Revised! FOR-62, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Martha C. Monroe, Adam C. Watts, and Leda N. Kobziar, provides some background information on air quality, the effects of smoke on human health and safety, and regulations concerning the... more
Revised! FOR-62, a 5-page illustrated fact sheet by Martha C. Monroe, Adam C. Watts, and Leda N. Kobziar, provides some background information on air quality, the effects of smoke on human health and safety, and regulations concerning the use of prescribed fires and the smoke produced by them, as well as strategies for protecting air quality. Includes links to websites with further information. Published by the UF School of Forest Resources and Conservation, February 2009. FOR 62/FR058: Where There's Fire, There's Smoke: Air Quality and Prescribed Burning in Florida (ufl.edu)
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Public Engagement with Science (PES) is a popular topic in the science community due to general concerns about public support for science, attitudes toward science, and changes in scientific funding requirements. PES may be especially... more
Public Engagement with Science (PES) is a popular topic in the science community due to general concerns about public support for science, attitudes toward science, and changes in scientific funding requirements. PES may be especially relevant in conservation disciplines as the public plays an important role in conservation practice. Herpetofauna specifically stand to benefit, as PES activities can help improve attitudes and conservation behavior of participants toward uncharismatic species. We assessed the current scope of herpetologists’ PES activities and investigated factors associated with their participation in PES. We used a closed-ended question survey distributed via the listservs of four American herpetological organizations. Herpetologists’ intentions to engage at least 10 hours in the next 12 months significantly differed between herpetologists with high and low conservation research focuses, but hours of engagement in the past 12 months was not significantly different a...
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This document is FOR 104, one of a series of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Center for Subtropical Agroforestry (CSTAF), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. This publication was produced... more
This document is FOR 104, one of a series of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Center for Subtropical Agroforestry (CSTAF), Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. This publication was produced by the University of Florida with assistance from a grant from USDA/CSREES/IFAFS. First published August 2002. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr136
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... The authors thank colleagues of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation and the Center for Subtropical Agroforestry (CSTAF) with grateful acknowledgment to Andrea Garcia, SoumyaMohan, Kristina Stephen, and Kiara Winans for... more
... The authors thank colleagues of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation and the Center for Subtropical Agroforestry (CSTAF) with grateful acknowledgment to Andrea Garcia, SoumyaMohan, Kristina Stephen, and Kiara Winans for assistance with this research. ...
Research Interests: Business, Sustainable agriculture, Water quality, Agroforestry, Natural Resource Management, and 12 moreProfessional Training, Agriculture, Applied Economics, Incentive, Soil Conservation, Forestry Sciences, Public Administration and Policy, Program Design, Natural Resource, Water Quality, Information Need, and Wildlife Habitat
Prescribed fire is an important tool to manage some ecosystems, yet this message is a challenge to communicate to the public. The 2,282 wildfires that burned in Florida in 1998, causing $800 million in lost timber and tourist revenues,... more
Prescribed fire is an important tool to manage some ecosystems, yet this message is a challenge to communicate to the public. The 2,282 wildfires that burned in Florida in 1998, causing $800 million in lost timber and tourist revenues, underscore the impact of wildfire and the importance of using prescribed fire to ensure public safety. To understand public attitudes, knowledge, and behavioral intentions regarding wildland fire, we reviewed newspaper coverage of the 1998 wildfires and surveyed a random sample of 673 rural and suburban Florida residents living in counties experiencing high impacts or low impacts from the fires. The media and the survey respondents reported that the main benefit of prescribed burning was preventing more destructive fires. Media coverage and public opinion differed on the detrimental effects of prescribed burning. The media reported the spread of fire as a primary detriment, whereas the public reported harm to wild animals as the largest problem. Misco...
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Woody biomass is an energy source that may play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One barrier to using wood for energy is public perceptions. This article describes the results of a needs assessment survey that was... more
Woody biomass is an energy source that may play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. One barrier to using wood for energy is public perceptions. This article describes the results of a needs assessment survey that was used to develop a public outreach program. Survey responses from 298 residents of Alachua County, Florida suggest that respondents do not know about using wood for energy, are willing to be engaged in the decision-making process, and are generally in favor of using waste wood as an energy source. Respondents are most concerned about sustaining nearby forests and air quality.
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ABSTRACT Zoos have the potential to help families recreate in nearby natural areas, increasing the likelihood of children playing in nature. The Paws On Children's Exhibit at Brevard Zoo (Melbourne, FL) was designed to provide a... more
ABSTRACT Zoos have the potential to help families recreate in nearby natural areas, increasing the likelihood of children playing in nature. The Paws On Children's Exhibit at Brevard Zoo (Melbourne, FL) was designed to provide a fun, educational children's play environment and to increase familiarity with and encourage family visits to the local upland and estuarine ecosystems. In this article, the authors explore through observation and survey data how children's play at a zoo exhibit can influence parents’ knowledge, perceptions, and intention to visit nearby natural areas. Survey responses reveal that adults believe the exhibit allows children to play in a more educational and imaginative manner than typical play. Most adult respondents are very satisfied with their experience at the exhibit and report increased knowledge of and interest in visiting local natural areas with their family.
