What predicts community members’ intentions to take action to protect koalas?
Kelly Fielding
A * , Dan Lunney B C D , Jonathan Rhodes E , Ross Goldingay F , Scott Hetherington G , Angie Brace H , Lorraine Vass I , Marama Hopkins G , Linda Swankie I , Nicole Garofano E , William Goulding E J and Clive McAlpine E
A Communication and Arts, University of Queensland Faculty of Arts, Saint Lucia, Australia.
B New South Wales Department of Planning Industry and Environment, Parramatta, Australia.
C School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
D Australian Museum, Sydney, Australia.
E School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland – Saint Lucia Campus, Brisbane, Australia.
F Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, Australia.
G Tweed Shire Council, Murwillumbah, Australia.
H Lismore City Council, Lismore, Australia.
I Friends of the Koala, Lismore, Australia.
J Queensland Museum South Bank, Biodiversity Program, South Brisbane, Australia.
Pacific Conservation Biology 29(1) 26-37 https://doi.org/10.1071/PC21041
Submitted: 1 July 2021 Accepted: 5 December 2021 Published: 3 February 2022
© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing
Abstract
Context: Without urgent action, koalas could be extinct in New South Wales (NSW), Australia by 2050. Despite the key role that community members could play in koala protection, we know little about what might motivate them to engage in these actions.
Aims: This study surveyed residents (n = 585) of local government areas of far north east NSW to identify demographic and social-psychological factors associated with likelihood of engaging in actions that could help to protect koalas.
Methods: A survey using a multi-pronged recruitment process was administered to relevant participants.
Key results: Binary logistic regression analyses revealed that the likelihood of joining a community conservation group was greater in the Byron shire and for those with a stronger environmental identity, more positive attitudes toward koalas and who perceived that others who are important to them take action to protect koalas. Byron residents, those with a stronger environmental identity and those with more knowledge about koalas were also more likely to advocate government for koala protection. Positive attitudes towards koalas and perceptions that others who are important to them take action to protect koalas significantly predicted likelihood of restoring native vegetation on respondents’ properties. Gender emerged as the only significant predictor of likelihood of joining council conservation initiatives.
Conclusions: These findings provide insights that could help guide the efforts of government and non-government agencies in engaging community members with koala protection.
Implications: This study identified which factors to target when focusing on koala protection behaviours, and can be used to help guide efforts to build community support for koala protection actions.
Keywords: attitudes, conservation, descriptive norms, environmental identity, environmental knowledge, koalas, perceived threats, psycho-social.
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