Protecting and restoring freshwater biodiversity across urban areas in Aotearoa New Zealand — Motivating urban residents to volunteer for waterway restoration

Abstract

This synthesis was prepared by New Zealand’s Biological Heritage National Science Challenge | Ngā Koiora Tuku Iho, Empowering Kaitiakitanga & Environmental Stewardship research team. Unless New Zealanders are inspired to act and work together for a common goal, the response to our biodiversity crisis will be disjointed, ad-hoc, and potentially counterproductive. Our research focuses on addressing this dilemma. It is about helping New Zealanders take charge of caring for the environment by understanding the values and motivations that drive some people to actively protect our natural heritage. It is also about understanding the reciprocal relationships between people in the landscape – some of whom actively intervene on behalf of the environment – and the ecosystems in which they live.