Attitudes to wetland restoration in Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire, UK

• Published in: International journal of science education Vol. 21; no. 5; pp. 467 - 484
• Main Authors: Rispoli, Donna, Hambler, Clive
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis Group 01.05.1999; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adults; Attitudes; Conservation (Environment); Curriculum subjects: programmes and methods; Ecology; Educational sciences; Einstellung (Psy); Environmental Education; Ethics; Farmers; Feuchtgebiet; Foreign Countries; Geschlechtsunterschied; Public Opinion; Science and Society; Sex Differences; Surveys; Teaching methods; Umweltschutz; United Kingdom; Voting; Water Resources; Wetlands; United Kingdom; Environment; Survey; Ecology; Public attitude; Natural Resources; Environmental conservation
• ISSN: 0950-0693; 1464-5289
• DOI: 10.1080/095006999290525

Contemporary attitudes to wetlands were examined in two sites in Britain, to assess perceptions and thus educational failings as a barrier to wetland restoration. Results showed that adults' attitudes were more positive than previous literature suggests: 56% were aware of the importance of wetlands for biodiversity, and 73% were supportive of their restoration. Social groups had significantly different attitudes to wetlands (p(0.002), which may result largely from a difference between farmers and the public (p( 0.001). Additionally a near- significant difference (p(0.08) was detected between genders, with woman possibly more positive. Motivation for wetland conservation tended to be ethical, with 74% willing to pay, and 71% willing to vote, for wetland conservation. Whilst larger surveys are required to assess the generality of these results, there is reason for optimism that some form of education is improving public perception, despite concerns about negative conditioning amongst children (Anderson and Moss 1993). (Autorenreferat).