Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida, MSD, 2080, Malta.
Institute of Earth Systems, University of Malta, Msida, MSD, 2080, Malta.
J Environ Manage. 2021 Sep 1;293:112771. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112771. Epub 2021 Jun 1.
Connectedness to nature (CNT) is likely to be a strong influence on how local communities and stakeholders respond to designation and management of protected areas. This study explores relationships between CNT and location, using the Maltese Islands as a case study. The intensity of CNT, as expressed by a sample of household respondents across the islands (n = 401), was measured using the Nature Relatedness Scale (NRS). Respondents were also asked to indicate places that are significant for their own connection with nature. Results were mapped and analysed with respect to the location of two types of protected areas: Natura 2000 sites and Urban Conservation Areas. The bulk of special places of high CNT identified by respondents were located in or very close to Natura 2000 sites, regardless of respondents' place of residence and regardless of protected area size. Protected natural areas are therefore important loci of community attachment with nature. Managers of such sites can potentially leverage this attachment to enhance community engagement in conservation and to contribute to increased nature connectedness in the community. However, this study also noted a not-insignificant contribution to CNT from urban or non-protected sites, providing support for adoption of landscape approaches that focus holistically on spaces that provide a context for daily life.
与自然的联系（CNT）很可能对当地社区和利益相关者如何应对保护区的指定和管理产生重大影响。本研究以马耳他群岛为例，探讨了 CNT 与地理位置之间的关系。通过对岛上 401 户家庭样本的自然相关性量表（NRS）的测量，得出了 CNT 的强度。受访者还被要求指出对他们与自然的联系有重要意义的地方。结果根据两种类型的保护区的位置进行了映射和分析：Natura 2000 地点和城市保护区。受访者确定的具有高 CNT 的特殊地点大部分位于 Natura 2000 地点内或非常靠近 Natura 2000 地点，而不论受访者的居住地和保护区的大小如何。因此，自然保护区是社区与自然联系的重要场所。这些地点的管理者可以利用这种联系，增强社区对保护的参与，并促进社区中与自然的联系的增加。然而，本研究还注意到，城市或非保护区对 CNT 的贡献也不小，这为采用景观方法提供了支持，这种方法全面关注为日常生活提供背景的空间。
