Conservation in the Parks: A Community-Based Approach

The effects of urbanization have been demonstrated to be the leading cause of the loss of biodiversity on a global scale. Solutions to preventing the extinction of locally rare species and degradation of imperative ecosystems can be addressed effectively by local park and recreation agencies through strategic natural areas preservation, active stewardship and community engagement throughout the process. Acquiring the necessary data for the long-term conservation of local biodiversity clearly can be a daunting task when staff, time and monetary resources are limited. This session will outline the framework for developing impactful conservation-related goals, defining the data needs to develop those goals, and discuss the immense benefits of utilizing citizen-science to engage and build community around addressing environmental issues in local parks and green spaces.

Learning Objectives
Following this session, learners will be able to:

1. Utilize community-based monitoring and stewardship initiatives to develop attainable conservation-related goals as a park and recreation organization.