Associate Professor University of Nebraska Lincoln, Nebraska
Environmental awareness and conservation practices are becoming more important to people as the effects of climate change and human impacts on biodiversity are becoming more apparent. People who want to begin impacting biodiversity in residential settings seek out opportunities like pollinator conservation programs. While these kinds of programs may have an impact on the environment, they also have an impact on the people who participate in them. Participants in a pre-designed pollinator garden program were surveyed and a select few were interviewed to better understand the program’s affordances. Data analysis from the surveys and themes developed from the interviews and verified by the surveys presented various findings. Primary findings of this study are that personal development, sub-categorized as growth and achievement, are experienced by many of the participants. In addition, interpersonal interactions and relationships can lead participants to act as local experts within their community. Results from this study can better inform conservation program developers and capitalize on the number of people with positive experiences and interactions to share their knowledge and perpetuate conservation practices.
