Thesis (MPhil (Sustainable Development Planning and Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Conventional environmental education programmes appear to have limitations in
precipitating the radical change needed to solve major environmental problems. In
this study the potential of wilderness experience (WE) as a catalyst for developing
ecoliteracy and consequent adoption of environmentally responsible behaviour
(ERB), are discussed. Attitudinal changes and adoption of ERB by adult participants,
following a weekend WE conducted in the Pilanesberg National Park, located in the
North-West Province of South Africa, were probed through group and individual
interviews over a period of time. Results indicate that WE may be a significant
catalyst in developing ecoliteracy, while effects on adoption of ERB are diluted by
several factors – both personal and structural (societal). The role of the wilderness
guide in facilitating effective re-connection with nature, and stimulating the
development and growth of ecoliteracy in individual participants in the WE, is
highlighted. It is suggested that WE provides a substantive addition to the
mechanisms available for experiential environmental education programmes, in that
it accesses different ways of learning that focus on the emotional and spiritual
elements of the human connection to nature.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/3018 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | De Wet, Benita |
| Contributors | Robertson, Gavin, Theron, Francois, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Management and Planning. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1062483 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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