URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND ITS EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL

VALUES By: Frank SicignanoSiena College515 Loudon Rd.Loudonville, NY 12211-1459

School for Field StudiesCentre for Rainforest Studies,Yungaburra, Queensland, Australia

29th April, 2015Research Advisor: Dr. Justus Kithiia

Background Info 54% of the worlds population lives in urban

areas. 83% of Australia’s population lives along

the coast within 5 large urban centers Wet Tropics WHA established in 1988 to

protect Rainforests of Far North Queensland

Background Many environmentalists have shared the

claim that human detachment from nature is the prime cause of environmental problems.

Programs working to bring rural country experience to residents of Urban Areas

Study Aim The aim of this study is to examine residents’

proximity to protected natural areas and urban centers in relation to their environmental values and sense of place

Determine present effects that urban development has on how people connect with nature develop ways to mitigate disconnect.

Study Design Cross-Sectional Surveys

closed and open-ended questions Convenience Sampling

In-person interviews

Participants/Location• 10 towns in the Wet

Tropics Region• Interviews were

conducted in Mission Beach, Port Douglas, Mossman, Daintree, and Cape Tribulation

• Previous data used from Yungaburra, Atherton, Innisfail, Malanda, and Kuranda

• Total interviewees=376 Frank Sicignano Google Earth

Ethical Considerations All surveys were conducted under

strict confidentiality. No personal information besides

age, occupation and, town was recorded.

Personal consent forms were made available to those who wanted them.

Importance of Protected Natural Areas

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.000.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

Average Distance from WHA (km)

Perc

ent o

f Res

iden

ts S

urve

yed

Frequency of Visits to Protected Natural Areas

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.000.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

RarelyLinear (Rarely)FrequentlyLinear (Frequently)

Average Distance from WHA (km)

Perc

ent o

f Res

iden

ts S

urve

yed

Discussion Residents Value of Natural Protected

Area increased the further they got from WHA but frequency of visits decreased.

Biggest complaint was lack of amenities and infrastructure due to regulations set by WTMA.

Sense of Connection with Nature

0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.000.00%

20.00%

40.00%

60.00%

80.00%

100.00%

Average Distance from WHA (km)

Perc

ent o

f Res

iden

ts S

urve

yed

Discussion Sense of Connection with nature

decreased as distance from WHA increased.

Increased Distance from WHA meant less access for residents of more urban areas.

Implications Key to solving Environmental problems

is eliminating the disconnect between people and nature

Determine and develop new programs to increase level of interaction between urban residents and the Environment

Will lead to residents becoming more educated and involved with Environmental Matters

Limitations Converting previous years data to 1-3

scale. Differing interview styles between

interviewers How much each respondent was willing

to share

Future Studies study can be expanded in the future to look

at how these values change across the entire nation

results could then be compared with other studies preformed internationally to see how the values of residents change in more urbanized countries.

Acknowledgements I would like to thank Dr. Justus Kithiia,

our resident intern Carina Easley-Appleyard, my fellow researchers, and all of our respondents for their help and participation in this study.

Photo by: Ryan O’Keefe

Works Cited Brunn, S. D., Hays-Mitchell, M., & Zeigler, D. J. (2008). Cities of

the World: World Regional Urban Development (4th Edition ed.). Lanham, Maryland, United States of America: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Burnley, I. H. (1980). The Australian Urban System: Growth, change, and differentiation. Melbourne, Australia: Longman Cheshire

Davison, A. (2008). The trouble with nature: Ambivalence in the lives of Urban Environmentalists. Geofourm , 39, 1284-1295

Kahn, M. E. (2007). Spatial Growth: The Environmental Cost of Sprawl in the United States. In M. E. Kahn, Green Cities: Urban Growth and the Environment (pp. 110-129)

Any Questions?

Photo by: Frank Sicignano