Biodiversity conservation incentives and the theory of planned behaviour

Beckwith, J.A. and Clement, S. (2008) Biodiversity conservation incentives and the theory of planned behaviour. In: 28th Annual Conference for International Association for Impact Assessment: The Art and Science of Impact Assessment, 4 - 10 May, Perth, Western Australia.

Abstract

In Western Australia, many local governments are looking to incentives strategies to encourage private landowners to maintain remnant bushland and wetlands on their properties in peri-urban areas. With the rapid urbanization of the Perth metropolitan region, the conservation of wetlands and bushland on private property is critical for both their ecosystem services and many social values. Local governments and resource managers want to invest in those incentives that will be most effective in facilitating positive biodiversity conservation behaviours on the part of private landowners. A study of landowner perceptions in a peri-urban area near Perth demonstrates how Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour can provide valuable insights to the design of a bushland conservation incentives strategy targeting private landowners. According to Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behaviour, behavioural intention is the best predictor of actual behaviour. Behavioural intention is influenced by three major factors: the person’s attitude toward the behaviour, the influence of the person's social environment or subjective norm, and perceived control over the opportunities, resources, and skills necessary to perform the behaviour.

Item Type:	Conference Item
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Environmental Science
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/22109

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