2017-07-02
Angela Rossen
Our own place here in South West Australia is a Biodiversity Hotspot. We have all heard that term so many times its meaning has become diluted. It means a place rich in diverse plant and animal species that is threatened by a range of human impacts. So this splendid abundance is both a gift and responsibility. We know that if we dont change the way we use the natural world then we will continue to diminish it.
Most people are drawn to nature and long to participate in its beauty and wonder but are not sure how. Whilst the 19th century tradition of heroic conquest is redundant, it is the underlying theme for a number of recreational pursuits. However the urge to engage in acts of conquest or consumption, such as driving fast over things, or catching and killing living things can simply be the result of a lack of the tools to engage with nature more creatively or thoughtfully.
The question is how to engage the public with the conservation message in ways that speak to the heart and that change behaviors. As any parent knows, lecturing a teenager on the importance of doing their homework is an exercise in futility. They need to have their eye on the greater picture – what they want their future to look like. The same underpins community conservation education in order to create the future that we want not the one we will get if we continue with business as usual.
The old fashioned pursuits of the amateur naturalist seem the domain of elderly and slightly embarrassing aunts but this neednt be the case. The discovery of nature offers a rich experience for children of any age and by that I mean adults too. Knowing which plants and animals are impacted by our life choices will grow a deeper understanding. It is hard to make sacrifices to protect what is scarcely understood.
For example, knowing about the macro invertebrate communities living amongst the algae gardens on coastal reefs will inform more careful use of pesticides and fertilizers in nearby suburban parks and gardens. An understanding of the rigors of the journey made by migratory birds will contribute to better management of dogs on nesting beaches.
Bringing people together to observe and record nature is a simple way to encourage their curiosity and longing to connect with nature. In turn this understanding of nature will lead to a more nuanced use of resources and shared natural places.
On the last Sunday of May, a day of sparkling sunshine and clear cold air, I joined with colleagues from the UWA School of Biological Sciences, The Cottesloe Community Coastcare Association and Birdlife WA to deliver a Community Biodiversity Survey.
Community members were given a list of the living plants and animals of the South Cottesloe beach and invited to log their findings. A marquee field station with dune plant specimen, pressed marine plants, local field guidebooks, microscopes, preserved marine snakes, iScopeStands and sketchpads and pencils were all available. The field station was the focus of the morning with people bringing their discoveries to be identified and discussed with the biologists.
Children gathered around me to make careful drawings of their shells, dried starfish, crab claws and more. There was the atmosphere of a treasure hunt. It was a treasure hunt for knowledge. It was a perfect morning with nearly one hundred participants. This sharing of knowledge is a wonderful way to grow a more nuanced and thoughtful relationship with nature. It is also a way to build community.
Think about taking your family, friends and community out to discover nature. It is a very fun thing to do.
Photo: Cottesloe Community Event. J. Shaw