 Wetlands
Loss
In California, where more than 90 percent of our original
wetlands have been converted to other uses, we need the citizens
of our state to take an interest in our remaining wetlands
and the wildlife associated with these areas. Hands-on education
is the key to making citizens aware of the issues, involving
them in the outdoors, and creating a self-motivating desire
to conserve our wetlands and wildlife resources. No matter
what the initial level of knowledge and interest, the end
result must be an ability and willingness to get involved
as life-long stewards of our natural resources.
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| Cornell
Research
“Participating in wild nature activities before age
11 is a particularly potent pathway toward shaping both environmental
attitudes and behaviors in adulthood,” says environmental
psychologist Nancy Wells, who is assistant professor of design
and environmental analysis at Cornell University.
A recent study by Wells explored childhood nature experiences
and adult environmentalism using a sample of more than 2,000
adults living in urban areas throughout the country. “Although
domesticated nature activities – caring for plants and
gardens – also have a positive relationship to adult
environment attitudes, their effects aren’t as strong
as participating in such wild nature activities as camping,
playing in the woods, hiking, walking, fishing, and hunting,”
Wells says. To learn more click
here>> |
