The Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is an important estuary along Florida’s east coast. It is known for its ongoing water quality issues attributed to human activity in the watershed, which has resulted in extensive restoration and conservation efforts. This study researches the relationship between public perception and sentiment toward sustainable development initiatives and how they influence conservation and restoration in the Indian River Lagoon watershed. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with IRL experts who work in the government, academia, nonprofit, or nongovernmental sectors to discuss public sentiment and engagement practices within the watershed. The responses were analyzed using a causal layered analysis, which highlighted social, political, and economic factors that influence public attitudes on various initiatives within the IRL ecosystem. Based on the findings, improved relationship building and diversity in IRL stakeholders are important to ensuring comprehensive community engagement with environmental stewardship and management.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ucf.edu/oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:hut2024-1086 |
| Date | 01 January 2024 |
| Creators | Wells, Zanielle |
| Publisher | STARS |
| Source Sets | University of Central Florida |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Honors Undergraduate Theses |
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