Abstract
This paper examines the additive contribution of emotional connections, empathy and affection beyond the traditional tools of market-based strategies, public policy and legal-based incentives, in working to achieve more effective local sustainability strategies and conservation efforts. Cultivating these emotional traits builds a sense of community and belonging in the natural world, fostering the desire for conservation and alignment of individual values with actions. This examination offers individuals, businesses, governments and nonprofits an additional socioeconomic lens through which to view and advance sustainability and resilience efforts to achieve better outcomes in environmental conservation. Kentucky Natural Lands Trust is a U.S. accredited nonprofit organization using a science-driven and community-minded approach to protect wildlands on a large landscape basis in central Appalachia. Using this land trust as a case study, and referencing theoretical affinity models to utilize an affinity-plus (or affection) based model, we examine the role of proactively fostering affection for nature as part of a sustainability/conservation model through the land trust’s efforts and partnerships focused on leisure, such as hiking trail networks and other passive recreation opportunities, flight animal radio towers and related infrastructure projects, artist retreats and conservation social clubs. Those efforts furthered the land trust’s wildlands conservation mission through land stewardship, monetary donations and land acquisitions. Through this examination, it is our primary conclusion that local conservation efforts can be buttressed, and made more effective by making cultivation of affection part of an overall sustainability model.
Presenters
William BartleyProfessor, Economics, Transylvania University, Kentucky, United States Kelly Bartley
Chair of the Board of Directors, Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, Kentucky, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Pathways to Resilience; Sustainable Practices in Tourism and Leisure
KEYWORDS
Environmental Affection, Sustainable Leisure, Wildlands Preservation, Conservation Strategies, Appalachia
