Skip to main content

Examining conservation attitudes, perspectives, and

Publication ,  Journal Article
Karanth, K; Kramer, RA; Qian, SS; Christensen, NL
Published in: Biological Conservation
August 2008

Biodiversity conservation issues are often contentious and complex. Polarized debates on the effectiveness of protected areas and role of people inside them, charismatic species as conservation foci, and on specific policy initiatives are common among Indian and global conservationists. We surveyed Indian conservationists about the conservation effectiveness of protected areas and charismatic species, as well as status of conservation and research efforts. We expected differences among people based on professional affiliation, and educational background. We examined participants’ opinions on conservation policies like Project Tiger and Elephant, the Forest Rights Act, and the Tiger Task Force Report. Participants ranked Indian research efforts as average, and identified a bias towards terrestrial species and ecosystems. Ninety-percent of participants considered reserves to be effective, many (61%) participants felt that the situation of people living inside reserves is unsustainable, and many (76%) felt the use of force to protect reserves from illegal human activities is acceptable. Classification and regression tree models for these questions suggested that non-academics were more likely than academics to agree with these positions. On the success of Project Tiger and Elephant, older participants were more likely to think these initiatives were a success. Many (63%) participants felt the Forest Rights Act needed revision, particularly if they had doctoral degrees. Sixty-two percent of participants did not think Tiger Task Force was effective. Overall, participants’ professional affiliation, age, and academic degree were important predictors of participants attitudes towards conservation initiatives.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Biological Conservation

Publication Date

August 2008

Volume

141

Start / End Page

2357 / 2367

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Karanth, K., Kramer, R. A., Qian, S. S., & Christensen, N. L. (2008). Examining conservation attitudes, perspectives, and. Biological Conservation, 141, 2357–2367.
Karanth, K., R. A. Kramer, S. S. Qian, and N. L. Christensen. “Examining conservation attitudes, perspectives, and.” Biological Conservation 141 (August 2008): 2357–67.
Karanth K, Kramer RA, Qian SS, Christensen NL. Examining conservation attitudes, perspectives, and. Biological Conservation. 2008 Aug;141:2357–67.
Karanth, K., et al. “Examining conservation attitudes, perspectives, and.” Biological Conservation, vol. 141, Aug. 2008, pp. 2357–67.
Karanth K, Kramer RA, Qian SS, Christensen NL. Examining conservation attitudes, perspectives, and. Biological Conservation. 2008 Aug;141:2357–2367.

Published In

Biological Conservation

Publication Date

August 2008

Volume

141

Start / End Page

2357 / 2367

Related Subject Headings

  • Ecology
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
  • 05 Environmental Sciences