Rhodes Heather M, Leland Louis S, Niven Brian E
Department of Zoology, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Environ Manage. 2002 Nov;30(5):665-77. doi: 10.1007/s00267-002-2714-7.
We assessed relationships between the extent to which farmers reported exposure to relevant information and their attitudes towards, knowledge about, and degree of adoption of riparian management strategies. We also examined associations between knowledge of, or receipt of, financial assistance for riparian fencing/planting and intentions for and extent of adoption of this strategy. A mail survey of 718 pastoral farmers in Otago and Southland in New Zealand [294 surveys returned (41%)] yielded 279 usable questionnaires. Indices were developed to reflect range and frequency of information use and range of practices adopted. Attitudes were measured using Likert-type responses to 11 statements, and knowledge as a score on a ten-question true/false test. Positive relationships between information and the three main response variables (attitude, knowledge, and adoption) were weak but significant and systematic. These associations remained significant when important demographic and farm characteristics were taken into account. Informed farmers were more likely to report intentions to carry out riparian fencing or planting within the next year. Farmers who were aware that funding was available were also more likely to state this intention, independent of information level. The reported extent to which waterways had been fenced to exclude stock was related to receipt of funding, but not to information level. Financial factors were the most influential barrier preventing adoption of permanent fencing. Our research shows a positive correlation between the receipt of information and funding and the adoption of specific riparian management measures.
我们评估了农民报告接触相关信息的程度与他们对河岸管理策略的态度、知识以及采用程度之间的关系。我们还研究了河岸围栏/种植获得财政援助的知识或接受情况与采用该策略的意图和程度之间的关联。对新西兰奥塔哥和南地的718名牧民进行了邮件调查[共收回294份调查问卷（41%）]，得到了279份可用问卷。制定了指数以反映信息使用的范围和频率以及所采用做法的范围。态度通过对11条陈述的李克特式回答来衡量，知识则通过对一份十道是非题测试的得分来衡量。信息与三个主要反应变量（态度、知识和采用情况）之间的正相关关系较弱，但显著且具有系统性。当考虑到重要的人口统计学和农场特征时，这些关联仍然显著。了解情况的农民更有可能报告在明年进行河岸围栏或种植的意图。知道有资金可用的农民也更有可能表明这一意图，与信息水平无关。报告的水道围栏以排除牲畜的程度与获得资金有关，但与信息水平无关。财务因素是阻碍采用永久性围栏的最具影响力的障碍。我们的研究表明，信息和资金的获取与特定河岸管理措施的采用之间存在正相关关系。
