Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

As we enter a changed climate the understanding of what motivates and sustains participation in pro-environmental behaviours has never been more important. Planting trees to reforest vast areas of the world has the potential for numerous ecological and human benefits. Tree planting has not been taken account for in research into pro-environmental behaviours, why they arise where they do, and what motivates the individual participation in them. Data was collected from interviews with dedicated participants engaging tree planting as an ongoing behaviour. Using symbolic interactionism theory as a lens for this research, the individual and social meaning making and perspectives on the local influence for the manifestation of the behaviour were analysed. This approach was used to answer the main question of why people in the Bryon Shire participate in tree planting.

The Symbolic interactionist perspective and methodological consequences reveal the links between meaning, the application of it, and motivation to engage in the behaviour of tree planting. A shared understanding of the meaning of tree planting and supportive social interactions exists among the participants simultaneous to an individual meaning that is personally formed through the participants own desires, needs, objectives and views of themselves. The meanings are created socially and individually and contribute to the prevalence and maintenance of this behaviour in the Byron Shire. The social context and local environmental ethos have also been influential in the formation of the behaviour.