The human-dimensions ecology of parrots reintroduced to a city: the Kākā (Nestor meridionalis) of Wellington, New Zealand.

<p>Conflict involving wildlife and people is globally common and is one of the more difficult challenges facing conservation. The increasing trend for wildlife to colonise, or be reintroduced, to cities increases the chances of conflict occurring. It is common for people to feed wildlife which leads to an increase in their local density. This concentrates their odours, fouling, noise, nesting, property damage and in some cases, can lead to attacks on people. Wherever they have been measured, attitudes to wildlife are generally positive and robust to some damage and conflict. Nonetheless, more negative attitudes and conflict among residents are particularly likely if the wildlife impose an economic cost. Understanding how wildlife use urban environments, what influences their habitat choices in cities, particularly their relationships with people (e.g., feeding), and how these could lead to conflict and deteriorating relationships with wildlife is essential for planning future reintroductions and preventing or mitigating conflict over wildlife in cities. Kākā (Nestor meridionalis) were reintroduced to Wellington City in 2002 and they are now commonly seen in city suburbs around the reintroduction site. The number and range of kākā appears to be increasing, as are reports of damage by kākā to public and private property. Most people report positive attitudes towards kākā, and some residents intentionally feed them. At these feeders, kākā appear to congregate in larger numbers. Recent research suggests that kākā feeding and damage may be initiating a conflict among residents, especially between neighbours who do and do not feed kākā. This can lead to deteriorating attitudes towards kākā, and native wildlife and conservation generally. The aims of this thesis are to better understand 1) which factors affect the presence of kākā on residential properties, 2) which factors lead to or exacerbate damage to these properties and 3) how damage affects resident attitudes towards kākā and avifauna conservation in general. I hypothesized that kākā will be in greater densities in areas proximal to native vegetation and close to their 2002 reintroduction site. I further predicted that the damage to properties will be more common and at a greater extent at sites where more people feed kākā. As this damage increases, it will negatively impact resident attitudes, especially where the damage imposes a cost on the resident. A postal survey sent to 600 residences at 25 stratified random sites (neighbourhoods) across Wellington City suburbs was used to quantify residents’ self-reports of kākā on properties, residential feeding activity, property damage and their attitudes to kākā and avian wildlife. A total of 309 surveys were returned (52%) with 301 entirely complete and used in the final analysis. The sites were also visited to quantify their environments, particularly topographical exposure, tree size and the number of emergent trees that were hypothesised, from my anecdotal observations and the literature, to potentially be important influences on kākā distribution. An information theoretic approach was used to test current hypotheses (models) for kākā abundance on properties and property damage by compiling a candidate set of 46 models for kākā abundance and 22 for kākā damage. A repeated measures, one-way ANOVA tests was used to determine if damage negatively affected resident attitudes. Residential feeding was found to be the strongest driver of kākā presence, followed by the proximity of native vegetation. The abundance of kākā, particularly the frequency with which kākā visit properties, was found to be the best explanatory variable for the presence and scale of property damage. Damage itself was not found to be a significant driver of increasingly negative attitudes. However, the few residents spending greater than $50 to repair damage showed significantly lower attitude scores compared to those that had no expenditures. Overall, resident attitudes towards the kākā in Wellington are generally positive. However, these findings suggest that there is a causative pathway leading from residential feeding of kākā to occurrences of increasingly negative attitudes and conflict among neighbours that are sensitive to the economic cost of damage. While conflict between people and kākā in Wellington is certainly present, it is not yet widespread. However, it is likely that instances of conflict involving kākā and people will only grow as the kākā population within the city continues to increase. There is a need to seek solutions to mitigate this conflict promptly, before it reaches a tipping point in which widespread negative attitudes will be difficult to change. Financial compensation and the discouraging of feeding are discussed as recommended solutions, tailored to findings in this thesis.</p>

The human-dimensions ecology of parrots reintroduced to a city: the Kākā (Nestor meridionalis) of Wellington, New Zealand.

