Stakeholders’ perspectives on environmental issues: preliminary results from SUNEQUMAR survey

An online survey was conducted by the means of a questionnaire to detect the perceptions of environmental impacts, and to identify the main farming activities and management difficulties focused on marginal areas of Centre-South Italy. The demographic profile of the interviewees (n=100) is as follows: 69.8% ranging 18-25 yrs old, 27.1% are within 26-60 yrs old, more than half are female (55.2%), and almost all of them are Italian (99.0%), distributed in North (3.1%), Centre (82.3%) and South (13.5%). Regarding the feeding habits, 93.8% of the interviewees declares to be omnivorous, a smaller percentage vegetarian (3.1%) and vegan (2.1%). Animal rights activists and environmentalists account for 5.2% and 26% of the surveyed population, respectively. Stakeholders interviewed included farmers, breeders, agronomists and technical advisors, students, and researchers. About 74% of interviewees believe to be informed on environmental issues mainly by internet and social networks (61.5%), but the role played by protected areas is little known in 52.1% of surveyed cases. The natural environments are considered not sufficiently protected by 69.8% of interviewees. As far as the perception of the effects of climate changes is concerned, reduced availability of water (40.6%), increase in rainfall intensity (29.2%), melting glaciers (27.1%) are the main concerns. Industry (34.4%), infrastructure (28.1%) and the expansion of urban areas (27.1%) are perceived as main risk for environment conservation, while agriculture (17.7%) is considered to have a comparatively minor effect. The main environmental threats to natural ecosystems are considered pollution from urban sewage (43.8%), littering (43.8%), invasive wildlife (28.1%) but also inadequate pasture management (19.8%). Twenty-four percent of the interviewees consider to be ineffective the environmental policies implemented by Institutions. Finally, among the surveyed farmers (n=10), 90% raises dairy cattle from Holstein, Jersey and Pezzata Rossa breeds in semi-intensive or semi-extensive systems, mainly located in rural areas of Centre-South Italy. The average size of the farm is 90 heads. The main concern reported by farmers is associated with damages to crops by wildlife (40%). The survey has been approved by the Bioethics Committee of the University of Molise. The research was supported by project PRIN 20224L4WSR, funded by Next Generation EU (CUP: H53D23005120).