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As environmental issues become more complex, the public may be less interested in becoming knowledgeable enough to participate in decisionmaking. Yet its input can be critically important in some community-based issues. A community forum... more
As environmental issues become more complex, the public may be less interested in becoming knowledgeable enough to participate in decisionmaking. Yet its input can be critically important in some community-based issues. A community forum is one tool designed to provide information, enable participants to ask questions to experts and create an open atmosphere for discussing an issue that requires relatively little investment from the participants. We used this tool to explore the issue of using wood to create electricity. Our results suggest that participants gained knowledge about the issue. As long as their concerns were addressed, nearly twice as many participants felt positive about such a proposed facility after the forum (81 per cent) than before (43 per cent, n = 108). Such activities could be successful strategies to engage the public in decision-making because they respect the real limits on time, attention and knowledge and enable people to participate at an appropriate sca...
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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the importance of a focus on ethics in sustainability education and present results from a pilot graduate‐level course titled the Ethics of Sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThis is... more
PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the importance of a focus on ethics in sustainability education and present results from a pilot graduate‐level course titled the Ethics of Sustainability.Design/methodology/approachThis is a case study presenting a qualitative evaluation from a pilot 14‐week Ethics of Sustainability course. Data are based on observations, surveys and interviews with students.FindingsStudents from diverse fields found the ethical concepts new, stimulating and crucial for their careers. Ethical concepts provide a framework for thinking about sustainable practices in their personal and professional lives.Research limitations/implicationsFindings are based on a single pilot course and post‐participation responses. Future research could explore different teaching strategies and different institutions, and use pre/post studies.Practical implicationsThis study suggests that a course on ethical principles related to sustainability is a useful and potentially ...
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ABSTRACT A survey of secondary science teachers in the SE United States (n = 746) suggests that teachers are interested in and willing to teach about climate change despite the challenges with associated with state standards and opposing... more
ABSTRACT A survey of secondary science teachers in the SE United States (n = 746) suggests that teachers are interested in and willing to teach about climate change despite the challenges with associated with state standards and opposing perspectives. Many recognize this as an opportunity to teach students about the nature of science, as well as engaging them in data analysis, systems thinking and critical thinking skills. Since many of the existing lesson plans focus on earth science, opportunities exist to make climate change locally relevant by incorporating local ecosystem impacts and policy questions into teaching activities.
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ABSTRACT Provides a sustainability-based ethical framework for decision making. Although focused on technology deployment, the framework can be applied to any decision affecting the health and well-being of present and future human and... more
ABSTRACT Provides a sustainability-based ethical framework for decision making. Although focused on technology deployment, the framework can be applied to any decision affecting the health and well-being of present and future human and non-human beings.
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... Program SRS 05-CA-11330150-105 Martha Monroe and Annie Oxarart with contributions from Alan Hodges, Matthew Langholtz, Todd LeVasseur, Lauren McDonell, Christie Staudhammer, & Jessica Tomasello School of Forest Resources and... more
... Program SRS 05-CA-11330150-105 Martha Monroe and Annie Oxarart with contributions from Alan Hodges, Matthew Langholtz, Todd LeVasseur, Lauren McDonell, Christie Staudhammer, & Jessica Tomasello School of Forest Resources and Conservation ...
EJ669240 - Partnerships for Natural Resource Education: Differing Program Needs and Perspectives of Extension Agents and State Agency Staff.
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There is increasing evidence that, with the right approach, people can be encouraged to change. From recycling, composting, and picking up pet waste to saving water, the public is adopting new behaviors and giving up old ones. The tools... more
There is increasing evidence that, with the right approach, people can be encouraged to change. From recycling, composting, and picking up pet waste to saving water, the public is adopting new behaviors and giving up old ones. The tools to do this can be found in Community Based Social Marketing (CBSM). This 6-page fact sheet was written by Paul Monaghan and Martha Monroe, and published by the UF Department of Agricultural Education and Communication, September 2013. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc149
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This guide is adapted, with permission, from Give Water a Hand Action Guide, a youth program for local environmental action. ©1996. University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. For more information on Give Water A Hand call 1-800-WATER20.
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A concern often voiced by interface residents is the continued supply of clean water to both people and natural ecosystems. Managing water in the wildland-urban interface requires an understanding of the water cycle and how urbanization... more
A concern often voiced by interface residents is the continued supply of clean water to both people and natural ecosystems. Managing water in the wildland-urban interface requires an understanding of the water cycle and how urbanization alters its pathways and rates of flow. This fact sheet briefly describes the role of forests in the water cycle and the hydrological effects
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Abstract: This booklet is one in a series of resource manuals to help teacher educators conduct environmental education (EE) teacher workshops or promote EE programs. This unit is intended for workshop facilitators to help teachers... more
Abstract: This booklet is one in a series of resource manuals to help teacher educators conduct environmental education (EE) teacher workshops or promote EE programs. This unit is intended for workshop facilitators to help teachers integrate environmental themes ...