distance from WHA (km)
9. Frequency of Visits to Protected
Natural Areas
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00
PercentofResidentsSurveyed
Average Distance from WHA (km)
Rarely
Frequently
Linear (Rarely)
Linear (Frequently)
10. Discussion
Residents Value of Natural Protected
Area increased the further they got from
WHA but frequency of visits decreased.
Biggest complaint was lack of amenities
and infrastructure due to regulations set
by WTMA.
11. Sense of Connection with
Nature
0.00%
20.00%
40.00%
60.00%
80.00%
100.00%
0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00
PercentofResidentsSurveyed
Average Distance from WHA (km)
12. Discussion
Sense of Connection with nature
decreased as distance from WHA
increased.
Increased Distance from WHA meant
less access for residents of more urban
areas.
13. Implications
Key to solving Environmental problems
is eliminating the disconnect between
people and nature
Determine and develop new programs
to increase level of interaction between
urban residents and the Environment
Will lead to residents becoming more
educated and involved with
Environmental Matters
14. Limitations
Converting previous years data to 1-3
scale.
Differing interview styles between
interviewers
How much each respondent was willing
to share
15. Future Studies
study can be expanded in the future to look
at how these values change across the
entire nation
results could then be compared with other
studies preformed internationally to see
how the values of residents change in
more urbanized countries.
16. Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Dr. Justus Kithiia,
our resident intern Carina Easley-
Appleyard, my fellow researchers, and
all of our respondents for their help and
participation in this study.
Photo by: Ryan O’Keefe
17. Works Cited
Brunn, S. D., Hays-Mitchell, M., & Zeigler, D. J. (2008). Cities of
the World: World Regional Urban Development (4th Edition ed.).
Lanham, Maryland, United States of America: Rowman &
Littlefield Publishers.
Burnley, I. H. (1980). The Australian Urban System: Growth,
change, and differentiation. Melbourne, Australia: Longman
Cheshire
Davison, A. (2008). The trouble with nature: Ambivalence in
the lives of Urban Environmentalists. Geofourm , 39, 1284-1295
Kahn, M. E. (2007). Spatial Growth: The Environmental Cost of
Sprawl in the United States. In M. E. Kahn, Green Cities: Urban
Growth and the Environment (pp. 110-129)