I thought this might be an interesting thing to ponder for a Friday – where in the world do people appear most interested in issues to do with biodiversity conservation science?
Impossible Difficult question to answer, but the map of ConservationBytes.com viewers since August might reveal some interesting trends:
- © ClustrMaps
The above map shows our viewers’ locations since 19 August 2008 (to 19 November). The salient features are:
- Most viewers are from Europe (especially UK) and the USA. Not really a surprise here given the availability of internet, the number of people and average education level.
- Australia comes out next as a centre of activity – again, no surprise here given I’m from Australia and I feature many Australian issues.
- Almost nothing from China – the most populous country. I originally thought that the Chinese weren’t interested, but I have since discovered that the Great Firewall of China blocks all WordPress blogs (see blogs and posts on this issue). While there are ways around this, it isn’t easy for this vast body of internet surfers to see what I write. My recent trip there highlighted to me how much this country needs to pay attention to the issues raised in ConservationBytes.com (extensive pollution, huge human population and associated demand, GHG emissions, massive livestock industry, demand for oil palm, etc., etc., etc.).
- India was a bit of a surprise. Sure, second-highest human population, so a lot of potentially interested people. It also suggests that increasing internet access and a growing middle class are driving greater awareness and concern in conservation issues.
- Very little from Africa and South America. Internet access issues, education, awareness?
- Canadians – don’t care? They should.
- Russia & the Middle East – not sure why nothing much from these areas.
Of course, my little survey based on web hits from one tiny blog isn’t necessarily the most representative tool to gauge these issues, but it does allow me to pose some interesting hypotheses.
ConservationBytes.com 