Motivations and attitudes to (not) take action for climate change adaptation in protected areas
International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management
ISSN: 1756-8692
Article publication date: 16 May 2016
Abstract
Purpose
Implementing climate change adaptation measures immediately is considered both to minimize considerably negative impacts on biodiversity as well as on outdoor recreation in protected area management. This study aims to give answers, why, however, climate change issues receive very limited implementation by practitioners in day-to-day-management.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a motivation model by Rheinberg (2006), a more differentiated understanding was gained why stakeholders took almost no action regarding climate change adaptation. A participatory spatial scenario method including a map exercise was used to motivate stakeholders to develop, discuss, exchange and negotiate strategies under different possible future developments and their implementation in protected area management.
Findings
According to the motivation model, taking action is dependent on a number of factors and will only happen when all correlations are positive. It can be shown that for adaptation to climate change, concerning almost all of the various factors, no stimuli existed or actors expected a positive outcome when taking action. More motivation was generated for halting the loss of biodiversity and visitor management. In the participatory spatial scenario planning work, stakeholders from different sectors and decision-makers found consensus to implement integrated strategies, considering adaptation to climate change, reduction of greenhouse gases, better protection of biodiversity and different future developments in outdoor recreation activities.
Originality/value
The paper demonstrates the importance of single motivation factors such as perceived competence, abilities to act and perceived positive outcomes including rewards for taking action. Using participatory spatial scenario planning methods can be powerful tools to stimulate joint action, though implementing organizations must be willing to make real use of the outcome of such work.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The work was sponsored by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation with funds from the German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (FKZ 3,510 87 0,100). We would like to thank all participating stakeholders, Elisabeth Hamzi-Schmidt for polishing the language and the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments.
Citation
Lupp, G., Heuchele, L., Renner, C., Syrbe, R.-U., Konold, W. and Siegrist, D. (2016), "Motivations and attitudes to (not) take action for climate change adaptation in protected areas", International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 356-374. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCCSM-02-2015-0015
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited