Skip to main content

Positive sentiment and knowledge increase tolerance towards conservation actions

Biodiversity and Conservation volume 26, pages 461–478 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

People generally possess certain basic ideas and values towards biodiversity, influencing their personal evaluation of a conservation situation or action and their attitude towards nature and its conservation. Here, we apply knowledge on human attitudes to an interesting socio-ecological system, the case of mitigating the devastating infectious amphibian disease chytridiomycosis in the Pyrenean Mountains, a touristic region. We conducted a questionnaire survey directly in mountain areas (n = 418) and on the internet (n = 868) to investigate whether attitudes towards amphibians influenced support of five possible conservation actions. We further analyzed whether attitudes were influenced by peoples’ use of the mountains, their socio-economic backgrounds, and their general knowledge of amphibians. Our study shows that all but one conservation measure were well accepted by the public. Importantly, the restrictions people would accept were linked to the attitudes the respondents had towards amphibians and how informed they were regarding the current status of amphibians. Our study highlights the importance of ensuring sufficient education and information for the public and suggests that it is necessary to explore and discuss several conservation options with the public before implementing conservation measures that may not be perceived equally.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  • Aanensen D, Huntley D, Feil E, Al-Own F, Spratt B, Hay S (2009) EpiCollect: linking smartphones to web applications for epidemiology, ecology and community data collection. PLoS One 4:e6968

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ajzen I, Fishbein M (1977) Attitude-behavior relations: a theoretical analysis and review of empirical research. Psychol Bull 84:888

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alvard MS (1998) Evolutionary ecology and resource conservation. Evol Anthropol Issues News Rev 7:62–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballouard J-M, Brischoux FO, Bonnet X (2011) Children prioritize virtual exotic biodiversity over local biodiversity. PLoS One 6:e23152

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ballouard J-M, Provost G, Barré D, Bonnet X (2012) Influence of a field trip on the attitude of schoolchildren toward unpopular organisms: an experience with snakes. J Herpetol 46:423–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballouard J-M, Ajtic R, Balint H, Brito JC, Crnobrnja-Isailovic J, Desmonts D, ElMouden EH, Erdogan M, Feriche MN, Pleguezuelos JM (2013) Schoolchildren and one of the most unpopular animals: Are they ready to protect snakes? Anthrozos 26:93–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berger L, Speare R, Hyatt A (1999) Chytrid fungi and amphibian declines: overview, implications and future directions. In: Campbell A (ed) Declines and disappearances of australian frogs. Environment Australia, Canberra, pp 23–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Blocker TJ, Eckberg DL (1997) Gender and environmentalism: results from the 1993 general social survey. Soc Sci Q 78(4):841–858

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosch J, Fernández-Beaskoetxea F, Martín-Beyer B (2010) Time for chytridiomycosis mitigation in Spain. Aliens Invas Species Bull 54–58. (IUCN/SSC invasive species specialist group)

  • Buijs AE (2009a) Lay people’s images of nature: comprehensive frameworks of values, beliefs, and value orientations. Soc Nat Resour 22:417–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buijs AE (2009b) Public support for river restoration. A mixed-method study into local residents’ support for and framing of river management and ecological restoration in the Dutch floodplains. J Environ Manage 90:2680–2689

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Buijs AE, Pedroli B, Luginbühl Y (2006) From hiking through farmland to farming in a leisure landscape: changing social perceptions of the European landscape. Landsc Ecol 21:375–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buijs AE, Fischer A, Rink D, Young JC (2008) Looking beyond superficial knowledge gaps: understanding public representations of biodiversity. Int J Biodivers Sci Manag 4:65–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buijs AE, Arts BJ, Elands BH, Lengkeek J (2011) Beyond environmental frames: the social representation and cultural resonance of nature in conflicts over a Dutch woodland. Geoforum 42:329–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cadiou N, Luginbühl Y (1995) Modéles paysagers et représentations du paysage en Normandie-Maine. In: Voisenat LC(ed), Paysage au pluriel. Pour une approche ethnologique des paysages, pp 19–34. Èditions de la Maison de Sciences de l’Homme, Paris

  • Czech B, Krausman PR (2001) The endangered species act: history, conservation biology, and public policy. JHU Press, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  • Czech B, Krausman PR, Borkhataria R (1998) Social construction, political power, and the allocation of benefits to endangered species. Conserv Biol 12:1103–1112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeKay ML, McClelland GH (1996) Probability and utility of endangered species preservation programs. J Exp Psychol Appl 2:60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Denny SJ, Milfont TL, Utter J, Robinson EM, Ameratunga SN, Merry SN, Fleming TM, Watson PD (2008) Hand-held internet tablets for school-based data collection. BMC Res Notes 1:52

