Protecting place, protecting nature: predicting place-protective behaviors among nature preserve visitors

Public support for natural areas and engagement in place-specific pro-environmental behaviors (PS-PEB) has predominantly focused on individuals’ relationships with and attachments to a specific place. However, recent discussions suggest that individuals’ general connection to nature is equally important in determining individuals’ willingness to engage in PS-PEB. Within the context of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, an urban nature preserve in Albany, NY, we surveyed preserve visitors (n = 1,938) to examine the independent predictive power of place attachment and environmental identity (EID) on individuals’ intention to perform PS-PEB. Utilizing a series of multivariate regression models, we found that both place attachment and EID were independent predictors of individuals’ intention to engage in PS-PEB in support of the APBP. We suggest that future research should further examine the relationship between place attachment and EID in the context of both place-specific and general pro-environmental behaviors (PEB).