Highlights
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- We compare member and nonmember attitudes toward land trusts.
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- Nonmembers are more likely to hold indifferent, ambivalent or negative attitudes.
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- We examine the difference between indifference and ambivalence among nonmembers.
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- Indifference is characterized by a lack of feelings toward land trusts.
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- Ambivalence is characterized by having both positive and negative feelings.
Abstract
Private,
not-for-profit land trusts have become major players in U.S.
conservation efforts in the last 50 years. During this period membership
in land trust organizations has grown. Despite the expansion of land
trusts and land trust membership, little is known about public attitudes
and beliefs about these organizations. To address this gap, we fielded a
mail survey to members of a regional land trust in Indiana and a sample
of nonmembers that reside in the areas served by that organization. In
addition to examining differences in land trust members and nonmembers
in terms of their demographic characteristics, recreation habits,
awareness and use of land trust properties; we examined land trust
beliefs and attitudes. Drawing from recent developments in attitude
theory, the study employed a two-dimensional/bivariate model that
allowed us to assess attitudes and distinguish between two forms of
neutral attitudes toward land trusts – ambivalence (equal positive and
negative feelings) and indifference (lack of any feelings). The study
results indicated that, on average, land trust members were slightly
older, better educated, and had lived in the area for shorter period of
time than nonmembers. Members were also more likely to engage in
non-consumptive outdoor activities like hiking and bird watching, while
nonmembers were more likely to fish and hunt. Members also tended to
have more positive attitudes toward land trusts and were more likely to
express positive associations with land trusts. Nonmember attitudes
demonstrated greater variability; specifically compared to members,
nonmembers were more like to hold indifferent, ambivalent, or negative
attitudes toward land trusts. Additional analysis comparing these three
non-member groups provided insight into differences in their behaviors,
knowledge, and underlying beliefs. We conclude with a discussion of the
implications for organizational policy and outreach efforts.
Graphical abstract
Keywords
- Land trusts;
- Attitudes;
- Land use planning;
- Conservation easements;
- Non-profit membership;
- Private land conservation
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