Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
Community leadership; Community leadership; Wetlands--Public opinion; Academic theses;
Abstract
This study focuses on ascertaining the understanding of wetlands by selected community and state leaders and determining the source of that knowledge. Because of the subjects' positions of influence, this information may become an important element in understanding the decisions made by those community and state leaders. An interview survey was designed and piloted for this study. Community and state leadership positions were first delineated and then individuals selected from each category. The subjects varied considerably in their knowledge of wetlands, showed the presence of professional expediency, and agreed that regulation in some form is necessary. The wetlands knowledge held by these persons was limited to that which was pragmatic for dealing with the immediate problems and issues related to their positions. The method of learning left substantial knowledge gaps, specifically as related to wetland functions and their importance to the community at large. Most of the subjects of this study were not able to define the specific source of their wetland knowledge. Vague references to reading, public radio, and "being there" were identified as their knowledge source. The incomplete descriptors of wetlands and their function suggested these sources were insufficient. Wildlife, which is prominent in current media presentations, was identified as being a part of wetlands by all those surveyed. Recreation, which is also widely promoted, was broadly recognized as a wetland function. The presence of successful media promotion demonstrated by nonprofit organizations is suggested as a potential method of wetlands education. The presence of existing examples of demographic targeting and media promotion show that successful methods of comprehensive wetlands education may be possible. Public knowledge and support of wetlands description and their function may be enhanced by effective use of programmatic and media promotion.
Year of Submission
1997
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Biology
First Advisor
David McCalley
Second Advisor
Daryl D. Smith
Third Advisor
Roy D. Unruh
Date Original
1997
Object Description
1 PDF file (101 leaves)
Copyright
©1997 Donald Nathan Bardole
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Bardole, Donald Nathan, "Understanding of Wetlands as Expressed by Selected Community Leaders" (1997). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 1997.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/1997
Comments
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