Resident status influences perceptions about beach resource valuation and restoration

Sandy beaches represent typical destinations for recreation and tourism worldwide, as well as being a lifestyle for people living along the shore. In the Northeastern United States coastal environments are build-up and overexploited, threatening both ecosystem integrity and coastal communities. Following hurricane Sandy, the US government funded a number of restoration projects aimed at increasing resiliency of coastal ecosystems and human communities. In light of this, research about human perceptions and concerns during a restoration project was conducted to assist in planning and decision making for continued beach restoration and management, including monitoring avian resources. Objectives were to determine if there were differences among permanent coastal residents, part-time residents (summer), and non-residents (tourists) concerning visitation to the beach, knowledge about the restoration project, birds using the beach, and ratings of ecological resources and beach management options. There were no differences in knowledge of the bird species that were endangered nor in the conservation projects aimed at protecting birds as a function of resident status. People were aware of the roped-off nesting areas, but less aware of the conservation areas or even stewards on the beach. However, permanent residents were significantly more aware of the protective signage and that dogs were not allowed on the beach than others. Less than half of the people knew about the recent restoration project, and part-time residents were more aware of building up the dunes and creating nesting habitat, and less aware of dredging, beach replenishment and habitat restoration than other types of residents. When asked to rate different protection values, there were no differences for protecting the environment, but non-residents rated protecting birds, protecting endangered species, and providing conservation information to the public higher than others, and part-time residents rated predator control higher than others. This information can be used to target different segments of the beach-using community, particularly to residents on the importance of their local beach to protection of the environment, endangered species, and birds.