Citizens' perception of values associated with dykes and dykelands: The case of Nova Scotia

Abstract

Originally built for agricultural purposes by Acadians, dykes and dykelands have now found wider uses in protecting life and property in Nova Scotia and require regular maintenance. This research identifies some values that can be associated with dykes and dykelands and people’s perceptions of them. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews comprising open- and closed-ended questions were used in data collection. Agriculture, flood prevention and Acadian history and heritage were the most important values to most respondents in both open- and closed-ended responses. The results identified differences in people’s perceived values when they were provided with more information. The values placed on dykes and dykelands depended on their physical location, available information, and the activities and properties around the dykes. Peoples’ connections with dykes and dykelands had little influence on their values and perceptions. These findings provide important baseline information for further discussion about dyke and dykeland values and the case for effective maintenance.