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dietz T, Kalof L, Stern PC (2002) Gender, values, and environmentalism. Soc Sci Q 83:353–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Douglas LR, Veríssimo D (2013) Flagships or battleships: deconstructing the relationship between social conflict and conservation flagship species. Environ Soc Adv Res 4:98–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eder K, Ritter MT (1996) The social construction of nature: A sociology of ecological enlightenment. Sage Publications Inc, Thousand Oaks

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer AP, Bliss JC (2006) Mental and biophysical terrains of biodiversity: conserving oak on family forests. Soc Nat Resour 19:625–643

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischer A, Young JC (2007) Understanding mental constructs of biodiversity: implications for biodiversity management and conservation. Biol Conserv 136:271–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garamszegi LZ, Calhim S, Dochtermann N, Hegyi G, Hurd PL, Jørgensen C, Kutsukake N, Lajeunesse MJ, Pollard KA, Schielzeth H, Symonds MRE, Nakagawa S (2009) Changing philosophies and tools for statistical inferences in behavioral ecology. Behav Ecol 20:1363–1375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Halpenny EA, Caissie LT (2003) Volunteering on nature conservation projects: volunteer experience, attitudes and values. Tour Recreat Res 28:25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanski I (2005) Landscape fragmentation, biodiversity loss and the societal response. EMBO Rep 6:388–392

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hocking DJ, Babbitt KJ (2014) Amphibian contributions to ecosystem services. Herpetol Conser Biol 9:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter LM, Brehm J (2003) Brief comment: qualitative insight into public knowledge of, and concern with, biodiversity. Hum Ecol 31:309–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter LM, Brehm JM (2004) A qualitative examination of value orientations toward wildlife and biodiversity by rural residents of the intermountain region. Hum Ecol Rev 11:13–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellert SR (1993) The biophilia hypothesis. Island Press, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellert SR (1997) The value of life: Biological diversity and human society. Island Press, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellert SR (2006) Building for life: designing and understanding the human-nature connection. Renew Resour J 24:8

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellert SR, Berry JK (1982) Knowledge, affection and basic attitudes toward animals in American society. US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

    Google Scholar 

  • Keulartz J, van der Windt H, Swart J (2004) Concepts of nature as communicative devices: the case of Dutch nature policy. Environ Values 13:81–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight AJ (2008) Bats, snakes and spiders, Oh my! How aesthetic and negativistic attitudes, and other concepts predict support for species protection. J Environ Psychol 28:94–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann-Matthies P, Bose E (2008) How many species are there? Public understanding and awareness of biodiversity in Switzerland. Hum Ecol 36:731–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lorimer J (2007) Nonhuman charisma. Environ Plann D Soc Space 25:911–932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Low BS (1996) Behavioral ecology of conservation in traditional societies. Hum Nat 7:353–379

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald E, Burnham D, Hinks A, Dickman A, Malhi Y, Macdonald D (2015) Conservation inequality and the charismatic cat: Felis felicis. Glob Ecol Conserv 3:851–866

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macnaghten P, Urry J (1998) Contested natures. Sage, Thousand Oaks

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-López B, Montes C, Benayas J (2007) The non-economic motives behind the willingness to pay for biodiversity conservation. Biol Conserv 139:67–82

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metrick A, Weitzman ML (1998) Conflicts and choices in biodiversity preservation. J Econ Perspect 12(3):21–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milfont TL, Duckitt J (2010) The environmental attitudes inventory: a valid and reliable measure to assess the structure of environmental attitudes. J Environ Psychol 30:80–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moscovici S, Duveen G (2000) Social representations: explorations in social psychology. Polity Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers Jr OE, Saunders CD, Bexell SM (2009) Fostering empathy with wildlife: Factors affecting free-choice learning for conservation concern and behavior. Free-Choice Learn Environ 39–56

  • Nakagawa S, Freckleton RP (2011) Model averaging, missing data and multiple imputation: a case study for behavioural ecology. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 65:103–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Novacek MJ (2008) Engaging the public in biodiversity issues. Proc Natl Acad Sci 105:11571–11578

    CAS  Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Røskaft E, Händel B, Bjerke T, Kaltenborn BP (2007) Human attitudes towards large carnivores in Norway. Wildl Biol 13:172–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmeller DS, Blooi M, Martel A, Garner TWJ, Fisher MC, Azemar F, Clare FC, Leclerc C, Jäger L, Guevara-Nieto M, Loyau A, Pasmans F (2014) Microscopic aquatic predators strongly affect infection dynamics of a globally emerged pathogen. Curr Biol 24:176–180

