Abstract
This study examined the role of place attachment in determining visitors’ willingness to engage in climate friendly behavior in parks and support for management actions to minimize climate-change impacts. The sample consisted of visitors to Missouri State Parks (n = 1775). Place attachment was measured using 12 items of place identity, place dependence, and social bonding. Exploratory factor analysis of climate friendly behavior items revealed two dimensions: Visit based (i.e., short-term, immediate actions individuals could take during their visit) and Big Picture (i.e., advocacy actions that suggest a long-term engagement with parks). A path analysis demonstrated that the dimensions of place attachment predict climate friendly behavior and support for climate friendly management action in different ways. Specifically, place identity increased climate friendly behavior (big picture) and place dependence increased both climate friendly behavior (visit based) and support for climate friendly management action. Findings from this study provided evidence for the importance of place attachment as a means for engaging visitors in climate-related actions both in and beyond the park setting.
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Acknowledgements
This material is based upon work supported by the US National Science Foundation under Award Number IIA-1355406. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The authors thank Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites for providing logistical support.
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Groshong, L., Stanis, S.W., Morgan, M. et al. Place Attachment, Climate Friendly Behavior, and Support for Climate Friendly Management Action among State Park Visitors. Environmental Management 65, 98–110 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01229-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01229-9