| Abstract |
This study examined the awareness and perceptions of the conservation values of a local community living in newly developed suburbs on the southwestern urban fringe of Melbourne, Australia. The suburbsborder a series of Ramsar listed wetlands, a coastal park and foreshore reserves managed by the Victorian protected area management authority. The wetlands and coastal park in the study area have high biodiversity values, provide important habitat for a variety of fauna species, including migrating birds and support a number of different vegetation communities. Previous studies have shown that increasing urbanization has resulted in a more visitors and a subsequent rise in unauthorized activities and potentially harmful use (Antos et al., 2007).The primary aims of this study were to 1) to explorethe local communities awareness, perception, attitudes and usage of the local parksand 2) identify potential compelling messages and triggers that can influence local resident attitudes and behavior. |
