Conduct education and community engagement programs to increase participation, while supporting local groups to build capacity.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
An educated community can better identify priorities and advocate for changes. Education and awareness requires a relatively small effort for potentially large outcomes. Engaging and involving youth is important to help spread the message throughout the community and support succession and continuity in volunteer groups. Supporting groups to build capacity results in better outcomes for the group and the region.
EXAMPLES OF LOCAL ACTION
Support existing successful programs, like Australian Youth Climate Coalition and CAFNEC’s education and community engagement programs.
Recognise and celebrate successes of smaller groups.
Hold workshops on a range of environmental issues (recycling, ponds, gardens, native bee hives, sustainability, fast fashion, etc) to facilitate community engagement and action.
Promote good news stories about wildlife and habitat protection to encourage participation.
Develop education programs for community, schools and early childhood.
Establish community gardens for their educational value and bringing the community together.
Advocate to ensure community engagement funding (government) is an integral component of NRM projects.
Build a catalogue of case studies and successful projects in the regions to use as example projects.