By Moises Reyes
Florida residents appear to consider environmental issues when choosing whom to vote for, according to a recent study from the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education.
In the new public opinion survey, most respondents said they are likely or very likely to vote for candidates who support environmental conservation and to vote to support land conservation programs.
Of the 499 state residents polled online for the study, 38 percent are very likely and 35 percent are likely to vote for environmentally-conscious candidates, while 43 percent are very likely and 35 percent are likely to vote for conservation programs.
The survey about endangered species is the third public opinion poll conducted by the PIE Center to investigate Floridians’ opinions on matters of importance to the state’s agriculture and natural resources, with previous studies focusing on water and immigration reform.
Tracy Irani, director of the PIE Center, said the results appear to reflect the public’s general support of the effectiveness of the Endangered Species Act, which was passed in December 1973.
“This is the 40th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, which has played a role in preventing the extinction of 99 percent of the species that are listed. For any kind of policy, that’s a pretty significant fact,” she said. “In that context, it’s very interesting to see in the findings of this study that 40 years later, people still support the idea of protecting plants and animals that are endangered to the extent that they’re willing to make sacrifices or to say that they are personally responsible for protection.”
The results also appear to reflect a trend toward engaging in civic behavior or activism to promote conservation efforts.
Respondents were also asked about their willingness to engage in civic behavior other than voting. They were asked to state how likely they would be to volunteer for projects that help protect endangered species, to donate to an organization that protects endangered species’ habitats, to join a conservation organization and to visit museums and zoos to learn about endangered species.
According to the results, 17 percent of respondents said they are unlikely or very unlikely to volunteer for projects that help protect endangered species, while 48 percent said they were likely or very likely. In contrast, 56 percent of respondents are willing to donate to an organization, and 70 percent are willing to visit museum and zoos.
Irani said these results reflect people’s preference for civic behaviors that requires less involvement.
“Respondents may be more likely to be willing to do things that require less effort,” she said. “The more effort, the more those numbers go down. And that’s human nature. Things that require more effort are things that you have to really be motivated to do.”
