The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the Conservation Education programmes of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) in Pretoria, South Africa, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe, Uganda and Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, in order to devise a Model for an effective zoo Conservation Education Programme. A mixed-methods strategy, namely concurrent triangulation, was used for data-collection. The quantitative method was that of surveys by means of group-administered questionnaires. The population for the quantitative study was school groups that visited the zoos. The qualitative research questions were addressed by means of individual semi-structured interviews. Interpretive analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The participants of the qualitative study were staff members at the zoos and other key figures in the zoo – and conservation sector. The impact of Conservation Education programmes of the zoos were evaluated by means of a logic model. The quantitative results indicated that the Conservation Education programmes were successful in increasing the knowledge of the learners and in increasing their intention to change behaviour. This study further indicated that, although attending zoo Conservation Education programmes has the potential to increase the attitudes and values of learners, this was not always the case. Furthermore, the results show that when learners tested high with regard to their knowledge, attitudes and values prior to attending a Conservation Education programme, their knowledge, attitudes and values will not change significantly after they attended a Conservation Education programme. Furthermore, the results of the qualitative study indicated that the evaluation of Conservation Education programmes and the training of zoo educators should receive more attention to ensure the success of these programmes. It can be concluded that the role of zoos have become even more important to conserve biodiversity through their Conservation Education programmes. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

By following a climate-friendly diet, consumers have the potential to reduce climate change. However, despite the growing awareness of the climate-friendly food options that are available, consumers still choose foods with a high carbon footprint. Following a survey design, this study aimed to determine the extent to which four psychological processes (denial, conflicting goals and aspirations, tokenism, and interpersonal influence) limit consumers’ climate-friendly food choices in South Africa. Data were collected from 151 participants using the Climate-friendly Food Choices Scale and the Psychological Barriers Scale. Regression analysis indicated that conflicting goals and aspirations and denial were the two main psychological barriers to climate-friendly food choices. Overall the barriers were negatively associated with climate-friendly food choices. Gender did not produce a significant effect in the study. Different age groups varied with regards to the extent to which they experienced the psychological barriers, but they did not differ significantly with regards to how often they made climate-friendly food choices. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Studiens mål är att bidra till kunskapsutveckling om hur unga människor utvecklar handlingskompetens för hållbar utveckling. Med handlingskompetens för hållbar utveckling avses i studien vilja och förmåga att påverka livsstil och levnadsvillkor på ett sätt sominkluderar intergenerationellt och globalt ansvar. I avhandlingen introduceras begreppet avståndsmoral för att beskriva detta ansvar, som utsträcker sig i både tid och rum, till kommande generationer och till nu levande människor globalt. En utgångspunkt för studien är att hållbar utveckling innefattar idén om avståndsmoraliskt ansvar. Studiens huvudfråga är: Hur erfar avståndsmoraliskt aktivt handlande unga människor att de utvecklat handlingskompetens för hållbar utveckling? Studiens teorigrund är livsvärldsfenomenologisk. En upplevd verklighet undersöks i studien via berättelser. Genom ett strategiskt urval har tre intervjupersoner, som motiverar sina handlingar med avståndsmoraliska argument, valts att ingå i studien. Datainsamlingen har skett genom en kombination av öppna livsberättelseintervjuer ochhalvstrukturerade intervjuer. Analys och tolkning har metodologiskt stöd i berättelseforskningstraditionen och empirisk fenomenologisk forskning. Resultaten presenteras som tre citatrika levnadsberättelser om Karin, Carl och Matilda, tre unga vuxna med flera års engagemang i hållbarhetsfrågor. Syftet med levnadsberättelserna är att bidra till förståelse av det speciella i en enskild individs