Place Attachment, Awareness of Environmental Responsibility and Pro-Environmental Behaviour of Visitors in Protected Natural Areas

ABSTRACT

This study explores the effects of domestic visitors’ place attachment and environmental responsibility awareness on pro-environmental behaviors at Biokovo Nature Park, Croatia. Leveraging the Norm Activation Model (NAM), it identifies essential mechanisms by which emotional and cognitive connections with nature drive sustainable action. Findings reveal that place attachment influences awareness of environmental responsibility, which in turn shapes pro-environmental behaviors. The investigation underscores the critical role of environmental responsibility awareness in mediating the relationship between place attachment and pro-environmental behaviors, suggesting that omitting this factor could lead to overestimating the influence of place attachment. By illuminating the psychological processes underpinning conservation-oriented actions in protected areas, the research advocates for management strategies prioritizing visitor engagement in environmental responsibility, thereby enhancing sustainability efforts.

KEYWORDS:

• Place attachment
• environmental responsibility
• pro-environmental behavior
• protected areas
• norm activation model
• Croatia

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).