The Impacts of Environmental and Sustainable Educational Experiences: Case Study in Hong Kong Ma Wan Park
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Environmental education experience in parks has been neglected in literature. This study aims to explore environmental and sustainable educational experiences of visitors in Hong Kong Ma Wan Park where is a nature park that combines nature, learning, and arts. The authors conducted 24 in-depth interviews with visitors to explore the views on those environmental and sustainable educational experiences. This experience is defined as visitors’ knowledge acquired through visitation, and changes of attitude and behaviours toward environmental sustainability. Data analysis shows that visitors’ environmental education experiences are reflected in “7 Rs”: 1) Refocusing on green education, 2) Reinforcing pro-environmental behaviour, 3) Responding for sustainable development, 4) Rekindling low-carbon lifestyle, 5) Respecting nature, 6) Retrieving tree information, and 7) Relaxing and enjoying art in nature. Result suggests those experiences can enable visitors to acquire authentic, professional, and specific knowledge about nature, to develop appreciative and responsible attitudes toward environment, to show philanthropic support of environmentally sustainability, and to prompt environmentally responsible behaviours. The findings of this study show that the environmental education experiences can be 5I’s inspiring, influential, informative, interactive, and innovative in terms of influencing visitors’ awareness, value, attitude, and behaviours for environmental sustainability. This study provides insights for other nature parks to design and implement creative, artistic, and interactive environmental education experiences for visitors about environmental sustainability. Implications, limitations, and future research directions were discussed.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work.
References
Ahmad, N.L., Rashid, W.E.W., Abd Razak, N., Yusof, A.N.M. and Shah, N.S.M., 2013. Green event management and initiatives for sustainable business growth. International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, 4(5), p.331.
Ballantyne, R. and Packer, J., 2009. Introducing a fifth pedagogy: Experience‐based strategies for facilitating learning in natural environments. Environmental education research, 15(2), pp.243-262.
Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. and Falk, J., 2011. Visitors’ learning for environmental sustainability: Testing short-and long-term impacts of wildlife tourism experiences using structural equation modelling. Tourism management, 32(6), pp.1243-1252.
Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. and Hughes, K., 2008. Environmental awareness, interests, and motives of botanic gardens visitors: Implications for interpretive practice. Tourism management, 29(3), pp.439-444.
Beaumont, N., 2001. Ecotourism and the conservation ethic: Recruiting the uninitiated or preaching to the converted? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 9(4), pp.317-341.
Beaumont, N., 2001. Ecotourism and the conservation ethic: Recruiting the uninitiated or preaching to the converted? Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 9(4), pp.317-341.
Bell, A., 1997. Natural history from a learner's perspective. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education (CJEE), 2(1), pp.132-144.
Blewitt, J., 2012. Understanding sustainable development. Routledge.
Boo, S. and Park, E., 2013. An examination of green intention: The effect of environmental knowledge and educational experiences on meeting planners’ implementation of green meeting practices. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 21(8), pp.1129-1147.
Brinsmead, T.S. and Hooker, C., 2011. Complex systems dynamics and sustainability: conception, method, and policy. In Philosophy of Complex Systems (pp. 809-838). North-Holland.
Cable, T.T., Knudson, D.M., Udd, E., and Stewart, D.J., 1987. Attitude changes because of exposure to interpretive messages. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 5(1).
Cavas, B. and Eylul, D., 2011. Outdoor education in natural life park: An experience from Turkey. Sci. Educ. Int, 22, pp.152-160.
Cortese, A.D., 2003. The critical role of higher education in creating a sustainable future. Planning for higher education, 31(3), pp.15-22.
Falk, J.H., 2005. Free‐choice environmental learning: framing the discussion. Environmental education research, 11(3), pp.265-280.
Farmer, J., Knapp, D., and Benton, G.M., 2007. An elementary school environmental education field trip: Long-term effects on ecological and environmental knowledge and attitude development. The journal of environmental education, 38(3), pp.33-42.
Hollinshead, K., 1999. Surveillance of the worlds of tourism: Foucault and the eye-of-power. Tourism Management, 20(1), pp.7-23.
Holloway, I., Brown, L. and Shipway, R., 2010. Meaning not measurement: Using ethnography to bring a deeper understanding to the participant experience of festivals and events. International Journal of Event and Festival Management.
Hove, H., 2004. Critiquing sustainable development: a meaningful way of mediating the development impasse? Undercurrent, 1(1).
Hudnut, W.H., 2008. Changing Metropolitan America: Planning for a Sustainable Future. Urban Land Institute.
Hudnut, W.H., 2008. Changing Metropolitan America: Planning for a Sustainable Future. Urban Land Institute.
Hughes, M. and Saunders, A.M., 2005. Interpretation, activity participation, and environmental attitudes of visitors to Penguin Island, Western Australia. Society and Natural Resources, 18(7), pp.611-624.