upplevelse av attutveckla handlingskompetens för hållbar utveckling. En integrerande analys redovisar mönster i form av likheter och skillnader mellan de tre individernas berättelser om att utveckla olika aspekter av handlingskompetens i avståndsmoraliska frågor. Sex gemensammakärnpoänger framstår som betydelsefulla: känslomässiga reaktioner, upplevd kompetens, kontrasterande perspektiv och normativ grund, handlingsimpregnering, tillit från och tillit till vuxna samt social gemenskap kontra utanförskap. Som motiv och drivkrafterför engagemanget framstår känslomässiga reaktioner som initierar önskan om förändring och vilja till handling, längtan efter meningsfullhet, önskan om att komma till sin rätt och längtan efter gemenskap. Resultaten diskuteras i förhållande till tidigare forskningoch en modell av en möjlig väg att utveckla aspekter av handlingskompetens för hållbar utveckling presenteras. Diskussionskapitlet utmynnar i fyra didaktiska utmaningar för enutbildning för hållbar utveckling. / The aim of the study at hand is to develop knowledge about the process of developing action competence for sustainable development. The overall research question explored is: How do young people experience that they have developed aspects of action competence forsustainable development? For the purposes of this study, action competence for sustainable development is defined as willingness and capability to act for changes in individual life style, as well as for structural changes of society, in a way that includes responsibility for present and future generations,globally. Life-world phenomenology provides the theoretical foundation of the study. Through purposive sampling, individuals have been found who, through different action strategies, engage in sustainability issues as for example climate change, bio-diversity and social justice. From a larger sample, three young adults have been selected for several life storyinterviews. Data has been analyzed and interpreted by use of narrative methodology. The result is presented as three stories, presented as thick descriptions, through whichthe winding paths towards aspects of action competence, as experienced, appear. This is followed by an integrative analysis presenting six themes that have emerged in theanalyses as relevant in the process of developing action competence for sustainable development: emotional reactions; perceived competence; contrasts and normative foundation;action permeation; trust and faith from adults and in adults; and social belonging in contrastto outsidership. Major motives and driving-forces for sustainability actions that emerge inthe stories are: emotional reactions initiating a desire for change and a desire to act; longingfor meaningfulness; a desire to feel comfortable with what you can contribute; and longing for belongingness. The findings are discussed in relationship to previous research and a modelof a possible way to develop aspects of action competence for sustainable development is introduced. This dissertation is part of a project supported by Formas, The Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning.

Five suggested experiments from tested Pro-environmental behavior change studies made in different advance economy countries were applied in the emerging economy tourist destination: Samalayuca Sand Dunes Park in Ciudad Juárez, Chih. México.  Results show that promoting connectivity between  the tourist and the destination, framing actions for tourists who are not aware about sustainable practices, encouraging sustainable actions with non monetary incentives, and reminding tourists faults against the environment are sucessful techniques to enhance pro-environmental behaviors in tourists; while a combination of these practices may enhance positive spillover to increase such actions and thus, helping to close the ”holiday” gap or the unsustainable behavior tourists show during travel. / Cinco experimentos para un comportamiento pro-ambiental sugeridos por diferentes estudios en la materia, son aplicados al destino turístico de Las Dunas de Samalayuca en el municipio de Juárez, Chih. México.  Los resultados prueban que la conección entre el turista y la comunidad que visita, junto con la delimitación de acciones pro-ambientales, la promoción de acciones sustentables con actividades no monetarias, y el recordar las faltas anti-sustentables en el pasado, son ténicas que funcionan para motivar al turista a tener un comportamiento pro-ambiental (en este caso, no tirar basura). Los resultados también muestran que una combinación de éstos experimentos promueve la realización de acciones sustentables más complicadas o con mayor responsabilidad, como recoger la basura de otros, o el reciclaje. / <p>The presentation was given as ViVA, were all opponents and exponents were students. </p> / Pro-environmental behavior in masses

