Estadios de conciencia ambiental de los visitantes en una reserva natural periurbana en México

• Published in: Ambientales 2024-01, Vol.58 (1), p.1-19
• Main Authors: Chávez-Vizcarra, Renata, Orozco-Hernández, María Estela, Martínez-García, Carlos Galdino, Ávila-Akerberg, Víctor, Venancio-Flores, Arturo
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• ISSN: 1409-2158; 2215-3896
• DOI: 10.15359/rca.58-1.8

[Introduction]: Natural parks with a recreational vocation play a fundamental role in promoting pro-environmental actions among their visitors. However, for the Latin American region, the programs aimed at these purposes have not achieved the expected results. On the contrary, one of the causes that have intensified the environmental deterioration of the parks is recreational activities. One of the major challenges to promote conservation in these areas is the development of environmental awareness among visitors. [Objective]: The study aimed to analyze the stages of environmental awareness of 190 visitors to Sierra Morelos State Park, a natural protected area in the municipality of Toluca, State of Mexico, to support management that strengthens conservation, generates attitudes, and involves visitors in pro-environmental practices. [Methodology]: In order to collect data, a structured questionnaire was designed based on the four dimensions of environmental awareness: cognitive, affective, conative and active. This study conducted a factor analysis, a cluster analysis, and a Kruskal-Wallis test to identify differences between groups. [Results]: Eleven factors were identified, explaining 70.88 % of the cumulative variance. The cluster analysis identified three groups: Stage 1: passive discursive-intentional; Stage 2: environmental predisposition; Stage 3: affective of agreed actions. [Conclusions]: The results show that there is no definite number of stages that explain one or several realities for which human experiences are the key to environmental awareness. [Introducción]: Los parques naturales con vocación recreativa desempeñan un papel fundamental para fomentar acciones proambientales entre sus visitantes. Sin embargo, para la región de América Latina los programas dirigidos a estos propósitos no han tenido resultados esperados, por lo contrario, una de las causas que han intensificado el deterioro ambiental de los parques son las actividades recreativas. Entre los mayores retos para favorecer la conservación en estas áreas se encuentra el desarrollo de la conciencia ambiental de los visitantes. [Objetivo]: Para sustentar una gestión que fortalezca la conservación y genere actitudes e involucre a los visitantes en prácticas proambientales, este estudio analiza la conciencia ambiental de 190 visitantes al Parque Estatal Sierra Morelos, área natural protegida, ubicada en el municipio de Toluca, Estado de México. [Metodología]: Para recolectar los datos