By Moises Reyes
Florida residents feel like they have a choice to participate in environmental programs and strategies provided by the government, according to new survey results from the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education.
Just over half of the 499 respondents to the PIE Center’s online survey agreed or strongly agreed that they have the option to get involved with governmental programs designed to protect the environment. Fifty-one percent felt similarly with regard to the government’s environmental strategies.
Floridians gave their views on endangered species in the third installment in a series of public opinion surveys administered by the PIE Center to analyze residents’ perceptions and opinions about issues regarding agriculture and natural resources in the state. Previous surveys have focused on water and immigration.
When asked if felt they “have a choice to use the strategies provided by the government to help the environment,” 51 percent of respondents said they agree or strongly agree, 34 percent said they neither agree nor disagree, and 15 percent said they disagree or strongly disagree.
Responding to whether they believe “the government gives [them] the freedom to make [their] own decisions in regards to the environment,” 37 percent of respondents said neither agree nor disagree, 37 percent said they agree or strongly agree and 26 percent said they disagree.
Lastly, 54 percent of respondents said they agree that they “feel [they] have a choice to participate in environmental programs established by the government,” 33 percent said they neither agree nor disagree and 13 percent said they disagree or strongly disagree.
Respondents had mixed reactions to a series of four questions about governmental control when it comes to environmental actions.
Responding to whether they agree “the government puts a lot of pressure on people to adopt environmentally conscious behaviors,” 34 percent of respondents said they neither agree nor disagree, compared to 34 percent who disagree or strongly disagree and 32 percent who agree or strongly agree.
Tracy Irani, director of the PIE Center, said the results of the most recent study reflect an overall positive understanding of the government’s role in environmental conservation.
“People are saying that they don’t have the control, and they’re not agreeing that the government is forcing them or imposing its environmental strategies on them,” she said. “On the other hand, they kind of acknowledge the government’s role and say that level of control is about right.”
The report’s findings indicate 38 percent of respondents believed political leaders had too much influence in endangered species policy on the national scale, while 60 percent believed citizens have too little influence. About half stated federal government agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture or Fish and Wildlife Service, had an appropriate amount.
Irani said this trend apparently means citizens accept government as a possibly effective means for advancing environmental protection.
“It’s an interesting dichotomy,” she said. “People feel the government does impose environmental strategies on folks, but they also feel the government provides them an access point to engage in environmental programs, and they seem to be aware of those.”
