UNDERSTANDING WASTE MANAGEMENT BEHAVIOUR IN PRIVATE NATURE RESERVES THROUGH THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOUR

Abstract

Responsible waste management in protected areas is essential to ensure that these areas remain protected and that negative impacts on visitor experience are reduced. Behaviour plays an important role in establishing and implementing responsible waste management measures. This paper aims to provide insights about the Theory of Planned Behaviour and its application towards understanding waste management behaviour in private nature reserves. The Sabi Sand Wildtuin, a private nature reserve located in the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa, was selected to explore the research aim. Surveys were used to gather data from the management authority, and the owners or managers of the commercial-and non-commercial properties in the reserve. The responses from forty participants indicated that all three stakeholder groups generally had positive attitudes towards waste management and supported the development of an integrated waste management strategy. The participants also generally expressed their intention to implement responsible waste management practices. The Pearson Chi-Square test highlighted some statistically significant associations between: intrinsic motivation and intent/willingness to participate in certain waste-related interventions; attitude (mostly related to perceiving waste management as a benefit) and support; as well as support and intent.