The attitude towards nature and nature conservation on the urban fringes

Abstract

Nature conservation is often needed to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services for future generations. As conservation measures frequently require financial efforts and imply limitations for citizens and stakeholders, public acceptance is crucial to effectively transfer existing knowledge into implemented conservation measures. In this study, 60 visitors to the Wienerwald Biosphere reserve (Vienna Woods) were interviewed about their attitude towards nature conservation. The interviewees had an average knowledge about the study area, and 75% of them had already heard about biodiversity. They had a positive attitude towards nature conservation and the large majority agreed with the importance of conservation for society and quality of life, with the statement that "conservation is allowed to limit my own personal liberties" and with the statement that decision-makers were implementing too few conservation measures. We conclude that the positive attitude of the visitors should be used more often by the conservation authorities to actively inform and further engage people in local and nature conservation. © 2011 Interdisciplinary Centre for Comparative Research in the Social Sciences and ICCR Foundation.