Post on 23-Feb-2016
description
Twitching for values in the human domain: how do Australians value native birds?
Ainsworth, GB, Aslin, HJ, Garnett, ST and Weston, M.
Context
ARC project:
‘Increasing the effectiveness &
efficiency of threatened bird conservation’
Action Plan for Birds 2010
- Biophysical- Institutional
- Social
Influence of values on
conservation outcomes
1st year of PhD:
Social Values of Australian
Threatened Birds
How do Australians Value Native Birds?
- native bird species known
- valued most widely
- values held for threatened & non-threatened native species
- values held for particular native threatened species
Wildlife Management
Wildlife management:
Biophysical;
Economic,
wildlife policy framework
interactive relationships
information, values & efforts
socio-structural; valuational; institutional/regulatory
(Kellert & Clark 1991)
ecological, socio-psychological (Steinhoff 1980)
Values
Value: ‘relative worth, merit or importance’ of something:
cannot be observed directly only through their expression in the form of attitudes & behaviours
Values are critical:
personal goals: good & bad, right & wrong interpret events & information across situations & events
Social science perspective: person’s values towards wildlife thinking & behaviour in wildlife situation
(Manfredo 2008)
Culture & society
general beliefs/worldviews
values
specific beliefs/specific attitudes
behavioral commitments & intentions
behaviours
enduring
changeable
Cary et al 2000
Values: Attitudes: Behaviours:
Wildlife Values Research
Traditionally:Attitudes tested by empirical research, socio-psychological surveys, representative samples:
“I think duck hunting is ok as long as the bird is not endangered”
However, knowledge of individual native taxa across Australian society will likely be highly erratic:
- variation in prevalence, characteristics and distribution of bird taxa
- iconic / locally significant / expert knowledge
Measure of values reflected across society for native threatened birds can reveal public interest in and perceptions of individual species
Developing a Typology of Bird AttitudesDeveloping a Typology of Bird Values
No precedent for valuing an entire class of fauna such as Australian native birds (~720 species)
Review of commonly used empirical approaches to valuing wildlife
CAMPBELL, L. & SMITH, C. (2006) What Makes Them Pay? Values of Volunteer Tourists: Working for Sea Turtle Conservation. Environmental Management, 38, 84-98
- 8 value categories, qualitative
KELLERT, S. R. (1985) Social & Perceptual Factors in Endangered Species Management. Journal of Wildlife Management, 49, 528-536
- 9 value categories, quantitative
Native Bird Values Typology
The social values of Australian birds….???
Biophysical
physical attributes & biological functioning of birds
expressions of group identity or social experiences & objects of specialized attachments Aesthetic
symbolic
physical attractiveness & symbolic characteristic of birds
Aesthetic physical
spiritual meaning or message attached to birds
Spiritual
strong affection for individual animals
Anthopomorphic
increases / decreases in bird populations
Conservation
interrelationships between bird species & natural habitats
Ecological
mastery & control of birds (sport); being a good naturalist
Mastery
duty to protect & preserve birds
Moralistic
exciting experiences with birds in their natural habitat
Experiential
conflict between birds & humans
Negative
material benefit of bird products to human society (food)
Utilitarian-consumption
Which of these values does society hold for native birds?
?material benefit of bird habitat to human society (development)
Utilitarian-habitat
• 13 value categories
• nationally representative, publicly available data; • data directly aligned with value category, directly related to individual bird species
13 Value
categories
21National projects
XSocial
profiles
Native Bird Values Correlation Matrix
Media Stories
Influence of media on public perception of native birds is important
Newsbank – 162 local, regional, and national newspapers 1998 – 2010
Complete full-text content:community events, schools, politics, government policies, cultural activities, local companies, state industries, & people in the community
67,156 bird stories identified 2,830 analysed
across all value categories
negative conservation
moralistic
utilitarian-habitatbiophysical
Wildlife Values &Conservation Outcomes
Social profiles = better understanding of our relationship with native birds- as a whole class of fauna, as families, as individual species
This research is ultimately important for threatened bird conservation:- understand priorities currently given to individual species
- useful for communicating conservation messages to the broader community
Better understanding of ourselves as humans and development of Australian culture
With grateful thanks to…
NSW / ACTDavid Collyer Mimmo CozzolinoSusan FreemanVanessa Keyzer Cilla Kinross Hollis TaylorLes TerrettAndrea Wild
NTFiona DouglasMichael HonerTim Schinkel
QLDJoan DawesNoela Edwards Jean Tucker Maureen Cooper
VICRob Buttrose, Grace Lewis, Megan Moore, Alan Sergi, Janelle Thomas, Paris Yves
WAIan AbbottGreg Barrett Fiona Colbeck Clive NealonKirsty Sadler
State / territory conservation departmentsBirdwatching tour companiesNational galleries and librariesAustralian Defence ForcesConservation volunteer groupsAustralian Institute of SportRegional shire councils