Abstract
Continued loss of biodiversity from urban areas is regarded as a critical issue. It is recognised that community education is required to improve awareness about environmental impacts and to achieve behavioural change to reduce environmental impacts.
A program to engage communities in restoration of biodiversity in urban gardens has been implemented by Greening Australia (WA) in a local government area. The concept of ‘Discovery – Understanding – Action’ leads participants through a process of learning, enabling learners to think of their own garden as a ‘stepping stone’ of habitat and encouraging them to accept responsibility for management of this habitat resource while also making connections with each other and the community. This paper presents the results of a smallscale evaluation of this program, including the significant positive changes captured by the pre and post program survey of knowledge, attitude, skills and empowerment.
Key outcomes of the interview analysis are also presented, highlighting participant views regarding major barriers to conserving urban biodiversity.