Progress 08/01/12 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:Audiences included natural resource stakeholders in Florida and internationally, such as natural resource agency professionals in the U.S., ranchers in Costa Rica, wine growers in Chile, and park managers in Kenya. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have trained more than 10 graduate students during the course of this Hatch project. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Reports have been presented orally and through poster presentations to interested stakeholder groups in Florida, Costa Rica, Chile, and Kenya What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A number of studies were conducted to develop and evaluate human dimensions programs focused on education and communication interventions. I report the findings of three of these studies below. Please see my publications for additional accomplishments. Study 1: Attitudes toward Natural Resource Careers and Perceptions of Career Barriers to Underrepresented Groups Using a framework based on social cognitive career theory, we conducted 38 interviews and 4 focus groups with college students to identify motivations and barriers faced by underrepresented groups to selecting natural resource majors and careers. Interviews revealed career satisfaction was the most important goal among both natural resource and a comparison group of liberal arts students. School difficulty and outsider perceptions were barriers for both groups. Salary and independence were important for liberal artsstudents. Natural resource students faced family pressure to pursue career paths not in natural resources. Career influences identified in focus groups with natural resource students using Q methodology included participating in outdoor recreation, exposure to nature-related media, and witnessing environmental degradation. Career barriers included perceptions of ethnic/racial discrimination, financial pressures, and lack of confidence. Results may help academia and agencies better address career motivations and barriers in natural resource fields. Study 2: Understanding Rancher Coexistence with Jaguars and Pumas: Developing a Typology for Conservation Practice Ranchers living near large carnivores can adopt diverse practices to prevent livestock damage. Effective management interventions to help reduce damage must address the varied needs of ranchers, thereby segmenting the audience for more targeted programs. We developed a typology that conceptualized 6 types of ranchers based on the theory of planned behavior. We posited that rancher types were driven by: attitudes, social norms, perceived control, emotional disposition, risk perception, and contextual factors. To test the typology throughout Costa Rica, we conducted a structured survey of a random sample of 93 ranchers affected by jaguar and puma predation and paired them with a sample of 69 unaffected neighbors. Cluster analyses of survey results provided empirical support for a typologyof 4 types of ranchers, 3 of which were predicted by the theory of planned behavior: preventive ranchers who take control to prevent felid damage, helpless ranchers who lack control, and a risk-neutral type who takes no action as they do not perceive the cats as a threat. We also identified a cat-negative type influenced mainly by negative emotions toward big cats. This type supports the need to include emotional factors in theoretical frameworks when dealing with human-wildlife conflict. The typology is useful for designing improved policy and management interventions to reduce wildlife conflicts. Study 3: Assessing Agricultural Adoption of Conservation Practices in wineries in Chile. Promoting conservation practices in agriculture is critical to protect biodiversity of rare mediterranean ecosystems. Nowhere is this more critical than Chile, where less than one per cent of the mediterranean region is formally protected.We used the theory of planned behaviour to assess what influences Chilean winegrowers' conservation behaviour and tested whether a sustainability programme was effective. We compared winegrowers involved in the programme with a comparison group, using semi-structured interviews at 23 wineries to determine predictors of conservation practice adoption at vineyards. The intervention group had higher levels of conservation behaviour than the comparison group and practiced integrated pest management and exotic species control more frequently. Managers' views on conservation practices as doing "what is right" with regard to nature and the environment was evident in both groups. However, programme winegrowers recognised more cultural benefits of nature and reported a broader spectrum of organisational and community stakeholder influence. Economic resources were perceived as a major barrier, as well as the lack of data connecting biodiversity conservation with wine quality and production. This study demonstratedthe multidimensional nature of winegrowers' motivations and barriers for adopting conservation practices, which is critical to address the large challenges facing biodiversity conservation and the promotion of sustainable agricultural systems.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Montes, N., R. Swett, S.K. Jacobson, and C. Sidman. (2017). Factors Influencing Recreational Boaters Intentions to Comply with Right Whale Regulations in the Southeastern United States. Society and Natural Resources.
