Charles Darwin University

Coins to conservation: how do the values of avifauna to Australian society affect conservation outcomes?

Gill Ainsworth, Heather Aslin, Stephen Garnett: Charles Darwin University Mike Weston: Deakin University

Coins to conservation: how do the values of avifauna to Australian society affect conservation outcomes?

Gill Ainsworth, Heather Aslin, Stephen Garnett: Charles Darwin University Mike Weston: Deakin University

Charles Darwin University

Context

ARC Linkage project:

‘Increasing the effectiveness &

efficiency of threatened bird

conservation’

Action Plan for Birds

- Biophysical- Institutional

- Social

Influence of values on

conservation outcomes for

threatened native birds

1st year of PhD:

Social Values of Australian

Threatened Birds

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How do Australians Value Native Birds?

- native bird species known

- valued most widely

- values held for threatened & non-threatened native species

- values held for particular native threatened species

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Values

Value: ‘relative worth, merit or importance’ of something:

cannot be observed directly only through their expression in the form of attitudes & behaviours

Values are critical:

personal goals: good & bad, right & wrong interpret events & information across situations & events

Social science perspective: person’s values towards wildlife thinking & behaviour in wildlife situation

(Manfredo 2008)

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enduring

changeable

Cary et al 2000

Values: Attitudes: Behaviours:

Attitudinal research

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Wildlife Values Research

Traditionally:Attitudes tested by empirical research, socio-psychological surveys, representative samples:

“I think duck hunting is ok as long as the bird is not endangered”

Measure of values reflected across society for native birds can reveal public interest in and perceptions of individual species

However, knowledge of individual native taxa across Australian society will likely be highly erratic:

- variation in prevalence, characteristics and distribution of bird taxa

- iconic / locally significant / expert knowledge

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Developing a Typology of Bird AttitudesDeveloping a Typology of Bird Values

No precedent for valuing an entire class of fauna such as Australian native birds (~720 species)

Review of commonly used empirical approaches to valuing wildlife

CAMPBELL, L. & SMITH, C. (2006) What Makes Them Pay? Values of Volunteer Tourists: Working for Sea Turtle Conservation. Environmental Management, 38, 84-98

- 8 values categories, qualitative

KELLERT, S. R. (1976) Perceptions of Animals in American Society. 41st North American Wildlife Conference.

- 9 values categories, quantitative

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Native Bird Values Typology

The social values of Australian birds….???

Biophysical

physical attributes & biological functioning of birds

expressions of group identity or social experiences & objects of specialized attachments Aesthetic

symbolic

physical attractiveness & symbolic characteristic of birds

Aesthetic physical

spiritual meaning or message attached to birds

Spiritual

strong affection for individual animals

Anthopomorphic

increases / decreases in bird populations

Conservation

interrelationships between bird species & natural habitats

Ecological

mastery & control of birds (sport); being a good naturalist

Mastery

duty to protect & preserve birds

Moralistic

exciting experiences with birds in their natural habitat

Experiential

conflict between birds & humans

Negative

material benefit of bird products to human society (food)

Utilitarian-consumption

Which of these values does society hold for threatened birds?

?

material benefit of bird habitat to human society (development)

Utilitarian-habitat

13 value categories

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Measuring Bird Values in Australian Society

Native Bird Values (13) Value Indicators (22)

Aesthetic symbolic Media stories, council logos, coins, faunal emblems, stamps, symbols, ADF mascots, place names, sports teams

Aesthetic physical Media stories, artworks, voice

Spiritual Media stories, journal articles, Aboriginal myths

Anthropomorphic Media stories, figures of speech

Biophysical Media stories, journal articles

Conservation Media stories, volunteer programs, journal articles

Ecological Media stories, natural heritage list, journal articles

Mastery Media stories, game hunting, birdwatching, captive birds

Moralistic Media stories

Experiential Media stories

Negative Media stories, pests

Utilitarian-consumption Media stories, (Indigenous consumption, commercial industries)

Utilitarian-habitat Media stories

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3% 4%

18%

9%

10%

22%

5%

8%

6%

4%

11%0%0%

Spiritual

Aesthetic Physical

Symbolic

Conservation

Mastery

Ecological

Anthropomorphic

Moral

Experiential

Negative

Scientific

Utilitarian Consumption

Utilitarian Habitat

Least concern, intro, vagrant (606 species)

8

0%1%

21%

32%

11%

12%

2%

9%

4%1%

5% 0%2%

Threatened or extinct (117 species)

8

conservation

Some Very Preliminary Data

Value indicator data normalised, averaged and ranked to select top 20 species for further study

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Implications forThreatened Bird Conservation

Better understanding of how society perceives threatened birds

- as a group, as species, as individuals

Threatened species management:

- identify who holds which values

- examine priorities currently given to individual species

- mitigate potential clashes / reinforce consensus

Communications:

- talk to target groups in their language (policymakers, artists, hunters etc)

- mainstream bird conservation

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With grateful thanks to…

NSW / ACTDavid Collyer Mimmo CozzolinoSusan FreemanVanessa Keyzer Cilla Kinross Hollis TaylorLes TerrettAndrea Wild

NTFiona DouglasMichael HonerTim Schinkel

QLDJoan DawesNoela Edwards Jean Tucker Maureen Cooper

VICRob Buttrose, Grace Lewis, Megan Moore, Alan Sergi, Janelle Thomas, Paris Yves

WAIan AbbottGreg Barrett Fiona Colbeck Clive NealonKirsty Sadler

Heather Aslin, Stephen Garnett, Mike Weston, Judit Szabo State / territory conservation departmentsBirdwatching tour companiesNational galleries and librariesAustralian Defence ForcesConservation volunteer groupsAustralian Institute of SportRegional shire councils

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Please send comments or questions to:

gill.ainsworth@cdu.edu.au