Public acceptance of restrictions imposed on recreational activities in the peri-urban Nature Reserve Sihlwald, Switzerland

The peri-urban Nature Reserve Sihlwald is an important part of the recreational green belt in the vicinity of the city of Zurich (Switzerland). This contribution is an inquiry of the reaction of forest users towards restrictions that will be imposed on past time activities in the future. A research method developed in social psychology (Theory of Planned Behaviour) is applied to test whether behaviour intentions with regard to imposed restrictions are adhered to by the visitors or not, and how this is to be explained. [UMN]

"The peri-urban Nature Reserve Sihlwald is an important part of the recreational green belt in the vicinity of the city of Zürich (Switzerland). This contribution is an inquiry of the reaction of forest users towards restrictions that will be imposed on past time activities in the future. A research method developed in social psychology (Theory of Planned Behaviour) is applied to test whether behaviour intentions with regard to imposed restrictions are adhered to by the visitors or not, and how this is to be explained. The acceptance of various past time activities between different forest user groups is looked at in order to predict conflicts and achieve adequate regulations well in advance. The empirical results of applying the Theory of Planned Behaviour model favour a support of collective self-obligation among user groups to increase the acceptance of restrictions in the Nature Reserve Sihlwald." [Abstract]