Amit, R. and Jacobson, S.K. (2017). Stakeholder barriers and benefits associated with improving livestock husbandry to prevent jaguar and puma depredation. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 22(3):246-266.
Amit, R. and Jacobson, S.K. (2017). Understanding rancher coexistence with jaguars and pumas: A typology for conservation practice. Biodiversity Conservation, 26:1353-1374.
Maynard L. and S.K. Jacobson (2017): Stakeholder participation in wildlife management: Adapting the nominal group technique in developing countries for participants with low literacy. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 22(1):71-82.
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Progress 10/01/14 to 09/30/15
Outputs
Target Audience:Public and policy makers Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?PhD student trained How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Journal articles, conference presentations What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?continue other studies
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Several studies were completed. Study 1 accomplishments: Climate Change and Coastal Environmental Risk Perceptions in Florida Understanding public perceptions of climate change risks is a prerequisite for effective climate communication and adaptation. Many studies of climate risk perceptions have either analyzed a general operationalization of climate change risk or employed a case study approach of specific adaptive processes. This study takes a different approach, examining attitudes toward 17 specific, climate-related coastal risks and cognitive, affective, and risk-specific predictors of risk perception. A survey of 558 undergraduates revealed that risks to the physical environment were a greater concern than economic or biological risks. Perceptions of greater physical environment risks were significantly associated with having more pro-environmental attitudes, being female, and being more Democratic-leaning. Perceptions of greater economic risks were significantly associated with having more negative environmental attitudes, being female, and being more Republican-leaning. Perceptions of greater biological risks were significantly associated with more positive environmental attitudes. The findings suggest that focusing on physical environment risks may be more salient to this audience than communications about general climate change adaptation. The results demonstrate that climate change beliefs and risk perceptions are multifactorial and complex and are shaped by individuals' attitudes and basic beliefs. Climate risk communications need to apply this knowledge to better target cognitive and affective processes of specific audiences, rather than providing simple characterizations of risks.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2015
Citation:
Haynes, N.* and S.K. Jacobson. (2015). Barriers and Perceptions of Natural Resource Careers by Minority Students. Journal of Environmental Education, 46(3):166182.
Haynes, N.,* S.K. Jacobson, and D.M. Wald. (2015). A life cycle analysis of minority underrepresentation in natural resource field. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 39(2):228238.
Carlton, J.S.,* and S.K. Jacobson. (2015). Using expert and non expert models of climate change to enhance communication. Environmental Communication, 10(1):1-24. (doi.org/10.1080/17524032.2015.1016544)
Jim�nez, A., I. Iniesta-Arandia, M. Mu�oz, B. Mart�n-L�pez, S.K. Jacobson, and J. Benayas. (2014). Typology of public outreach for biodiversity conservation projects in Spain. Conservation Biology, 28(3):829-840.
Jacobson, S.K., D.M. Wald,* N. Haynes,* and R. Sakurai.* (2014). Urban Wildlife Communication and Negotiation. In R. McCleery, C. Moorman, and N. Peterson (Eds.), Urban Wildlife Science: Theory and Practice. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.
Hartter, J., J. Solomon,* S.J. Ryan, S.K. Jacobson, and A. Goldman. (2014). Contrasting perceptions of ecosystem services of an African forest park. Environmental Conservation, 41(4):330-340.
Sakurai, R.,* S.K. Jacobson, N. Matsuda, and T. Maruyama. (2014). Assessing the impact of a wildlife education program on Japanese attitudes and behavioral intentions. Environmental Education Research. DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2014.898246
Sakurai, R., * S.K. Jacobson, and G. Ueda. (2014). Public perceptions of significant wildlife in Hyogo, Japan. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 19(1): 88-95.
