Serious Hikers and Backpackers tend to become Supporters of Environmental and Conservation Groups

Just read this interesting article about the relationship between Serious hikers and backpackers and support of environmental and conservation groups. I found it topical and very interesting.

Oliver Pergams, visiting research assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Illinois and Patricia Zaradic, director of the Red Rock Institute in Pennsylvania along with Peter Kareiva, chief scientist at the Nature Conservancy has come up with some interesting findings. They have found that only people who engage in vigorous outdoor sports, like hiking and backpacking, tend later to become supporters of mainline conservation groups. Those who only go sightseeing or fishing do not become hardcore conservationists.

The scientists say the key to conservation awareness and support is to spread the message of conservation to children early in life with appropriate educational programs that introduce them to vigorous outdoor recreation. If we don’t do this they are not going to care about nature when they get older.

The findings have important bearing for conservation. Environmental groups depend on a very narrow base of support. This base is shrinking with economic downturn. Pergams says the finding is a wake-up call to environmental groups that their base is shrinking.

Details of the research are reported in the journal PLoS ONE dated October 09.