<p>Conflict involving wildlife and people is globally common and is one of the more difficult challenges facing conservation. The increasing trend for wildlife to colonise, or be reintroduced, to cities increases the chances of conflict occurring. It is common for people to feed wildlife which leads to an increase in their local density. This concentrates their odours, fouling, noise, nesting, property damage and in some cases, can lead to attacks on people. Wherever they have been measured, attitudes to wildlife are generally positive and robust to some damage and conflict. Nonetheless, more negative attitudes and conflict among residents are particularly likely if the wildlife impose an economic cost. Understanding how wildlife use urban environments, what influences their habitat choices in cities, particularly their relationships with people (e.g., feeding), and how these could lead to conflict and deteriorating relationships with wildlife is essential for planning future reintroductions and preventing or mitigating conflict over wildlife in cities. Kākā (Nestor meridionalis) were reintroduced to Wellington City in 2002 and they are now commonly seen in city suburbs around the reintroduction site. The number and range of kākā appears to be increasing, as are reports of damage by kākā to public and private property. Most people report positive attitudes towards kākā, and some residents intentionally feed them. At these feeders, kākā appear to congregate in larger numbers. Recent research suggests that kākā feeding and damage may be initiating a conflict among residents, especially between neighbours who do and do not feed kākā. This can lead to deteriorating attitudes towards kākā, and native wildlife and conservation generally. The aims of this thesis are to better understand 1) which factors affect the presence of kākā on residential properties, 2) which factors lead to or exacerbate damage to these properties and 3) how damage affects resident attitudes towards kākā and avifauna conservation in general. I hypothesized that kākā will be in greater densities in areas proximal to native vegetation and close to their 2002 reintroduction site. I further predicted that the damage to properties will be more common and at a greater extent at sites where more people feed kākā. As this damage increases, it will negatively impact resident attitudes, especially where the damage imposes a cost on the resident. A postal survey sent to 600 residences at 25 stratified random sites (neighbourhoods) across Wellington City suburbs was used to quantify residents’ self-reports of kākā on properties, residential feeding activity, property damage and their attitudes to kākā and avian wildlife. A total of 309 surveys were returned (52%) with 301 entirely complete and used in the final analysis. The sites were also visited to quantify their environments, particularly topographical exposure, tree size and the number of emergent trees that were hypothesised, from my anecdotal observations and the literature, to potentially be important influences on kākā distribution. An information theoretic approach was used to test current hypotheses (models) for kākā abundance on properties and property damage by compiling a candidate set of 46 models for kākā abundance and 22 for kākā damage. A repeated measures, one-way ANOVA tests was used to determine if damage negatively affected resident attitudes. Residential feeding was found to be the strongest driver of kākā presence, followed by the proximity of native vegetation. The abundance of kākā, particularly the frequency with which kākā visit properties, was found to be the best explanatory variable for the presence and scale of property damage. Damage itself was not found to be a significant driver of increasingly negative attitudes. However, the few residents spending greater than $50 to repair damage showed significantly lower attitude scores compared to those that had no expenditures. Overall, resident attitudes towards the kākā in Wellington are generally positive. However, these findings suggest that there is a causative pathway leading from residential feeding of kākā to occurrences of increasingly negative attitudes and conflict among neighbours that are sensitive to the economic cost of damage. While conflict between people and kākā in Wellington is certainly present, it is not yet widespread. However, it is likely that instances of conflict involving kākā and people will only grow as the kākā population within the city continues to increase. There is a need to seek solutions to mitigate this conflict promptly, before it reaches a tipping point in which widespread negative attitudes will be difficult to change. Financial compensation and the discouraging of feeding are discussed as recommended solutions, tailored to findings in this thesis.</p>

Local Resident Attitudes to the Sustainable Development of Urban Public Transport System

This article presents a study of the attitude of metropolis residents to the environmental development of the urban public transport system. The authors set a goal to assess the influence of values on the assessment of environmental initiatives of city authorities in the field of public transport and their attitude to innovations in this sphere. In the course of the study, four clusters reflecting the values of the respondents were identified. The results showed support for innovations that do not require changes in the transport behavior of the individual. At the same time, we observe differences in the perception of initiatives by representatives of different clusters when the innovation affects their transportation behavior. Hypotheses were tested as an analysis result of empirical data by determining the synthetic indices of values using factor analysis, the classification of respondents based on the obtained indices to identify groups with similar values using cluster analysis, and an analysis of the relationship of the classification results by values using contingency tables and chi-square criterion. The scientific novelty of the study is to assess the impact of values of metropolis residents on the perception of environmental conditions and their change in the city.

Community Perceptions of Tree Risk and Management

Urban forests (trees growing in urban and peri-urban areas, including villages and large cities) are vital to mitigating the effects of climate change and urbanization but require special considerations such as risk mitigation in developed landscapes. Despite abundant research on risk perceptions of natural hazards, there is limited knowledge about risk perceptions associated with urban trees. As such, this research examines community perceptions of urban tree risk mitigation with a focus on four cities in the U.S. south. To better understand risk perceptions and mitigation, this study employs key informant interviews with community members. Guided by a socio-ecological resilience framework, the findings identify factors affecting resident attitudes towards tree management on the individual parcel and the community levels. The findings benefit tree risk governance in the face of climate variability, which increases societal and environmental vulnerability in urban settings.