Wald, D.M., and S.K. Jacobson. (2014). A multivariate model of stakeholder preference for lethal cat management. PLoS One 9(4): e93118. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093118
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Progress 10/01/13 to 09/30/14
Outputs
Target Audience: Target audiences are other scientists working in the field of human dimensions of wildlife conservation. Targetted through scientific publications of study results. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Trained PhD student in survey analysis and scientific presenting and writing. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Resutls were published in scientific journals andwere also disseminated to stakeholders across the state of Florida including the Alachua, Duval, Sarasota and South Florida Audubon Society chapters, as well as trap-neuter and return groups in four counties. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Begin new studies of public perceptions of natural resource issues.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Identifying stakeholder beliefs and attitudes is critical for resolving management conflicts. Like many other resource conflicts (e.g., land, wildlife, and water), controversy over feral/stray cat management featured entrenched interest groups on both sides of a heated debate driven by differences in perceptions, attitudes, and values. In Florida, contention over the management of outdoor cats has been widespread. This research was the first to identify the critical, and previously ignored, role of perceived environmental risks and benefits as drivers of cat management conflict in Florida. This research revealed promising areas of agreement (e.g., support for mandatory rabies and identification tags) that provide a starting point for collaboration between disparate actor groups. These findings have broad implications for reducing conflict over resource governance, developing effective risk communication strategies, and promoting environmental policies with broad public support. The findings of this research were presented at thePathways to Success: Human Dimensions of Wildlife Management conference in 2014.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Wald, D.M., and S.K. Jacobson. (2014). A multivariate model of stakeholder preference for lethal cat management. PLoS One 9(4): e93118. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0093118
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Progress 10/01/12 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: We distributed a mail survey to a random sample of members in Trap-Neuter-Return programs fo routdoor cats, Audubon Society members and the public across four counties in Florida (N=1363). Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Trained PhD student in survey design and analysis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Final reports were sent to all participating stakeholder groups. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Write up results for publication.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
We used a perception of risk framework and multivariate analysis to evaluate group differences in attitudes and beliefs about outdoor cats, perceptions of positive and negative impacts, ecological risk perceptions, and support for management options. We found that previous surveys, based solely on public opinons about outdoor cats, do not refelct the diversity of opinion of all relevant stakeholders.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Wald, D.M.,* and S.K. Jacobson. (2013). The influence of perceptions, attitudes, and experiences on the perceived risks and benefits of free-roaming cats. Proceedings from the 25th Vertebrate Pest Conference. Monterey, CA.
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Progress 08/01/12 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A meta-analysis of literature on barriers to participation in natural resource professions by minority groups revealed a lack of positive early exposure to nature and wildlife; a lack of support through the education-to-career pipeline; and an inability of agencies to attract and retain minorities. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Based on the literature review, semi-structured interviews and focus groups are being conducted to develop a theoretical framework for understanding minority career choices in natural resource fields.
Publications
- Dotson, D., S.K. Jacobson, L.L. Kaid, and J.S. Carlton. 2012. Media coverage of climate change in Chile: A content analysis of conservative and liberal newspapers. Environmental Communication 6:64-81.
- Jacobson, S.K., C. Langin, J.S. Carlton, and L.L. Kaid. 2012. Content analysis of newspaper coverage of the Florida panther. Conservation Biology 26:171-179.
- Jacobson, S. K., Cameron, S. E., and J. S. Carlton. (2012). Infusing the psychology of climate change into environmental curricula. Ecopsychology 4:1-8.
- Carlton, J. S. and S. K. Jacobson. 2012. Assessing volunteer programs: Using the Net Benefits Index in natural resource agencies. International Journal of Volunteer Management 29:42-46.
- Jacobson, S. K., Carlton, J. S., and M. C. Monroe. 2012. Motivation and Satisfaction of Volunteers at a Florida Natural Resource Agency. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration 30:51-67.
- Santiago, E. and S.K. Jacobson. 2012. Human-wildlife conflict and environmental education: Evaluating a community program to protect the Andean Bear in Ecuador. The Journal of Environmental Education, 43:55-65.
- Solomon, J., S.K. Jacobson, and I. Liu. 2012. Fishing for a solution: Can collaborative resource management reduce poverty and support conservation? Environmental Conservation 39:51-61.
- Langin, C. and Jacobson, S.K. 2012. Risk and residency influences on public support for Florida panther recovery. Wildlife Society Bulletin 36:713-721.
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