On the frontier of biodiversity-rich tropical forests, how land is used has an important role in buffering the primary ecosystem. Unsustainable small-scale cattle farming endangers soil quality and degrades the landscape. Silvopasture is a type of agroforestry that provides both ecological and livelihood benefits. A number of projects have been implemented across the tropics to encourage silvopasture adoption, with varying success. This dissertation questions the reasons for variable outcomes among participants within these projects: what motivates smallholders to adopt innovative land-use practices, and what form of incentives may help to overcome obstacles and catalyse adoption. This dissertation contributes to the ongoing debate on payments for ecosystem services, specifically about their suitability and effectiveness. To understand what influences decisions to adopt sustainable land-use practices, I review systematically and quantitatively the literature on adoption predictors, and I empirically analyse participation and short-term adoption in a pilot project for planting fodder trees in the border of a protected forest in Chiapas, Mexico, using primary and secondary data. I focus on subjective perspectives and livelihood strategies of actual and potential participants as explanatory variables, which have received unduly scarce attention in past studies. This lack of attention is partially caused by the difficulties of operationalising internal variables. I address this challenge by developing an analytical approach that increases the precision of the resulting perspectives in Q methodology. I cluster livelihood strategies and model adoption. This in-depth case-study suggests the type of incentives that are adequate to encourage adoption of sustainable land-use practices. Results indicate that payments may not be the best incentive for pioneer adopters, and that the adoption process is composed of separate individual steps, which are influenced distinctly by identifiable predictors, such as livelihood diversity. Uncovering this heterogeneity of motivations towards adoption provides useful knowledge for designing more effective external policy interventions.

Denna studie är en fallstudie av Equmeniakyrkans kampanj Klimatfastan, där de under 40 dagar uppmanade medarbetare och medlemmar att se över sitt klimatavtryck och göra beteendeförändringar utifrån detta. Tidigare forskning visar att religiösa miljöaktioner skiljer sig från sekulära miljöaktioner gällande metoder, fokus och budskap. Studien ämnaratt undersöka hur Klimatfastan genomfördes, vilka effekter kampanjen hade påmedlemmars miljömedvetna beteende samt vilka svårigheter och framgångsfaktorer som kunde identifieras. För attkunna dra slutsatser utifrån ett bredare perspektiv, undersöktes den nationella organisationen och en lokal församling i Equmeniakyrkan. Materialet som användes för att besvara studiens frågeställningar bestod av tre intervjuer med Equmeniakyrkans personal, en enkät riktad till en lokal församling och ett internt dokument. Resultatet visar att Equmeniakyrkansanvändning av resurser förstärktes genom användning av vad Bomberg och Hague (2018) definierar som andliga resursergenom hela processen. Detta identifierades som en framgångsfaktor för kampanjen. En skillnad mellan den nationella organisationen och den lokala församlingen var möjligheten att förutse och hantera hinder för medlemmarnas deltagande i kampanjen. / This is acase study that examines the UnitingChurch in Sweden ́s (UCS) campaign “Klimatfastan” (Climate Fasting), during which members were encouraged to examine their carbon footprints and make lifestyle changes accordingly for40 days. Previous research shows that religious environmental groups differ from secular groups when it comes to methods, focus areas and messages. The aim of this study was to examine how the Climate Fastingwas implemented, which effects the campaign had on members’ pro-environmental behaviour,and which strengths and weaknesses the campaign had. To be able to draw conclusions based on a wider perspective, the campaign was examined through the lens of the national organisation and a local congregation. The material used to answer the study’s research questions consisted of three interviews with staff at UCS, a survey answered bymembers of a local congregation,and an internal document. The results show that UCS ́s use of resources was enhanced by the use of what Bomberg and Hague (2018) define asspiritual resourcesthroughout the campaign. This was identified as a strength. A difference between the national organisation and the local congregation was the ability to identify and counteract barriers for members’ participation in the campaign.

