Laura E. Anderson

SCUBA Diver Specialization and Behavior Norms at Coral Reefs

SCUBA diving is an increasingly popular activity that provides a number of benefits to coastal communities. However, the sustainability of recreational diving on coral reefs is largely dependent on the health of reef ecosystems. Divers can minimize their impacts to coral reefs through responsible diving behaviors, which are in part guided by social norms. The behavioral obligation and sanction components of twelve diving behaviors were determined for Florida Keys divers throughout the course of a year. Recognizing that recreationists are not homogenous, these norms were compared according to diver specialization level. Specialized divers felt a stronger obligation not to touch corals and to pick up garbage from the sea floor than did less specialized divers. Specialized divers also reported they would feel greater embarrassment for losing buoyancy control, touching corals, taking pieces of dead corals, or touching marine mammals. The findings point to a connection between specialization level and social norms, and a relationship to ensuring continued reef health.

Normative standards for wildlife viewing in parks and protected areas

With increasing public interest in wildlife watching, there is a need to develop methods to better inform management of quality viewing opportunities. In this study, normative methods using indicators and standards of quality are applied at two diverse parks/protected areas: a popular national park in Alaska and a lesser known wildlife refuge in New Hampshire. Three potential indicators of quality are identified that can be used to help define and manage wildlife viewing opportunities, and a range of potential standards of quality are developed for these indicator variables. In general, normative standards of visitors to the two study areas were salient and moderately to highly crystallized. Furthermore, study findings indicate that visitors are currently experiencing high-quality wildlife viewing at both sites. Wildlife viewing indicators and standards developed at these diverse study locations may be applicable at a wide range of parks and protected areas.

Eco-labeling motorcoach operators in the North American travel tour industry: analyzing the role of tour operators

Tourist transportation is a major contributor of emissions and environmental pollutants. Eco-labels can encourage more sustainable tourism by informing consumers’ purchasing decisions, while utilizing market forces to initiate environmental responsibility among competing firms. The Green Coach Certification pilot eco-label program was introduced to the motorcoach industry in 2009 as part of a university research program. Although the literature addresses relationships between end-user consumers and eco-labels, little research has been published on mid-supply chain actors and tourism eco-labels. Tour operators are intermediaries between end-users and motorcoach operators and are important potential consumers of eco-labeled transportation services. To understand the role of tour companies as both consumers and providers of green services and eco-labeled products, a survey was administered to North American tour operators. Results demonstrate tour operator interest in a tourism transportation eco-label; however, this interest may be secondary to traditional considerations like price, reputation for safety and service, and previous partnerships. Ninety percent of tour operators indicated that environmental practices held some importance when choosing a transportation provider; approximately 50% said they would pay between 1% and 5% more for an eco-labeled coach company. Findings have important implications for the design and implementation of eco-labeling programs for sustainable tourism and transportation.

Normative standards for coral reef conditions: a comparison of SCUBA divers by specialization level.

Abstract Previous research suggests that recreationists develop preferences for certain resource characteristics as they become more specialized. In this study, normative standards for resource conditions at coral reefs in the Florida Keys were compared among three specialization groups of SCUBA divers. Norm intensity was significantly greater among more specialized divers for three of four resource conditions studied—coral bleaching, algae cover, and presence of fish. Likewise, evaluations for individual conditions were generally more extreme among specialized divers for the same three resource conditions. However, divers differed significantly by specialization in their evaluations of just one underwater visibility condition. Study findings point to a connection between specialization level and social norms for resource conditions that are compatible with a healthy reef ecosystem.

Ecolabels for Passenger Transportation: Understanding Motorcoach Company Receptiveness to a Pilot Green Certification Program

ABSTRACT In 2009, an internet survey was administered to members of two motorcoach associations to examine sustainability in the passenger transportation sector in the context of environmental certification. Higher levels of company leader familiarity with green practices, more positive company leader attitudes towards these practices, and more green practices within a company were found among groups of company leaders who indicated a greater willingness to participate in a pilot certification program. Additionally, significant positive correlations were found between company leader familiarity with environmental practices, company leader attitudes towards environmental practices, and the number of environmental practices at companies.