Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communities
Frequently visited surf breaks are nested within unique ecosystems that face many underappreciated threats. This manuscript first explores the contribution of surfing to local wellbeing and analyses how wellbeing is impacted by different threats to surf ecosystems. The second aim is to gather local...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsut.2024.1387081/full |
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| author | Leon Mach Leon Mach Leon Mach Elizabeth Rothrock Sydney Stark Jacob Nahmias |
| author_facet | Leon Mach Leon Mach Leon Mach Elizabeth Rothrock Sydney Stark Jacob Nahmias |
| author_sort | Leon Mach |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Frequently visited surf breaks are nested within unique ecosystems that face many underappreciated threats. This manuscript first explores the contribution of surfing to local wellbeing and analyses how wellbeing is impacted by different threats to surf ecosystems. The second aim is to gather local knowledge of, and desires for surf break protection in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Through qualitative interviews (N = 17) and surveys (N = 46), findings suggest that place attachment is tied to frequently visited surf breaks and is strongly correlated to the wellbeing derived from surfing. Surfing was also found to be the main reason 68% of the respondents moved to the archipelago. Length of time residing in Bocas, however, was not a predictor of place attachment. This might suggest that people migrate for certain aspects of surf ecosystems and that place attachment can perhaps be selected for and grow through experiences. Positive surfing experiences were also found to be under threat from several converging challenges related to sea level rise, coastal development, declining reef health, and overcrowding. Local surfers recognize that these threats are tied to global forces but seem more reactive in their fight to alleviate imminent visible threats. This research emphasizes the urgent need for dedicated institutions to effectively preserve frequently visited surf ecosystems in areas that are neither covered by global non-governmental surf protection organization campaigns nor dedicated legal protection frameworks. We also call for more attention dedicated to understanding how the benefits of surfing are nuanced, context based and tied to vulnerable places. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-25cfd92902a140b1a44762e6ed84544a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2813-2815 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism |
| spelling | doaj-art-25cfd92902a140b1a44762e6ed84544a2025-08-20T03:16:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism2813-28152024-11-01310.3389/frsut.2024.13870811387081Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communitiesLeon Mach0Leon Mach1Leon Mach2Elizabeth Rothrock3Sydney Stark4Jacob Nahmias5School for Field Studies, Bocas del Toro, PanamaNational System of Investigators, SENACYT, Panama City, PanamaSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama City, PanamaDepartment of Hospitality, University of San Fransisco, San Francisco, CA, United StatesEnvironmental and Ocean Science Department, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, United StatesEnvironmental Studies Department, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY, United StatesFrequently visited surf breaks are nested within unique ecosystems that face many underappreciated threats. This manuscript first explores the contribution of surfing to local wellbeing and analyses how wellbeing is impacted by different threats to surf ecosystems. The second aim is to gather local knowledge of, and desires for surf break protection in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Through qualitative interviews (N = 17) and surveys (N = 46), findings suggest that place attachment is tied to frequently visited surf breaks and is strongly correlated to the wellbeing derived from surfing. Surfing was also found to be the main reason 68% of the respondents moved to the archipelago. Length of time residing in Bocas, however, was not a predictor of place attachment. This might suggest that people migrate for certain aspects of surf ecosystems and that place attachment can perhaps be selected for and grow through experiences. Positive surfing experiences were also found to be under threat from several converging challenges related to sea level rise, coastal development, declining reef health, and overcrowding. Local surfers recognize that these threats are tied to global forces but seem more reactive in their fight to alleviate imminent visible threats. This research emphasizes the urgent need for dedicated institutions to effectively preserve frequently visited surf ecosystems in areas that are neither covered by global non-governmental surf protection organization campaigns nor dedicated legal protection frameworks. We also call for more attention dedicated to understanding how the benefits of surfing are nuanced, context based and tied to vulnerable places.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsut.2024.1387081/fullplace attachmentwellbeingprotected areassurfconservationdevelopment |
| spellingShingle | Leon Mach Leon Mach Leon Mach Elizabeth Rothrock Sydney Stark Jacob Nahmias Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communities Frontiers in Sustainable Tourism place attachment wellbeing protected areas surf conservation development |
| title | Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communities |
| title_full | Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communities |
| title_fullStr | Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communities |
| title_short | Place attachment, wellbeing, and conservation in surf destination communities |
| title_sort | place attachment wellbeing and conservation in surf destination communities |
| topic | place attachment wellbeing protected areas surf conservation development |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frsut.2024.1387081/full |
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