The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the Conservation Education programmes of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa (NZG) in Pretoria, South Africa, the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) in Entebbe, Uganda and Zoo Negara in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, in order to devise a Model for an effective zoo Conservation Education Programme. A mixed-methods strategy, namely concurrent triangulation, was used for data-collection. The quantitative method was that of surveys by means of group-administered questionnaires. The population for the quantitative study was school groups that visited the zoos. The qualitative research questions were addressed by means of individual semi-structured interviews. Interpretive analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data. The participants of the qualitative study were staff members at the zoos and other key figures in the zoo – and conservation sector. The impact of Conservation Education programmes of the zoos were evaluated by means of a logic model. The quantitative results indicated that the Conservation Education programmes were successful in increasing the knowledge of the learners and in increasing their intention to change behaviour. This study further indicated that, although attending zoo Conservation Education programmes has the potential to increase the attitudes and values of learners, this was not always the case. Furthermore, the results show that when learners tested high with regard to their knowledge, attitudes and values prior to attending a Conservation Education programme, their knowledge, attitudes and values will not change significantly after they attended a Conservation Education programme. Furthermore, the results of the qualitative study indicated that the evaluation of Conservation Education programmes and the training of zoo educators should receive more attention to ensure the success of these programmes. It can be concluded that the role of zoos have become even more important to conserve biodiversity through their Conservation Education programmes. / Curriculum and Instructional Studies / D. Ed. (Didactics)

No description available.

Avitourism (birding) in South Africa, with remarkable birdlife, provides economic, social and conservation opportunities. Globally, bird species are decreasing rapidly due to environmental degradation and climate change. The dependence of avitourism on natural resources is undisputable, urging further research. Avitourism research is embryonic compared to higher-order tourism markets (i.e. naturebased) and under-researched in the southern hemisphere. Despite increased international scholarship, substantial knowledge gaps remain regarding strategies to enhance sustainable avitourism. Education, encouraging changes in environmental behaviour, is essential to solve environmental problems. The current day learners influence the future state of the natural environment and consequently the sustainability of avitourism in South Africa. The research therefore aimed to develop a literacy model for sustainable avitourism aimed at secondary school learners in Gauteng (South Africa). In phase 1 of the methodological procedure, mechanisms facilitating behavioural change towards nature were explored. A conceptual literacy framework for sustainable avitourism was developed in phase 2 (theoretical contribution). Phase 3, consisted empirical research. Multi-stage sampling was used to collect primary data by distributing questionnaires at 17 purposively selected secondary schools in Gauteng from July to October 2014. The data were obtained from n = 5 488 secondary school learners (aged 13–17). Descriptive statistics provided insight into ‘environmental and avitourism literacy’ of the learners. Exploratory- and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA; CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM) were employed to test the conceptual literacy framework. Obtaining the primary objective, a literacy model for sustainable avitourism was developed and confirmed (empirical contribution). Critical paths were identified in the model to enhance the likelihood of behavioural change. The literacy model could be useful for environmental education and avitourism roleplayers, assisting in curriculum development and evaluation (practical contribution). This model could also be applied to other educational contexts, including art and music. Bird education teaches a love for birds and nature, leading to conservation and sustained birdlife, to ensure avitourism attractions in the future. The development of sustainable avitourism intervention programmes is suggested for further research. Longitudinal research could evaluate the effects of the intervention programmes.Ultimately, the learners of today are the responsible citizens and tourists of tomorrow. / Abstract in English, Sesotho and Afrikaans / Transport, Logistics and Tourism / D.Phil. (Management Studies)

