Keywords :
Conservation Management; Education, Communication, urban nature perception; Exotic pets; Gestion environnementale, Conservation; Education, Communication, Perception de la nature urbaine; espèces exotiques, Nouveaux animaux de Compagnie
Abstract :
[en] A number of recent authors have emphasised the increasing disconnection from conservation issues
among urban dwellers. In a global increase of urbanisation, this disconnect can have an impact on conservation
practices. Here, we discuss how managers of public green spaces can contribute to global biodiversity
preservation, through combined efforts to preserve local biodiversity and educate the public
about conservation issues. We compared several management strategies, including those that mixed
direct action on local biodiversity with public education and those that did not. Two kinds of one-way
communication were considered as well as a two-way communication process, which take into account
different perceptions and practices of nature. We based our model on the introduction of the red-eared
slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans, into urban French freshwater ecosystems.
We found that direct actions only had a limited, short term effect on the abundance of feral turtles in
green spaces and had no effect on the level of public concern about environmental questions. We also
showed that a mix of different communication strategies improved people’s awareness and altered
behaviour with respect to introduced species issues. Finally, we showed the importance of a two-way
communication that takes into account the diversity of personal perceptions and practices as regards nature
in urban areas in order to achieve sustainable conservation measures and objectives
Scopus citations®
without self-citations
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