The Impact of Nature Experience on Willingness to Support Conservation

Abstract

We hypothesized that willingness to financially support conservation depends on one's experience with nature. In order to test this hypothesis, we used a novel time-lagged correlation analysis to look at times series data concerning nature participation, and evaluate its relationship with future conservation support (measured as contributions to conservation NGOs). Our results suggest that the type and timing of nature experience may determine future conservation investment. Time spent hiking or backpacking is correlated with increased conservation contributions 11–12 years later. On the other hand, contributions are negatively correlated with past time spent on activities such as public lands visitation or fishing. Our results suggest that each hiker or backpacker translates to $200–$300 annually in future NGO contributions. We project that the recent decline in popularity of hiking and backpacking will negatively impact conservation NGO contributions from approximately 2010–2011 through at least 2018.

Mesopredator spatial and temporal responses to large predators and human development in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California

“…This highlights the need for preserved areas, both for human recreation and to mitigate the influence of development on wildlife. Parks, in particular, serve the dual purposes of protecting the land from development and creating opportunities for nature recreation and education for people (Zaradic et al, 2009). Management regulations (e.g., by limiting human activities temporally or spatially) should balance the benefits of human recreation and access to nature with the negative impacts on native wildlife communities.…”

Science synthesis to support socioecological resilience in the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range

“…Additional social and cultural benefits include a chance to develop connections to natural spaces, thus offering a place to develop bases for stewardship and caring that further protection of the physical environment and contribute to resilience uses, patterns of use, and activities result in the same outcomes linked to connection with nature, leading to stewardship and conservation (Cordell et al 2005, Kil et al 2012, Zaradic et al 2009); however, an array of benefits and opportunities are important to consider in a discussion of sustainable recreation and tourism.…”

Policy and management for forest and nature based recreation and tourism

“…In several countries a growing number of people are actively engaged in nature. Moreover, people's experience with nature is correlated to their willingness to financially support conservation (Zaradic et al, 2009). We are increasingly aware of the importance of nature for human beings.…”

“…We are increasingly aware of the importance of nature for human beings. Consequently, policy and management aim to get people to visit nature areas, as this is considered to be mentally and physically healthy; to advance community pride and social bonds; to be economically profitable; and to guarantee public support for nature conservation in the long run through a stronger environmental ethic (Bell et al, 2007;Zaradic et al, 2009). At the same time, policy and management aim to minimise the peoples' impact on nature, in order to protect the biodiversity (McCool, 2009).…”