[ES] El Sistema agroalimentario es uno de los principales causantes del complejo entramado de problemáticas que conforman la actual crisis ecosocial, desde el cambio climático a la pérdida de biodiversidad, pasando por la disrupción de los ciclos biogeoquímicos, los cambios de uso del suelo, la contaminación o la sobre-explotación de los recursos hídricos. En el origen de estos graves desequilibrios ambientales subyacen unos estilos de vida alta y crecientemente demandantes de materiales y energía, completamente ajenos a los límites finitos del planeta en que habitamos. Hasta ahora, en el ámbito de la alimentación, el desarrollo de estrategias para minimizar la contrapartida ambiental al consumismo de una parte del mundo se ha centrado mayoritariamente en soluciones tecnológicas (por ejemplo, la reducción de la intensidad de las emisiones de la producción mediante diferentes manejos agronómicos). Sin embargo, son escasas las probabilidades de que este tipo de medidas sea suficiente para cubrir las necesidades mínimas de la población global sin poner en riesgo el equilibrio de los ecosistemas y la vida en el planeta Tierra. La adopción de hábitos alimentarios sostenibles es una medida potencialmente al alcance de todas las personas, no solamente asociada a la reducción de la presión ambiental, sino también a una mejor salud humana. No obstante, pese a la creciente toma de conciencia social sobre las implicaciones de la alimentación sobre la salud humana y planetaria, las intenciones personales de mejorar los hábitos alimentarios se ven frustradas por la existencia de múltiples barreras de muy diversa índole. Por ello, y dada la urgencia de la situación en que nos encontramos, resulta necesaria la implementación de intervenciones que impulsen cambios a gran escala. Esta Tesis Doctoral pretende contribuir a mejorar el conocimiento sobre cómo los hábitos alimentarios sostenibles - focalizando en dietas ricas en productos vegetales y productos ecológicos, locales y de temporada - pueden ser impulsados y facilitados. Para ello, se emplea un enfoque transdisciplinar, explorando tres estrategias diferentes. En un primer lugar se analiza el potencial mitigador del cambio climático de los huertos urbanos, mediante su función de catalización de hábitos alimentarios sostenibles y la reducción de la huella de carbono de las personas que interactúan en este tipo de espacios. En segundo lugar, se realiza una segmentación de audiencias respecto a varios criterios de sostenibilidad ambiental y determinantes psico-sociales del consumo alimentario correspondientes a varios niveles cognitivos. Por último, se describe el proceso de diseño de una aplicación móvil para facilitar la adopción de hábitos alimentarios sostenibles y saludables, en la que se han integrado conocimientos de las ciencias sociales y naturales. La Tesis se presenta en formato de compendio de artículos. El primero de los capítulos corresponde a un artículo publicado en una revista de alto impacto (D1). Por otro lado, esta Tesis se ha desarrollado en el marco del programa de Doctorados Industriales de la Agencia Española de Investigación, con referencia DIN2018-009975. El desarrollo experimental ha sido realizado en la empresa ICATALIST, S.L., y corresponde al diseño de la aplicación móvil descrita en el capítulo 4. / [CA] El Sistema agroalimentari és un dels principals causants del complex entramat de problemàtiques que conformen l'actual crisi ecosocial, des del canvi climàtic a la pèrdua de biodiversitat, passant per la disrupció dels cicles biogeoquímics, els canvis d'ús del sòl, la contaminació o la sobre-explotació dels recursos hídrics. En l'origen d'estos greus desequilibris ambientals subjauen uns estils de vida alta i creixentment demandants de materials i energia, completament aliens als límits finits del planeta en què habitem. Fins ara, en l'àmbit de l'alimentació, el desenvolupament d'estratègies per a minimitzar la contrapartida ambiental al consumisme d'una part del món s'ha centrat majoritàriament en solucions tecnològiques (per exemple, la reducció de la intensitat de les emissions de la producció mitjançant diferents manejos agronòmics). No obstant això, són escasses les probabilitats que este tipus de mesures siga suficient per a cobrir les necessitats mínimes de la població global sense posar en risc l'equilibri dels ecosistemes i la vida en el planeta Terra. L'adopció d'hàbits alimentaris sostenibles és una mesura potencialment a l'abast de totes les persones, no solament associada a la reducció de la pressió ambiental, sinó també a una millor salut humana. No obstant això, malgrat la creixent presa de consciència social sobre les implicacions de l'alimentació sobre la salut humana i planetària, les intencions personals de millorar els hàbits alimentaris es veuen frustrades per l'existència de múltiples barreres de molt diversa índole. Per això, i donada la urgència de la situació en què ens trobem, resulta necessària la