Coastal Literacy

Goal: Provide our citizens with the knowledge, skills, and motivation to make responsible choices that benefit our coastal environment.

Georgia’s Coast: Interest, Knowledge & Attitudes

Environmental literacy refers to an individual’s knowledge, skills, and motivation to make responsible decisions that benefit our environment and related issues. Environmental literacy encompasses all five objectives of environmental education—helping learners to gain awareness, knowledge, appropriate attitudes, citizen action skills, and, finally, the motivation to become active, engaged citizens within their community. At a time when Georgians are being asked to make critical decisions for our land, wildlife, and the health of our families, we need the knowledge and tools to make responsible choices.

Download the Full Survey Report

In order to understand how Georgians understand and act upon the coastal issues presented in this dashboard, the GCC team conducted extensive surveys throughout 2019. These surveys attempted to better understand how respondents interact with our coast, the value they place on our coastal resources, and their support for related conservation measures. Surveys will be replicated annually in order to capture increases or decreases in attitudes and values over time. We have also created an interactive quiz (see below) to measure in real time our citizens’ understanding of the critical issues facing our coast.

What We Learned

Value for our Coast

Georgians overwhelmingly value our coast, its intrinsic beauty, and its contributions to science, education, and the health of our planet. Large majorities of visitors pointed to coastal Georgia’s natural resources and related recreational activities such as hiking, beachcombing, and wildlife viewing, as primary reasons for their trip.

Coastal Knowledge

In self-assessments, respondents rated themselves most knowledgeable about issues frequently discussed in the media, such as wildlife conservation, climate change, and trash and litter pollution. Our coastal literacy quiz will provide further insight into Georgians’ knowledge about key coastal issues, such as coal ash pollution and sea level rise.

Taking Action for our Coast

While respondents felt that responsibility for solving coastal Georgia’s environmental problems fell to a variety of groups, the majority agreed that individual citizens and local governments should play an important role. The majority prioritized the environment when making decisions about who to vote for in elected office.

Interesting Questions and Results From the First Survey

View Survey Methods

How important is Georgia’s coast to you (beaches, waterways, rivers, etc.)?

Not at all important	0.00%	0
Not very important	0.00%	0
I don’t know	0.23%	1
Somewhat important	2.03%	9
Very important	97.74%	433

What made you decide to visit/spend time on Georgia’s coast? (check all that apply)

I have not visited Georgia’s Coast	0.67%	3
Sightseeing	69.96%	312
Being outdoors	87.00%	388
Swimming/Wading	55.83%	249
Diving	4.48%	20
Cycling	33.86%	151
Hunting/Fishing	26.01%	116
Hiking/Walking/Jogging	62.78%	280
Birdwatching/Wildlife viewing	62.11%	277
ATV riding	1.35%	6
Playing with /walking my dog(s)	26.23%	117
Boating (including personal watercrafts, sail boating and motorboats)	41.93%	187
Paddling (including paddle boards, kayaking, canoeing)	47.76%	213
Waterskiing/Wakeboarding/Tubing	5.16%	23
Historical or cultural tours	68.16%	304
Beachcombing/Relaxing on the beach	82.06%	366
Other (please specify)	15.70%	70

Additional Findings:

Younger respondents were significantly more likely to report swimming/wading than older respondents. They were also more likely to report playing with/walking my dog(s) than middle age or older respondents. Middle aged respondents were significantly more likely to report hiking/walking/ jogging, and birdwatching/wildlife viewing than younger respondents.

Coastal residents were significantly more likely to report hiking/walking/jogging and playing with/walking my dog (s) than Georgia mainland residents. Georgia mainland residents were significantly more likely to report hunting/fishing than coastal residents.

Households with children were significantly more likely to report swimming/wading and beachcombing/relaxing on the beach than households without children.

