Dobson, A.D.M. (author), Milner-Gulland, E.J. (author), Aebischer, Nicholas J. (author), Beale, Colin M. (author), Brozovic, Robert (author), Coals, Peter (author), Critchlow, Rob (author), Dancer, Anthony (author), Grove, Michelle (author), Hinsley, Amy (author), Ibbett, Harriet (author), Johnston, Alison (author), Kuiper, Timothy (author), Le Comber, Steven (author), Mahood, Simon P. (author), Moore, Jennifer F. (author), Nilsen, Erlend B. (author), Pocock, Michael J.O. (author), Quinn, Anthony (author), Travers, Henry (author), Wilfred, Paulo (author), Wright, Joss (author), and Keane, Aidan (author)
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
2020
Published:
International
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 167; Folder: 201 Document Number: D11695
11 pages., Authors present an overview of the opportunities and limitations associated with messy data which conservationists increasingly use (e.g., citizen science records, ranger patrol observations). They also explain how the preferences, skills, and incentives of data collectors affect the quality of the information these data contain and the investment required to unlock their potential.
9 pages., Via online journal., Certain pesticides are coming under scrutiny because of their impact on pollinator insects. Although most consumers express willingness to aid pollinators, the reasons for consumers’ preferences or barriers to purchasing pollinator-friendly plants and the types of pollinators’ that consumers are trying to protect are less understood. Using an online survey of 1200 Connecticut (CT) consumers, of which 841 had home landscapes, we find that 46% of consumers with home landscapes purchased pollinator-friendly plants to attract pollinators to their landscape. Consistent with past research that focused on consumers’ preferences for pollinator-friendly plants, the data also reveal that some consumers are willing to pay premiums for plants that contribute to pollinator’s health. However, only 17% stated that attracting pollinators was their primary motivation; a finding that suggests labeling alone will likely not motivate consumers to purchase plants. The major barriers to purchasing pollinator-friendly plants included lack of labeling (cited by 28%), followed by high price (28%). Consumers purchasing pollinator-friendly plants were trying to attract butterflies (Lepidoptera) (78%), bees (Apidae) (59%), hummingbirds (Trochilidae) (59%), and other birds (41%). We also find that demographics and purchasing behavior affect barriers and types of pollinators desired. Simply labeling plants has the potential to increase purchasing, but increasing price could be detrimental as many consumers feel pollinator-friendly plants are highly priced. Implications for ornamental horticulture stakeholders are discussed.
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Document Number: D08869
Notes:
Pages 257-287 in Ormrod, James S. (ed.), Changing our environment, changing ourselves: nature, labour, knowledge and alienation. United Kingdom: Palgrave Macmillan UK, London. 315 pages.
12 pages, Little comparative work has been conducted on the environmental belief systems and behaviours of conventional and organic farmers, especially in relation to farming culture, the environment and lowland farmland avifauna. Adopting a modified behavioural approach, this paper analyses the ways in which the environmental attitudes and understandings of farmers in central-southern England influence their behaviour. Key stakeholder and farmer interviews and a focus group discussion showed how some organic farmers tend to have small, diverse and untidy farms, ecocentric attitudes and a non-exploitative approach towards farming which includes an appreciation of farmland birds. This often contrasts with the tidy, well-organised conventional farmers with their larger, specialised farms, technocentric attitudes and exploitative view of nature, frequently related to creating pheasant cover and the belief that corvids and birds of prey are vermin and should therefore be eradicated. However, these attitudes and behaviours may not necessarily be representative of any differences between those farmers loosely labelled as ‘organic’ and ‘conventional’.
