Eanes et al Wisconsin Bioregions

Sense of place encompasses individual and collective feelings and experiences tied to particular locations.
Limited focus on the interplay of broad-scale sense of place and biophysical dimensions in past research.
Study conducted via 22 semi-structured interviews in northeastern Wisconsin focusing on residents involved in watershed conservation.
Findings reveal that biophysical landscape characteristics, especially water, play a crucial role in shaping sense of place across different geographic scales.

Growth in place scholarship across various disciplines (environmental psychology, geography, etc.).
Sense of place: affective bonds between individuals and specific locations.
Understanding sense of place can enhance insights into environmental engagement and behavior.
Gap identified in empirical place studies regarding broad-scale sense of place and biophysical influences.

Cresswell (2004): Place is a ubiquitous yet complex concept.
Tuan (1977): Place emerges from pauses in movement, inferring a deeper emotional connection to certain locations.
Massey (1994): Places are shaped by social relations and contestations, while acknowledging both physical and constructed meanings.

Sense of place literature is diverse and at times disorganized, encompassing cognitive and affective attachments.
Place attachment typically refers to the emotional bond and significance attached to specific locations.
Different operationalizations: Place attachment as dependence and identity vs. broader sense of place definitions.

Stedman (2003) highlighted the physical environment's role in constructing place meanings.
Observations on how landscape features impact people’s attachments and meanings associated with place.

Current research indicates a lack of focus on how the spatial scale of attachment varies.
Most studies pivot around singular or vaguely defined scales like neighborhoods or cities.
Calls for research to include broader scales and connections to pro-environmental behavior.

Bioregions defined by distinctive ecosystems and cultural dynamics, serving as useful spatial units for environmental analysis.
Bioregions integrate human cultural elements alongside ecological and geographical characteristics.
The research utilized bioregional frameworks to analyze sense of place among study participants.

Focus on three bioregions surrounding Lake Michigan's Green Bay: Northwoods, Door Peninsula, and Fox River Valley.
Overview of biophysical characteristics and ecological challenges unique to each region.
Importance of water quality and conservation efforts highlighted for these areas.

Empirical, phenomenological approach employed to explore sense of place.
Semi-structured interviews conducted (May 2014 - May 2015) to gather qualitative data from participants.
Focus on vocational and avocational involvement in environmental activities related to the Fox River Valley.

22 interviewees from diverse backgrounds, engaged in conservation efforts.
Emotional connections fostered by the quality of water resources and landscapes in northeastern Wisconsin.

Participants expressed deep affinity for biophysical characteristics influencing their sense of place.
Water was frequently identified as a defining landscape feature contributing to attachment.
Seasonal and climatic variations were also associated with positive emotional responses and recreational opportunities.

Findings demonstrate that both social networks and biophysical characteristics significantly shape the sense of place.
Sense of place developed through sensory engagement with landscapes and meaningful personal experiences.
Scale of place impacts sense of connection, with strong regional ties experienced at broader geographical scales.

Findings highlight how scale and biophysical environment influence sense of place.
Broad-scale sense of place plays a critical role in motivating environmental behaviors and conservation efforts.
Future research needed on how sense of place operates beyond localized environments and in relation to conservation challenges and behaviors.