Kell, Henrik (2022) Researching the Relationship between Place Attachment and Attitudes towards Wind Turbines in the Wadden Sea Region of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany - A Case Study in Dithmarschen and Eiderstedt. Bachelor thesis.
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Abstract
Research on the relationship between place attachment and attitude towards wind turbines has been done before, but not extensively in the context of the Wadden Sea region in Schleswig-Holstein. This study aims to answer the following question using two case studies “To what extent does place attachment affect the attitude towards wind turbines of residents in the Wadden Sea region in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany?”. Dithmarschen and Eiderstedt are two regions located in the close vicinity to the Wadden Sea and are similar in their landscape characteristics. While Dithmarschen has about 924 turbines, Eiderstedt has none. This should clarify the differences between place attachment and attitude towards wind turbines for a region with and without turbines. Place attachment and attitude towards wind turbines as well as wind energy have been captured through a survey in both regions. While respondents in both regions were attached to their place, a Spearman Correlation showed no relationship to attitude towards wind turbines. Nevertheless, wind turbines and wind energy are overall valued and even deemed necessary by inhabitants in both regions. This is especially surprising for the region Eiderstedt since results do show that inhabitants were inclined to agree wind turbines would damage the landscape, animals, tourism, and land prices if constructed. Strikingly, Dithmarschen’s respondents disagree that wind turbines damage the landscape. With the long history of wind turbines in Dithmarschen, it is assumed wind turbines have been a constant aspect of the landscape and are therefore not seen as abnormal. The study concluded that attitudes towards wind turbines are not dependent on place attachment. Therefore, in this research, place attachment is likely not formed by the emotional connection to physical aspects. It is suggested to conduct further research into community attachment, to test if place attachment is rather formed through social aspects.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
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| Degree programme: | Human Geography and Planning |
| Supervisor: | Boumans, B.M. and Salemink, K. |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jul 2022 12:43 |
| Last Modified: | 08 Jul 2022 12:43 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3848 |
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