The top five activities identified by non-Georgia residents are as follows:

Being outdoors	79.63%	43
Beachcombing/Relaxing on the beach	79.63%	43
Sightseeing	59.26%	32
Historical or cultural tours	59.26%	32
Birdwatching/Wildlife viewing	42.59%	23

Respondents reporting lower- and middle-income annual household income reported significantly less interest in hunting/fishing activities. Those reporting a higher-annual household income were significantly more likely to report interest in paddling activities compared to middle- income responders.

Based on the last time you engaged in recreational activities on Georgia’s coast, which of the following would be true? (check all that apply)

I haven’t been to Georgia coast.	0.70%	3
There was enough accessible parking.	49.53%	213
It was not overcrowded with visitors.	64.19%	276
I was comfortable with the behavior of other visitors (e.g. no criminal, offensive or inappropriate behavior).	76.74%	330
I felt safe.	87.44%	376
There was enough lighting.	51.40%	221
I was comfortable swimming in the water (or letting others).	48.14%	207
It was free from litter.	38.14%	164
There were enough trash receptacles.	38.84%	167
I observed other people enjoying the beach or oceanfront.	79.77%	343
I felt that the community was invested in the coastal environment and natural habitats	57.44%	247
I don’t remember.	0.93%	4

The following is a list of coastal ocean and beach challenges that Georgians are concerned about. To what degree are you CONCERNED about these issues for Georgia’s coast?

	Not at all concerned		Not very concerned		Neutral/No opinion		Somewhat concerned		Very concerned		Total
Climate change/sea level rise	4.17%	17	3.43%	14	5.64%	23	15.20%	62	71.57%	292	408
Wildlife conservation (e.g. sea turtles, shorebirds, marine mammals)	0.00%	0	0.49%	2	0.49%	2	13.79%	56	85.22%	346	406
Dredging/Offshore dredge disposal	1.47%	6	1.72%	7	7.84%	32	26.23%	107	62.75%	256	408
Beach erosion	1.24%	5	5.96%	24	10.17%	41	30.77%	124	51.86%	209	403
Offshore drilling/seismic testing	0.98%	4	1.97%	8	6.39%	26	12.78%	52	77.89%	317	407
Mining of minerals (including sand)	1.72%	7	1.97%	8	11.06%	45	24.82%	101	60.44%	246	407
Habitat loss from coastal development	0.00%	0	0.98%	4	0.74%	3	12.53%	51	85.75%	349	407
Air and water pollution (such as mercury, PCBs, sewage, pesticides, industrial contamination)	0.00%	0	0.74%	3	1.72%	7	14.99%	61	82.56%	336	407
Coal ash (removal, disposal and storage)	0.75%	3	2.00%	8	10.22%	41	20.45%	82	66.58%	267	401
Trash and litter (e.g. plastics)	0.00%	0	0.49%	2	2.72%	11	18.27%	74	78.52%	318	405
Microplastics pollution	0.25%	1	0.50%	2	4.95%	20	20.05%	81	74.26%	300	404

To what degree are you KNOWLEDGEABLE about these issues for Georgia’s coast?

	Not at all knowledgeable		Not very knowledgeable		Somewhat knowledgeable		Very knowledgeable		Total
Climate change/sea level rise	0.25%	1	8.37%	34	59.36%	241	32.02%	130	406
Wildlife conservation (e.g. sea turtles, shorebirds, marine mammals)	0.25%	1	5.90%	24	56.76%	231	37.10%	151	407
Dredging/Offshore dredge disposal	4.19%	17	34.24%	139	50.49%	205	11.08%	45	406
Beach erosion	0.74%	3	21.78%	88	58.91%	238	18.56%	75	404
Off-shore drilling/seismic testing	5.43%	22	27.65%	112	51.36%	208	15.56%	63	405
Mining of minerals (including sand)	11.33%	46	42.12%	171	37.93%	154	8.62%	35	406
Habitat loss from coastal development	1.23%	5	8.35%	34	55.28%	225	35.14%	143	407
Air and water pollution (such as mercury, PCBs, sewage, pesticides, industrial contamination)	2.46%	10	22.91%	93	56.16%	228	18.47%	75	406
Coal ash (removal, disposal and storage)	10.34%	42	35.47%	144	43.35%	176	10.84%	44	406
Trash and litter (e.g. plastics)	0.50%	2	6.68%	27	48.02%	194	44.80%	181	404
Microplastics pollution	4.19%	17	15.27%	62	51.72%	210	28.82%	117	406

