Sixteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Travel and tourism are one of the largest sources of revenue within the United States. Tourism contributes over 1.5 trillion U.S. dollars, over 730 billion dollars of that is from outdoor recreation. The state of Florida is rich in wildlife diversity and hosts many unique ecosystems, some containing endangered and threatened species found nowhere else in the world. Florida, having over 21 million people, is the third most populous state and contains some of the fastest growing counties in the U.S. Increasing population and development puts a strain on natural resources. How can we educate citizens on the importance of environmental sustainability and conservation in an ever-growing urban environment? UF/IFAS Extension Sumter County has developed interpretative nature hikes with an objective to bring awareness of natural resources to new Florida residents. Participants are educated on natural resources, conservation, wildlife identification, ethnobotany, native plant identification, invasive plant identification, environmental ethics, and natural history. A follow-up survey was used in a test group. After attending the hike, 25 (n=32) group participants listed three things they plan to do to encourage or to conserve Florida’s native species in their neighborhood. 100% (n=32) stated they will explore other nature trails within Florida. 80% participants stated they would re-hike each site they visited. Over 85% of participants stated they would recommend one or more of their hikes to a friend. As this pilot project progresses, more data will be collected to determine changes of behavior within the community and health benefits associated with hiking outdoors.