Author(s):
Jongnam Choi* - Western Illinois University
Seok-Hoi Yim - Daegu University
Darrel Barker - Development Services Division, City of Flagstaff, Arizona
Abstract:
Current Illinois residents' public knowledge and perception of wetlands and wetland compensatory mitigation policies have been identified across demographic and socioeconomic groups. Illinois residents appear to be very familiar with wetland and the consequence of destroying wetlands. They are largely unfamiliar with the governmental wetland policies that are currently in effect, but they are in favor of stricter government regulations concerning wetland areas. Significant gaps were found in knowledge of wetlands and familiarity with governmental wetland policies between genders and between income levels. Proximity to wetlands improves public perceptions and knowledge by offering frequent opportunities to visit wetlands. Regression results, however, indicate that the differences across demographic and socioeconomic groups are greater than proximity to wetlands. The visitation to wetlands is the most important determinant of public knowledge of wetlands and their familiarity with governmental wetland policies. This study implicates that the publicity of wetland issues can minimize an inequality in public perception and familiarity of these issues, regardless their proximity to wetlands.
