http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10531-014-0640-7
Biodiversity and Conservation
February 2014
Public interest in the environment is falling: a response to Ficetola (2013)
Malcolm L. McCallum,
Gwendolynn W. Bury
Abstract
McCallum and Bury (Biodiv Conserv 22:1355-1367, 2013) used internet
search analysis to reveal the public's falling interest in the
environment. Ficetola (Biodiv Conserv 81.1:117-142, 2013) challenged
these findings. He argued that "even though the proportion of queries
went down, the absolute number went up", interest may be growing, and
the apparent changes in interest were artifacts of expanded use of the
internet. We demonstrate why the proportion of the public, not the
numbers of individuals drives policy, discuss the implications of
proportional shares of interest for environmental policy, and address
the concerns discussed by Ficetola (2013). Considering the growing
evidence of fading public interest in the environment, and the
devastating repercussions that this could have; it is clear that we
must rapidly develop strategies to counter this alarming trend.
Contact me if you don't have access to this, our original paper, or
the rebuttal for that matter. :)
Malcolm L. McCallum
Department of Environmental Studies
University of Illinois at Springfield
Managing Editor,
Herpetological Conservation and Biology
"Nothing is more priceless and worthy of preservation than the rich
array of animal life with which our country has been blessed. It is a
many-faceted treasure, of value to scholars, scientists, and nature
lovers alike, and it forms a vital part of the heritage we all share
as Americans."
-President Richard Nixon upon signing the Endangered Species Act of
1973 into law.
"Peer pressure is designed to contain anyone with a sense of drive" -
Allan Nation
1880's: "There's lots of good fish in the sea" W.S. Gilbert
1990's: Many fish stocks depleted due to overfishing, habitat loss,
and pollution.
2000: Marine reserves, ecosystem restoration, and pollution reduction
MAY help restore populations.
2022: Soylent Green is People!
The Seven Blunders of the World (Mohandas Gandhi)
Wealth w/o work
Pleasure w/o conscience
Knowledge w/o character
Commerce w/o morality
Science w/o humanity
Worship w/o sacrifice
Politics w/o principle
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any
attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may
contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized
review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not
the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and
destroy all copies of the original message.