Kalafatis, S.P., Pollard, M., East, R. and Tsogas, M.H., 1999. Green marketing and Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour: a cross‐market examination. Journal of consumer marketing.
Kimmel, J.R., 1999. Ecotourism as environmental learning. The Journal of Environmental Education, 30(2), pp.40-44.
Kollmuss, A. and Agyeman, J., 2002. Mind the gap: why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behavior? Environmental education research, 8(3), pp.239-260.
Laing, J. and Frost, W., 2010. How green was my festival: Exploring challenges and opportunities associated with staging green events? International Journal of Hospitality Management, 29(2), pp.261-267.
Lambin, E.F., 2005. Conditions for sustainability of human–environment systems: Information, motivation, and capacity. Global Environmental Change, 3(15), pp.177-180.
Lee, W.H. and Moscardo, G., 2005. Understanding the impact of ecotourism resort experiences on tourists’ environmental attitudes and behavioural intentions. Journal of sustainable tourism, 13(6), pp.546-565.
Lugg, A. and Slattery, D., 2003. Use of national parks for outdoor environmental education: An Australian case study. Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, 3(1), pp.77-92.
Ma Wan Park., 2019. Ma Wan Park named Your Most Favorite Nature Spot in Hong Kong, Retrieved at http://www.mawanpark.com/eng/doc/Press_release_NG_Eng.pdf
Madin, E.M. and Fenton, D.M., 2004. Environmental interpretation in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: An assessment of programme effectiveness. Journal of sustainable tourism, 12(2), pp.121-137.
Manaktola, K. and Jauhari, V., 2007. Exploring consumer attitude and behaviour towards green practices in the lodging industry in India. International journal of contemporary hospitality management.
Maser, C., Beaton, C.R., and Smith, K.M., 1998. Setting the Stage for Sustainabilty: A Citizen's Handbook (Vol. 5). CRC Press.
Miles, J.C., 1991. Teaching in wilderness. The Journal of Environmental Education, 22(4), pp.5-9.
Morgan, M., Absher, J. and Whipple, R., 2003. The benefits of naturalist-led interpretive programs: Implications for user fees. Journal of interpretation research, 8(1), pp.41-54.
Myers, M.D., 2019. Qualitative research in business and management. Sage.
Orams, M.B., 1997. The effectiveness of environmental education: can we turn tourists into" greenies? Progress in tourism and hospitality research, 3(4), pp.295-306.
Pendleton, S., 1983. The Norwegian nature life approach. Journal of Experiential Education, 6(1), pp.10-14.
Prugh, T. and Assadourian, E., 2003. What is sustainability, anyway? World Watch, 16(5), pp.10-10.
Russell, C.L., 1999. Problematizing nature experience in environmental education: The interrelationship of experience and story. Journal of Experiential Education, 22(3), pp.123-137.
Sartori, S., Latrônico, F. and Campos, L., 2014. Sustainability and sustainable development: a taxonomy in the field of literature. Ambiente & sociedade, 17(1), pp.01-22.
Saylan, C. and Blumstein, D., 2011. The failure of environmental education (and how we can fix it). University of California Press.
Sekaran, U. and Bougie, R., 2016. Research methods for business: A skill building approach. john wiley & sons.
Silverman, D., 2013. Doing qualitative research: A practical handbook. Sage.
Smith, K.A. and Lockstone, L., 2009. Involving and keeping event volunteers: Management insights from cultural festivals. People and work in events and conventions: A research perspective, pp.154-167.
Stiglitz, J.E., Sen, A. and Fitoussi, J.P., 2009. Report by the commission on the measurement of economic performance and social progress.
Swarbrooke, J., 1999. Sustainable tourism management. Cabi.
Tisdell, C. and Wilson, C., 2005. Perceived impacts of ecotourism on environmental learning and conservation: turtle watching as a case study. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 7(3), pp.291-302.
Tubb, K.N., 2003. An evaluation of the effectiveness of interpretation within Dartmoor National Park in reaching the goals of sustainable tourism development. Journal of sustainable tourism, 11(6), pp.476-498.
Veal, A.J., 2006. Research methods for leisure and tourism: a practical guide
Welford, R., Ytterhus, B. and Eligh, J., 1999. Tourism and sustainable development: an analysis of policy and guidelines for managing provision and consumption. Sustainable development, 7(4), pp.165-177.
Wiles, R., and Hall, T.E., 2005. Can interpretive messages change park visitors’ views on wildland fire? Journal of Interpretation Research, 10(2), pp.18-34.
Wilson, A., 1989. Qualitative Market Research: A Practitioner's and Buyer's Guide by W. Gordon and R. Lang maid. Journal of Marketing Management, 5(2), pp.238-239.
Yu, L., Wang, C. and Sea, J., 2012. Mega event and destination brand: 2010 Shanghai Expo. International Journal of Event and Festival Management.