Promoting positive social change through conservation programs Presented by Cherise Acker-Cooper 28 May 2018
Threatened Amphibian Programme • Elevate the conservation importance of frogs and their freshwater and associated terrestrial habitats within southern Africa; • Bridge the gap between research and on-the-ground conservation action by supporting and implementing relevant research projects; • Implement conservation actions that align with global amphibian conservation goals; • Drive social change to promote behaviours that support sustainable natural resource use to the benefit of amphibians and their habitats.
Why social change? Local understanding Local solutions Local action Wetland and amphibian conservation Community Driven Positive Social Change S OCIAL CHANGE REFERS TO ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE Economic Social IN BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS insecurity to insecurity to security Security (L EICHT , 2013). Biosecurity Ecological infrastructure and services
Study area NRM - Project • ~70 team members • 7 teams • 6 sites • Invasive alien plant clearing in CBA • Municipal Biodiversity Stewardship • 4 Nature site guides • 2 Biodiversity officers • ~9500 community members • Traditional Authority Ilembe Project • 14 Biodiversity officers • Ecological goods and services quality assessment • Municipal
Methodology Measuring social change through social-environmental engagement • Work satisfaction surveys – Questionnaire • Before and after Attitude surveys – Questionnaire • Social media – WhatsApp Ongoing data collection
Results – Work Satisfaction What t do o tea eam mem embers ap apprec eciated ab abou out th the e wor ork th they do? o? Shift Sh ift towards en envi vironmental kn knowle ledge Environmental Knowledge Indication: Growth in environmental interest Take care of nature Love nature Makes me happy Indication: Growth in personal satisfaction and security Family support Body fitness Personal Progress Love snakes and frogs 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 2 Survey 1 Survey
Results – Work Satisfaction Jo Job Enjo joyment Com omparison betw tween 1st t an and 2nd Su Surveys Key val alue shift ifts towards Envi vironmental l Knowle ledge an and Jo Job se secu curity Environmental Knowledge Indication: Growth in environmental interest and social identity Interacting with the team Indication: Personal security Knowing I have a job Killing alien plants to protect the wetland Taking Care of the Environment Chopping down alien plants Salary Decreases my stress levels Method of clearing 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 2 Survey 1 Survey
Results – Work Satisfaction How has as th the e wor ork in influ fluenced tea eam mem embers s liv lives es? Com omparison betw tween 1st t an and 2nd su surveys Support my family Indication: Social security and environmental knowledge key influence Environmental Knowledge Little influence Personal growth Body fitnes Indication: Shift from body pains to body fitness Love nature Always Tired Body pains 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 2 Survey 1 Survey
Results – Work Satisfaction How do o th the e en envi vironment an and peo eople ben enefit t fr from th the e wor ork th that t is is bei eing don one? Com omparison betw tween 1st t an and 2nd Su Survey Healthy environment for people Caring for the environment Indications: Growth in appreciation for frogs Healthy environment for frogs Clean environment Healthy wetlands Helps Injured People Clean water for livestock Healthy air Wood for communites Job creation 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 2 Survey 1 Survey
Attit titude ch chan ange - Sit Site e com omparis ison for or pos osit itive an and Results – Attitude Survey neg egative ch chan anges betw tween th three ee tea eams 100 Motivating, Strong, Leadership supportive structured 80 Style 60 40 Weak, 20 unstructured Percentage 0 Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 -20 -40 -60 -80 -100 -120 Positive and Negative Attitude Changes Team Comparison Positive Change Negative Change
Attitude event analysis Attitude Survey – After an event 30 Leadership intervention 25 Project start-up and payment Contractor management 20 Project Start-up 15 delays 10 5 0 1st Survey 2nd Survey Third Survey Adams Mission Mt Moreland North Coast
Stewardship sit ite community attit itude assessment Community attitude towards the environment - Baseline 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Isipingo Adams Mission
Il Ilembe Bio iodiv iversit ity Offi ficer assessment Ilembe Project Attitude Assessment 60 50 40 Level of intervention 30 intensity? 20 10 0 Kwadukuza Nyoni Groutville First Survey Second Survey
Ecolo logic ical l goods and services quali lity assessment
Nature Site Guide Attitudinal Assessments Results – Learnership Increase in 90 positive attitude change 80 assessment 70 Decrease in negative attitudes 60 and uncertainty 50 40 30 20 10 0 Positive Negative Unsure 23-May 29-Jun
OBSERVATIONS SUBMITTED BY TEAMS ON WHATSAPP Results – Social Media COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS 90 Observations Submitted, 82 80 70 60 BUT 50 PERCENT No contracts 40 No submissions 30 Since project start after 5 month delay only two submissions 21 20 Loss of trust and worth 10 0 0 0 7 32 Pre-Ecology Handbook Post-Ecology Handbook Post iSpot
Conclusions • Strong value in environmental knowledge BUT does not bring about lasting social change • Social well being determines environmental value • Healthy environments indicates environmental value • Indications of strong positive attitude change towards the environment under the right leadership Change
Conclusion NGO conservation programmes have the potential to initiate positive social change through a socio- environmental focus Environmental Programmes should: • BE CONSISTENT • Create a nurturing environment • Provide recognition and acknowledgement • Be multi-dimensional: co-construct social change and environmental strategies
Threatened Amphibian Programme Application Environmental programs have the opportunity to be initiators of positive social change through understanding and careful planning • Social change and engagement strategy integrated with environmental Want to programs • It is not just about education and awareness , education and awareness is a step or tool towards social change • Integral in project planning and decision making. Personal context
Acknowledgements
Thank You www.ewt.org.za
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