Evaluating environmental awareness: A case study of the Nariva Swamp, Trinidad

The purpose of this research is to examine the influence of oil and gas drilling on the varying beliefs, concerns and perceptions of danger, behaviors and support for policies among three rural communities of the Nariva Swamp, Trinidad using three independent variables of gender, village proximity to the swamp and type of livelihoods. Additionally, the levels of opposition to oil and gas drilling activities and actions taken against this activity within the swamp were also evaluated. Using a mixed methods approach, villagers from three rural wetland communities were surveyed, interviewed and participated in focus groups over a two month period. Results indicated that respondents living closer to the Nariva Swamp had higher levels of environmental beliefs, concerns, support for protection policies and pro-environmental behaviors than respondents living in villages further away from the swamp. While the results for gender and environmental beliefs were mixed, females indicated higher altruistic and egoistic concerns than males. Males had higher levels of support for policies that monitored oil and gas drilling and engaged in more pro-environmental behaviors while females had higher levels of support for policies that protected swamps from oil activities. The results for type of livelihoods were also mixed, however farmers had the highest levels of environmental concerns and the highest levels of pro-environmental behaviors related to nature based activities. Despite the high levels of environmental beliefs, concerns and perceptions, there is a surprisingly low level of action among the villagers in efforts to prevent the development from taking place. Reasons for the incongruence between attitudes and actions are presented by this study. Finally, the research evaluates the management of the Nariva Swamp as well as the wider wetland management policies within Trinidad and Tobago.