Ecological Awareness, Environmentalist Action, and International Conservation Strategy

This paper describes ongoing research on environmental risk perception and action in Brazil and Madagascar, with implications for other world areas. The research is rooted in our belief that people will not act to preserve the environment if they perceive no threats to it. But risk perception does not guarantee action. Reducing environmental threats and conserving scarce resources are appropriate goals-from global, national, long-run, and even local perspectives. Still, environmental policy must be implemented in the short run and in local communities. If traditional resources and products are to be destroyed, removed, or placed off limits they must be replaced with culturally appropriate and satisfactory alternatives.