With which statements do you agree? (check all that apply)

Answer Choices	Responses
I get pleasure from experiencing Georgia’s coastal beauty (e.g. marshland sunsets, beachscapes, woodland settings, etc.).	98.38%	365
I value the role Georgia’s coast plays in maintaining a healthy planet.	94.88%	352
I value the contribution that Georgia’s coast makes to science and education.	94.88%	352
I value the role Georgia’s coast plays in my heritage and/or our country’s history.	83.83%	311
My employment and household income is tied to Georgia’s coast.	22.10%	82
Georgia’s coast is vital to the state’s economy.	90.57%	336
It is important for the government to enforce ordinances that protect wildlife and habitats on Georgia’s coast (e.g. lighting ordinances, leash laws, etc.), even when it causes personal inconveniences.	95.15%	353
Environmental education should be taught in schools.	94.61%	351
	Answered	371
	Skipped	75

In which activities do you or your family engage? (select all that apply)

Answer Choices	Responses
Conserve water (e.g. take short showers)	82.48%	306
Turn off lights when leaving a room	96.77%	359
Use alternative forms of transportation (e.g. bikes, public transportation, carpooling, etc.)	46.09%	171
Use phosphorus-free lawn fertilizer	28.30%	105
Compost	39.35%	146
Other (please specify)	22.37%	83
	Answered	371
	Skipped	75

Would you say that climate change is best described as a crisis, a major problem but not a crisis, a minor problem, or is it not a problem at all?

Answer Choices	Responses
A crisis	68.92%	255
A major problem but not a crisis	21.35%	79
A minor problem	4.86%	18
It is not problem at all	2.43%	9
No opinion	2.43%	9
	Answered	370
	Skipped	76

Do you think reducing the negative effects of global warming and climate change will require major sacrifices from ordinary Americans, minor sacrifices, or won’t it require much sacrifice?

Answer Choices	Responses
Major sacrifices	51.48%	191
Minor sacrifices	39.62%	147
Won’t require much sacrifice	4.85%	18
No opinion	4.04%	15
	Answered	371
	Skipped	75

Has your concern or interest in environmental issues on Georgia’s coast ever been an influence on who you vote for in an election (local, state or national)? (select one)

Answer Choices	Responses
Not at all	4.68%	17
Somewhat	12.12%	44
Yes	36.09%	131
Very much so	41.32%	150
I am not sure	5.79%	21
	Answered	363
	Skipped	83

Have you ever participated in any of the following activities? (check all that apply)

Answer Choices	Responses
Speaking to friends, family or others about issues that you care about	89.69%	322
Donating to or joining a nonprofit advocacy group	84.12%	302
Writing a Letter to the Editor	34.26%	123
Purchasing socially or environmentally responsible products and services	86.35%	310
Boycotting socially or environmentally irresponsible products and services	68.25%	245
Investing in socially or environmentally responsible companies	36.21%	130
Volunteering	79.39%	285
Recycling/Reusing	94.15%	338
Promoting/Sharing advocacy stories or articles on social media	57.38%	206
Attend an advocacy conference or lecture	50.70%	182
Communicate with an elected official (e.g. call, send letter, meet with)	62.95%	226
None of the above	0.28%	1
	Answered	359
	Skipped	87

GCC Goals

Protect, connect, and enhance environments for coastal plants and animals to adapt to changes in sea level and benefit the community.

Maintain thriving, working landscapes and waterfronts that support the sustainable production of food and fiber for our communities.

Cultivate opportunities to enjoy and recreate in the special places and historic communities along Georgia’s coast.

Promote economic development that respects natural environments and preserves the character of our coastal communities.