Interpretation, activity participation and environmental attitudes of visitors to Penguin Island, Western Australia

Abstract

Natural area management agencies use on-site interpretation, in part, to communicate messages based on themes of conservation. These themes stem from the legislative mandate to protect ecologically significant areas. Many of these areas are also popular destinations for a range of visitor activities. This provides the context onto which management overlays their emphasis on protection of often fragile and unique ecosystems. Penguin Island, Western Australia, is an example of one such site. Visitors were surveyed immediately before and after the island experience to ascertain any influence on knowledge and environmental attitude. Analysis focussed on a sub-sample of respondents undertaking different categories of activities while being exposed to the same on-site interpretation. All activity groups seemed to recall factual information equally but environmental attitudes toward the island were influenced significantly differently.