implementació d'intervencions que impulsen canvis a gran escala. Esta Tesi Doctoral pretén contribuir a millorar el coneixement sobre com els hàbits alimentaris sostenibles - focalitzant en dietes riques en productes vegetals i productes ecològics, locals i de temporada - poden ser impulsats i facilitats. Per a això, s'empra un enfocament transdisciplinar, explorant tres estratègies diferents. En un primer lloc s'analitza el potencial mitigador del canvi climàtic dels horts urbans, mitjançant la seua funció de *catalización d'hàbits alimentaris sostenibles i la reducció de la petjada de carboni de les persones que interactuen en esta mena d'espais. En segon lloc, es realitza una segmentació d'audiències respecte a diversos criteris de sostenibilitat ambiental i determinants psicosocials del consum alimentari corresponents a diversos nivells cognitius. Finalment, es descriu el procés de disseny d'una aplicació mòbil per a facilitar l'adopció d'hàbits alimentaris sostenibles i saludables, en la qual s'han integrat coneixements de les ciències socials i naturals. La Tesi es presenta en format de compendi d'articles. El primer dels capítols correspon a un article publicat en una revista d'alt impacte (D1). D'altra banda, esta Tesi s'ha desenvolupat en el marc del programa de Doctorats Industrials de l'Agència Espanyola d'Investigació, amb referència DIN2018-009975. El desenvolupament experimental ha sigut realitzat en l'empresa *ICATALIST, S.L., i correspon al disseny de l'aplicació mòbil descrita en el capítol 4. / [EN] The agri-food system is one of the main causes of the complex and tangling problems that make up the current eco-social crisis, from climate change to biodiversity decline, including the disruption of biogeochemical cycles, changes in land use, pollution or the over-exploitation of water resources. At the origin of these serious environmental disturbances lie the expansion of lifestyles that are highly and increasingly demanding of materials and energy, completely unconnected to the finite limits of the planet we inhabit. Until now, in the food domain, the development of strategies to minimize the environmental repercussions of consumerism in one part of the world has mainly focused on technological solutions (for example, the intensity reduction of production emissions through different agronomic management techniques). However, the chances that these types of measures will be sufficient to cover the minimum needs of the global population without putting at risk ecosystems' balance and life on planet Earth are low. The adoption of sustainable eating habits is a measure potentially within the reach of all people, not only associated with the reduction of environmental pressure but also with better human health. However, despite the growing social awareness of the implications of diet on human and planetary health, personal intentions to improve eating habits can be frustrated by the existence of multiple barriers of very diverse kinds. For this reason, and given the urgency of mitigating current environmental problems, the implementation of interventions that promote large-scale changes is necessary. This Doctoral Thesis aims to increase existing knowledge about how the adoption of sustainable eating habits - focusing on plant-rich diets based on organic, local, and seasonal products - can be promoted and eased. To do this, a transdisciplinary approach is used, exploring three different methodologies. First, the climate change mitigating potential of urban gardens is analysed, through the catalysing of sustainable eating habits and reducing the carbon footprint of the people who interact in these types. Secondly, a segmentation of audiences is carried out with a multi-criteria sustainability scope and psychosocial determinants of food consumption corresponding to various cognitive levels. Finally, the design process of a mobile application to facilitate the adoption of sustainable and healthy eating habits is described, in which knowledge from social and natural sciences has been integrated. The Thesis is presented in the format of a compendium of articles. The first chapter corresponds to an article published in a high-impact journal (D1). On the other hand, this Thesis has been developed within the framework of the Industrial Doctorate program of the Spanish Research Agency, with reference DIN2018-009975. The experimental development has been carried out in the company ICATALIST, S.L., and corresponds to the design of the mobile application described in Chapter 4. / This thesis has been developed within the framework of the Industrial Doctorate program of the Spanish Research Agency, with reference DIN2018-009975. / Puigdueta Bartolomé, I. (2024). Strategies for Climate Change Mitigation and Environmental Sustainability through Changes in Food Behaviour Increasing the Adoption of Plant-Rich Diets Based on Organic and Local Food Products [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/205587