Strengthening Environmental Conservation: The Role of Connectedness to Nature and Place Attachment in Intentions to Protect Urban Wetlands in Punta Arenas, Chilean Patagonia

Rodolfo Sapiains (), Herman Elgueta, Pía Francisca Ríos and Marcelo Miño
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Rodolfo Sapiains: Faculty of Social Sciences, Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8330111, Chile
Herman Elgueta: Department of Psychology, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas 6210427, Chile
Pía Francisca Ríos: Independent Researcher, Punta Arenas 6210427, Chile
Marcelo Miño: Center of Regional Studies, Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas 6210427, Chile

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: This study investigates the psychological factors influencing intentions to protect urban wetlands in Punta Arenas, Chile. It examines residents’ perceptions and valuations of urban wetlands, exploring relationships between wetland-specific variables and broader environmental and place-based factors. A theoretical model is tested, incorporating place attachment, connectedness with nature, and previous pro-environmental behaviors. The study utilizes a survey with 297 participants and employs structural equation modeling to analyze the data. The results reveal a complex interplay between place-based identities, general environmental orientations, and wetland-specific cognitions in shaping conservation intentions. Connectedness to nature emerges as a central factor influencing both attitudinal and behavioral intention pathways toward wetland protection. The study’s findings have implications for targeted interventions and policy decisions aimed at promoting wetland conservation in urban areas.

Keywords: urban wetlands; pro-environmental behaviors; place attachment; connectedness to nature; ecosystems valuations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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