The Question: a three year review

Wageningen (NL): This year’s Earth Day (22nd April 09) saw EarthCollective  chalk up three (3) years of activity with the eyes4earth programme. In particular, it was three years to the day since the launch of ‘The Question’ (”What did nature do for you today?”).  In 2006, members and volunteers came together on a sunny spring day in Arnhem and invited the public to answer ‘The Question’ as part of this dynamic action research and social marketing initiative.  The eyes4earth blog has posted an article and video clip of the first ever response received to ‘The Question’.

On 23rd April 2009, Matthew Zylstra (eyes4earth coordinator & guest researcher, Wageningen University) delivered a presentation to Wageningen University colleagues which gave a review of the three years of work which has provided insights into how society perceives the concept of ecosystem services and, importantly, their everyday link with nature. The presentation critically examined how a social marketing approach could be applied to facilitate understanding of the ecosystem services’ concept and, more importantly, to help catalyze a shift in how people think about – and connect with – their natural environment.

Further results are being included in a scientific journal article which is currently in preparation.