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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