Context

1. Coins to conservation: how do the values of avifauna to Australian society affect conservation outcomes? Gill Ainsworth, Heather Aslin, Stephen Garnett: Charles Darwin University Mike Weston: Deakin University Charles Darwin University

2. Context 1st year of PhD: Social Values of Australian Threatened Birds ARC Linkage project: ‘Increasing the effectiveness & efficiency of threatened bird conservation’ Action Plan for Birds - Biophysical - Institutional - Social Influence of values on conservation outcomes for threatened native birds Charles Darwin University

3. How do Australians Value Native Birds? • native bird species known • valued most widely - values held for threatened & non-threatened native species • values held for particular • native threatened species Charles Darwin University

4. Values Value: ‘relative worth, merit or importance’ of something:  cannot be observed directly only through their expression in the form of attitudes & behaviours Values are critical: • personal goals: good & bad, right & wrong • interpret events & information • across situations & events Social science perspective:  person’s values towards wildlife  thinking & behaviour in wildlife situation (Manfredo 2008) Charles Darwin University

5. Values: Attitudes: Behaviours: enduring Attitudinal research changeable Cary et al 2000 Charles Darwin University

6. Wildlife Values Research Traditionally: Attitudes tested by empirical research, socio-psychological surveys, representative samples: “I think duck hunting is ok as long as the bird is not endangered” However, knowledge of individual native taxa across Australian society will likely be highly erratic: - variation in prevalence, characteristics and distribution of bird taxa - iconic / locally significant / expert knowledge Measure of values reflected across society for native birds can reveal public interest in and perceptions of individual species Charles Darwin University

7. Developing a Typology of Bird Values Developing a Typology of Bird Attitudes No precedent for valuing an entire class of fauna such as Australian native birds (~720 species) Review of commonly used empirical approaches to valuing wildlife • KELLERT, S. R. (1976) Perceptions of Animals in American Society. 41st North American Wildlife Conference. • - 9 values categories, quantitative • CAMPBELL, L. & SMITH, C. (2006) What Makes Them Pay? Values of Volunteer Tourists: Working for Sea Turtle Conservation. Environmental Management, 38, 84-98 • - 8 values categories, qualitative Charles Darwin University

8. Native Bird Values Typology expressions of group identity or social experiences & objects of specialized attachments Which of these values does society hold for threatened birds? The social values of Australian birds….??? mastery & control of birds (sport); being a good naturalist interrelationships between bird species & natural habitats material benefit of bird habitat to human society (development) physical attributes & biological functioning of birds spiritual meaning or message attached to birds material benefit of bird products to human society (food) physical attractiveness & symbolic characteristic of birds strong affection for individual animals exciting experiences with birds in their natural habitat increases / decreases in bird populations conflict between birds & humans duty to protect & preserve birds ? Utilitarian- consumption Utilitarian-habitat Aesthetic physical Aesthetic symbolic Anthopomorphic Conservation Ecological Spiritual Biophysical Experiential Moralistic Mastery Negative 13 value categories Charles Darwin University

9. Measuring Bird Values in Australian Society Charles Darwin University

10. 8 8 conservation Threatened or extinct (117 species) Least concern, intro, vagrant (606 species) Some Very Preliminary Data Value indicator data normalised, averaged and ranked to select top 20 species for further study Charles Darwin University

11. Implications for Threatened Bird Conservation Communications: - talk to target groups in their language (policymakers, artists, hunters etc) - mainstream bird conservation Better understanding of how society perceives threatened birds - as a group, as species, as individuals Threatened species management: - identify who holds which values - examine priorities currently given to individual species - mitigate potential clashes / reinforce consensus Charles Darwin University

12. With grateful thanks to… Heather Aslin, Stephen Garnett, Mike Weston, Judit Szabo State / territory conservation departments Birdwatching tour companies National galleries and libraries Australian Defence Forces Conservation volunteer groups Australian Institute of Sport Regional shire councils QLD Joan Dawes Noela Edwards Jean Tucker Maureen Cooper NT Fiona Douglas Michael Honer Tim Schinkel NSW / ACT David Collyer Mimmo Cozzolino Susan Freeman Vanessa Keyzer Cilla Kinross Hollis Taylor Les Terrett Andrea Wild WA Ian Abbott Greg Barrett Fiona Colbeck Clive Nealon Kirsty Sadler VIC Rob Buttrose, Grace Lewis, Megan Moore, Alan Sergi, Janelle Thomas, Paris Yves Charles Darwin University

13. Please send comments or questions to: gill.ainsworth@cdu.edu.au Charles Darwin University