Environment

Improving Public Perception of Environmental Damage

By Joshua Rapp Learn

A recent study looking at public perception shows that history has a tendency to soften the damage of some of the worst villains.

Spruce bark beetles (Ips typographus) — originally from Europe — have been invading and attacking Alaskan forests for the past few decades, killing over 1 million acres of trees on the Kenai Peninsula. And while the so-called dead “beetle trees” can cause danger to humans from falling, affect scenic views and allow for increased soil erosion, perception of the beetles and the damage they cause has improved over time.

“Although the beetle outbreak remains a significant issue on the Kenai Peninsula, the perceptions of residents about the level of seriousness of the beetle kill problem in the area have actually decreased during the study period,” said Hua Qin in a release. Qin is an assistant professor of rural sociology and sustainable development at the University of Columbia-Missouri and lead author of a study published recently in Human Ecology.