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schultz PW (2000) Empathizing with nature: the effects of perspective taking on concern for environmental issues-statis. J Soc Issues 56:391–406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Serpell JA (2004) Factors influencing human attitudes to animals and their welfare. Anim Welf 13:S145–S152

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sevillano VN, Aragonés JI, Schultz PW (2007) Perspective taking, environmental concern, and the moderating role of dispositional empathy. Environ Behav 39:685–705

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skogen K (2001) Who’s afraid of the big, bad wolf? Young people’s responses to the conflicts over large carnivores in eastern Norway. Rural Sociol 66:203–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spash CL (2009) The new environmental pragmatists, pluralism and sustainability. Environ Values 18:253–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spash CL, Urama K, Burton R, Kenyon W, Shannon P, Hill G (2009) Motives behind willingness to pay for improving biodiversity in a water ecosystem: economics, ethics and social psychology. Ecol Econ 68:955–964

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoll-Kleemann S (2001a) Opposition to the designation of protected areas in Germany. J Environ Plann Manage 44:109–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoll-Kleemann S (2001b) Reconciling opposition to protected areas management in Europe: the German experience. Environ: Sci Policy Sust Dev 43:32–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoll-Kleemann S (2010) Evaluation of management effectiveness in protected areas: methodologies and results. Basic Appl Ecol 11:377–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoll-Kleemann S, O’Riordan T (2002) From participation to partnership in biodiversity protection: experience from Germany and South Africa. Soc Nat Resour 15:161–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuart S, Chanson J, Cox N, Young B, Rodrigues A, Fischman D, Waller R (2004) Status and trends of amphibian declines and extinctions worldwide. Science 306:1783

    CAS  Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sutherland WJ, Dicks LV, Ockendon N, Smith RK (2015) What works in conservation: 2015, vol 1. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Swaisgood RR, Sheppard JK (2010) The culture of conservation biologists: show me the hope! Bioscience 60:626–630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Symonds MR, Moussalli A (2011) A brief guide to model selection, multimodel inference and model averaging in behavioural ecology using Akaike’s information criterion. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 65:13–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarrant MA, Green GT (1999) Outdoor recreation and the predictive validity of environmental attitudes. Leisure Sci 21:17–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turnhout E, Hisschemoller M, Eijsackers H (2004) The role of views of nature in Dutch nature conservation: the case of the creation of a drift sand area in the Hoge Veluwe National Park. Environ Values 13:187–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker SF, Bosch J, Gomez V, Garner TWJ, Cunningham AA, Schmeller DS, Ninyerola M, Henk DA, Ginestet C, Arthur CP, Fisher MC (2010) Factors driving pathogenicity vs. prevalence of amphibian panzootic chytridiomycosis in Iberia. Ecol Lett 13:372–382

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • White R, Heerwagen J (1998) Nature and mental health: Biophilia and biophobia. Environment Ment Health: Guide Clin 175–192

  • Woodhams D, Bosch J, Briggs C, Cashins S, Davis L, Lauer A, Muths E, Puschendorf R, Schmidt B, Sheafor B, Voyles J (2011) Mitigating amphibian disease: strategies to maintain wild populations and control chytridiomycosis. Front Zool 8:1–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zerubavel E (1999) Social mindscapes: An invitation to cognitive sociology. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

Our warmest thanks to all the people who kindly answered our survey, to the people who helped distributing paper, and internet questionnaires, especially David M. Aanensen and Chris Powell. We also thank Phillippe and Dominique Dupui, keepers of the Refuge de Bassiès, the children and teachers of the Ecole de Vicdessos, Marie-Pierre Julien, Christine Vergnolles-Mainar, Jérémie Cornuau and Deivida Vandzinskaite. We are grateful to Lauren Weatherdon for her valuable comments and for fine-tuning our English. This work has been supported by the Biodiversa project RACE, the LABEX DRIIHM - OHM Haut Vicdessos and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship FreeMi (EU, Horizon 2020).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. EcoLab, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France

    Adeline Loyau & Dirk S. Schmeller

  2. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of Conservation Biology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany

    Adeline Loyau & Dirk S. Schmeller

  3. Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Department of System Ecotoxicology, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany

    Adeline Loyau

Authors
  1. Adeline Loyau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dirk S. Schmeller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adeline Loyau.

Additional information

Communicated by Samuel Cushman.

This article belongs to the Topical Collection: Biodiversity appreciation and engagement.

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Loyau, A., Schmeller, D.S. Positive sentiment and knowledge increase tolerance towards conservation actions. Biodivers Conserv 26, 461–478 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-016-1253-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-016-1253-0

Keywords

  • Policy support
  • Biodiversity monitoring
  • Prioritization
  • Resource allocations
  • Conservation efficiency
  • School experiment