Human Dimensions Protocol
Purpose
Humans and the environment are connected and interdependent. People relate to the environment in many ways - through food, culture, spirituality, livelihoods, and wellbeing - and they also shape environments through complex social dynamics such as governance, power, identity, values and worldviews. Understanding how people use, perceive, and experience Puget Sound shorelines is an important dimension of shoreline ecosystems. These perspectives provide insights into the factors that shape human relationships with shorelines, and can help inform future planning and restoration efforts.
The Human Dimensions Survey was designed with the following guiding questions:
- What types of activities do people engage in on Puget Sound shorelines?
- How do people feel about shoreline restoration in Puget Sound?
- Do perceptions of naturalness and ecological health align with management strategy and ecological assessment?
- What factors affect perceptions of shoreline naturalness and ecological health and do these perceptions relate to shoreline use or place attachment?
Link to the survey here, or download the survey QR code here. This survey has 7 questions and an optional demographics section, and takes about 5-7 minutes to complete.
A summary of responses will be made available in the Visualizations section by the end of 2026.
Also see resources on human wellbeing at the Puget Sound Partnership, coastal sense of place and considerations for nearshore restoration, and conceptual diagrams of how social and ecological factors interact with nearshore restoration from the Puget Sound Restoration Nearshore Summit.