Towards Greater Diversity in Biodiversity Conservation Action

Abstract

Young adults have been identified as an under-researched group in terms of their engagement in environmental management initiatives, but an important group to understand given their future role as environmental leaders. Urban planning and environmental management strategies emphasise the importance of engaging the community in kaitiakitanga of the landscape, but young adults are a group that is largely uninvolved. As young adults are soon to be the leaders of biodiversity planning, the aim of this research was to explore young adults’ levels of understanding of biodiversity in New Zealand and their patterns of engagement in biodiversity management initiatives, including barriers to and opportunities for engagement.