TY - JOUR
T1 - Conservation education program for threatened Asian horseshoe crabs
T2 - A step towards reducing community apathy to environmental conservation
AU - Kwan, Billy K.Y.
AU - Cheung, Joe H.Y.
AU - Law, Anniqa C.K.
AU - Cheung, S. G.
AU - Shin, Paul K.S.
PY - 2017/2/1
Y1 - 2017/2/1
N2 - Long-term and locally-based public education programs are essential in supporting conservation initiatives for horseshoe crab protection, particularly in Asia, where their populations have been largely exploited for food and biomedical applications. However, the implementation of such conservation initiatives can be difficult due to a community's ingrained apathy towards the environment. In addition, the effectiveness of similar education programs to engage the community in conservation work has rarely been assessed. We described the implementation strategies of a conservation education program in Hong Kong, with the objective to improve the community's awareness, engagement and environmental attitudes towards the conservation of Asian horseshoe crabs. This study evaluated the program's outreach, outcomes and impacts between 2009 and 2016. By raising laboratory-cultured juvenile horseshoe crabs at local secondary schools, this long-term conservation education program succeeded in enhancing students’ knowledge on the biology and ecology of horseshoe crabs, as well as promoting positive attitudes and behaviors towards relevant conservation issues. Lessons and recommendations derived from this program can serve as guidance for similar campaigns in other places.
AB - Long-term and locally-based public education programs are essential in supporting conservation initiatives for horseshoe crab protection, particularly in Asia, where their populations have been largely exploited for food and biomedical applications. However, the implementation of such conservation initiatives can be difficult due to a community's ingrained apathy towards the environment. In addition, the effectiveness of similar education programs to engage the community in conservation work has rarely been assessed. We described the implementation strategies of a conservation education program in Hong Kong, with the objective to improve the community's awareness, engagement and environmental attitudes towards the conservation of Asian horseshoe crabs. This study evaluated the program's outreach, outcomes and impacts between 2009 and 2016. By raising laboratory-cultured juvenile horseshoe crabs at local secondary schools, this long-term conservation education program succeeded in enhancing students’ knowledge on the biology and ecology of horseshoe crabs, as well as promoting positive attitudes and behaviors towards relevant conservation issues. Lessons and recommendations derived from this program can serve as guidance for similar campaigns in other places.
KW - Asian horseshoe crab
KW - Community participation
KW - Conservation
KW - Environmental education
KW - Public awareness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85007242056&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85007242056&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1016/j.jnc.2016.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jnc.2016.12.002
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
SN - 1617-1381
VL - 35
SP - 53
EP - 65
JO - Journal for Nature Conservation
JF - Journal for Nature Conservation
ER -
