social change through conservation programs Presented by Cherise - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Promoting positive social change through conservation programs

Presented by Cherise Acker-Cooper 28 May 2018

• 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

• f amphibians and their habitats.

Threatened Amphibian Programme

Why social change?

Wetland and amphibian conservation Economic insecurity to security

Community Driven Positive Social Change

Social insecurity to Security Biosecurity Ecological infrastructure and services

SOCIAL CHANGE REFERS TO ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE

IN BEHAVIOR PATTERNS AND CULTURAL VALUES AND NORMS

(LEICHT, 2013). Local understanding Local solutions Local action

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

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Love snakes and frogs Personal Progress Body fitness Family support Makes me happy Love nature Take care of nature Environmental Knowledge

What t do

• tea

eam mem embers ap apprec eciated ab abou

• ut th

the e wor

• rk th

they do?

• ?

Sh Shift ift towards en envi vironmental kn knowle ledge

2 Survey 1 Survey

Indication: Growth in environmental interest Indication: Growth in personal satisfaction and security

Results – Work Satisfaction

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Method of clearing Decreases my stress levels Salary Chopping down alien plants Taking Care of the Environment Killing alien plants to protect the wetland Knowing I have a job Interacting with the team Environmental Knowledge

Jo Job Enjo joyment Com

• mparison 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

2 Survey 1 Survey

Indication: Growth in environmental interest and social identity

Results – Work Satisfaction

Indication: Personal security

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 Body pains Always Tired Love nature Body fitnes Personal growth Little influence Environmental Knowledge Support my family

How has as th the e wor

• rk in

influ fluenced tea eam mem embers s liv lives es? Com

• mparison betw

tween 1st t an and 2nd su surveys

2 Survey 1 Survey

Indication: Social security and environmental knowledge key influence Indication: Shift from body pains to body fitness

Results – Work Satisfaction

5 10 15 20 25 30 35 Job creation Wood for communites Healthy air Clean water for livestock Helps Injured People Healthy wetlands Clean environment Healthy environment for frogs Caring for the environment Healthy environment for people

How do

• th

the e en envi vironment an and peo eople ben enefit t fr from th the e wor

• rk th

that t is is bei eing don

• ne?

Com

• mparison betw

tween 1st t an and 2nd Su Survey

2 Survey 1 Survey

Indications: Growth in appreciation for frogs

Results – Work Satisfaction

• 120
• 100
• 80
• 60
• 40
• 20

20 40 60 80 100 Team 1 Team 2 Team 3 Percentage Positive and Negative Attitude Changes Team Comparison

Attit titude ch chan ange - Sit Site e com

• mparis

ison for

• r pos
• sit

itive an and neg egative ch chan anges betw tween th three ee tea eams

Positive Change Negative Change

Results – Attitude Survey

Leadership Style Weak, unstructured Motivating, supportive Strong, structured

Attitude event analysis

5 10 15 20 25 30 1st Survey 2nd Survey Third Survey

Attitude Survey – After an event

Adams Mission Mt Moreland North Coast

Project Start-up Contractor management Project start-up and payment delays Leadership intervention

Stewardship sit ite community attit itude assessment

5 10 15 20 25 30 Isipingo Adams Mission

Community attitude towards the environment - Baseline

Il Ilembe Bio iodiv iversit ity Offi ficer assessment

10 20 30 40 50 60 Kwadukuza Nyoni Groutville

Ilembe Project Attitude Assessment

First Survey Second Survey

Level of intervention intensity?

Ecolo logic ical l goods and services quali lity assessment

Results – Learnership assessment

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Positive Negative Unsure

Nature Site Guide Attitudinal Assessments

23-May 29-Jun

Increase in positive attitude change Decrease in negative attitudes and uncertainty

21 Observations Submitted, 82 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 7 32 Pre-Ecology Handbook Post-Ecology Handbook Post iSpot PERCENT

OBSERVATIONS SUBMITTED BY TEAMS ON WHATSAPP COMPARISON BETWEEN DIFFERENT INTERVENTIONS

Results – Social Media

BUT No contracts No submissions Since project start after 5 month delay only two submissions Loss of trust and worth

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

Environmental Programmes should:

• BE CONSISTENT
• Create a nurturing environment
• Provide recognition and acknowledgement
• Be multi-dimensional: co-construct social change

and environmental strategies

NGO conservation programmes have the potential to initiate positive social change through a socio- environmental focus

Threatened Amphibian Programme Application

• Social change and engagement

strategy integrated with environmental 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 Want to Environmental programs have the opportunity to be initiators of positive social change through understanding and careful planning

Acknowledgements

Thank You

www.ewt.org.za