Comparing the Effects of Design Thinking and A3 Problem-Solving on Resident Attitudes Toward Systems Change

ABSTRACT Background Quality improvement (QI) is a required component of graduate medical education. Many medical educators struggle to foster an improvement mindset within residents. Objective We conducted a mixed-methods study to compare a Design Thinking (DT) approach to QI education with a Lean, A3 problem-solving approach. We hypothesized that a DT approach would better promote a mentality of continuous improvement, measured by residents' resistance to change. Methods Thirty-eight postgraduate year 2 internal medicine residents were divided into 4 cohorts during the 2017–2018 academic year. One cohort participated in an experimental QI curriculum utilizing DT while 3 control cohorts participated in the existing curriculum based on Lean principles. Participants voluntarily completed a quantitative Resistance to Change (RTC) scale pre- and post-curriculum. To inform our understanding of these results, we also conducted semistructured interviews for qualitative thematic analysis. Results The effect size on the overall RTC score (response rate 92%) was trivial in both groups. Three major themes emerged from the qualitative data: factors influencing the QI learning experience, factors influencing creativity, and general attitudes toward QI. Each contained several subthemes with minimal qualitative differences between groups. Conclusions This study found similar results in terms of their effect on attitudes toward systems change, ability to promote creative change agency, and educational experience. Despite positive educational experiences, many residents still did not view systems-based problem-solving as part of their professional identity.

Comparison of Attitudes Towards Roadside Vegetation Management Across an Exurban Landscape

Exurban development is the fastest growing land use across the United States (US). Its prevalence on the East Coast is susceptible to natural disaster events such as hurricanes and nor’easters. However, the socio-ecological processes related to disaster mitigation within exurban areas remain understudied. Our objective was to integrate social and landscape data to compare resident attitudes towards utility roadside vegetation management across four areas in the state of Connecticut, US. We collected data from residents using two mail surveys completed in 2017 and 2019 (n = 1962). From the survey questions, three attitude variables measured perceptions of the utility vegetation management process, and tradeoffs between protecting trees and maintaining reliable power. Across all locations, respondents with more favorable attitudes toward vegetation management were more likely to have greater knowledge about trees, and beliefs that trees should be used for human benefit; land cover characteristics and sociodemographic variables were less strongly associated with attitudes scores. Respondents differed among study areas in their preferences for aesthetics of roadside trees and their basic beliefs regarding the importance of trees. The results suggested that social processes within the exurban landscapes are spatially heterogeneous. Therefore, local variation in residential preferences for vegetation management may influence support for natural disaster management policy.

Risk perception, trust and support for wildlife reintroduction and conservation

Summary Wildlife reintroduction projects often face resistance from local residents who see potential conflicts with the species or lack trust or confidence in the agencies and professionals involved in reintroduction. Yet the linkages between trust, confidence, risk perceptions, attitudes towards the species and local support for its reintroduction are not well known. The Dual-Mode Model of Cooperation and Cognitive Hierarchy Model were theoretical frameworks used to shed light on these linkages by exploring the potential roles trust and confidence play as mediators between risk perceptions and attitudes towards, and support for, reintroduced elk in Tennessee (USA). A mail survey of 1005 residents living in the five-county area surrounding the North Cumberland Elk Restoration Zone assessed resident attitudes and risk perceptions towards the reintroduced elk, trust towards the managing wildlife agency and support for continued conservation efforts. A structural equation model revealed that trust and confidence play positive roles in mitigating risk perceptions and improving support for the reintroduction of elk. The findings confirm the roles public trust and confidence play in wildlife reintroductions and should help agencies work towards building local trust and confidence, minimizing risks, improving attitudes and increasing the chances for successful outcomes for the species and people.

Evaluating Residents’ Perceptions of Nature-Based Tourism with a Factor-Cluster Approach

The purpose of the research presented here was to empirically assess resident perceptions of tourism development around the Changbai Mountain Biosphere Reserve (CMBR), a protected area straddling the China and North Korea border. Several theoretical approaches to the assessment of local resident attitudes towards tourism were reviewed and integrated into a novel factor-cluster assessment of residents in Erdaobaihe, the community most adjacent to CMBR. This analysis quantitatively grouped residents based on their perceptions of tourism’s economic, social, cultural, and environmental consequences for the town. An exploratory factor analysis of resident perceptual items first revealed six perception domains, and a subsequent cluster analysis then identified four distinct groups of residents based on these perceptions. A descriptive profile of each cluster and the significant differences among clusters are provided. Advancing our theoretical understanding of resident perspectives of tourism development, this cluster-based segmentation approach, demonstrated here, holds much promise for elaborating on the many ways that residents respond to new and long-standing forms of tourism in their communities. These theoretical and methodological contributions will be applicable to scholars as well as tourism practitioners and policy makers.