Global population shifts have put increasing pressure on water resources. As a result, the availability, use, and allocation of has become the source of conflict and contention. Dwindling surface and ground water supplies,... [ view full abstract ]
Global population shifts have put increasing pressure on water resources. As a result, the availability, use, and allocation of has become the source of conflict and contention. Dwindling surface and ground water supplies, increasing demands for municipalities, industry and commerce, agriculture, natural resource and recreational water uses, and decreasing water quality assure the continuation of conflicts among private and public stakeholders, with the potential for far-reaching social, economic, and environmental consequences. This growing conflict emphasizes the need to understand the diversity of values, beliefs, and attitudes that members of the public hold about the allocation of water resources. Using data collected from an internet-based survey, dimensions for basic beliefs about water conservation were developed. Respondents were clustered based on their level of agreement to these basic belief dimensions. These clustered respondents were then compared on attitudinal preferences regarding priorities for water allocation and municipal strategies for water conservation. Results supported the existence of distinct segments based on value-laden basic beliefs about water conservation and the connection of these segments with preferences toward specific water management strategies.
Of the 557 respondents (76% response rate), all segments were quite positive toward voluntary conservation of water by households. The Economy-Centered segment appeared to be more politically conservative, reflected in a negative basic belief regarding the use of government regulation to conserve water and preferred an economic emphasis to an environmental emphasis in water conservation. The Environment-Centered segment appeared more politically liberal in their belief in government regulation of water conservation and preferred emphasizing the natural environment to the economy in water conservation. The Neutral-Focused segment did not hold strong basic beliefs regarding government regulation and biocentrism (economy versus environment).
Values-based segmentation, when connected with specific preferences for management actions, can help inform water managers when making future water conservation and policy decisions. Successful water management is essential to ensuring an adequate and sustainable supply of water for commercial, agricultural, and municipal uses. To manage the allocation of water resources across a complex social landscape, water managers and scientists alike must gain an understanding of the concerns and values of diverse and often-competing stakeholders.
Topics: Social-ecological systems as a framework for conservation management , Topics: Natural Resource and Conservation Stakeholders: Managing Expectations and Engageme
