Attitudes to wetland restoration in Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire, UK

Contemporary attitudes to wetlands were examined in two sites in Britain, t o assess perceptions and thus educational failings as a barrier to wetland restoration. Results showed that adults' altitudes were more positive than previous literature suggests: 56% were aware of the importance of wetlands for biodiversity, and 73% were supportive of their restoration. Social grou ps had significantly different attitudes to wetlands (p < 0.002), which may result largely from a difference between farmers and the public (p < 0.001 ). Additionally a near-significant difference (p < 0.08) was detected betwe en genders, with woman possibly more positive. Motivation for wetland conse rvation tended to be ethical, with 74% willing to pay, and 71% willing to v ote, for wetland conservation. Whilst larger surveys are required to assess the generality of these results, there is reason for optimism that some fo rm of education is improving public perception, despite concerns about nega tive conditioning amongst children (Anderson and Moss 1993).