The Transformative Potential of Future Visioning and Reciprocity For Nature Conservation Policy and Practice

Authors

  • Lily van Eeden Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia. Corresponding Author: lily.vaneeden@delwp.vic.gov.au
  • Christina Renowden Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia
  • Fern Hames Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia
  • Sarah Bartlett Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia
  • Emma Pearson Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia
  • Michael Dunlop CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
  • Maryella Hatfield Communication, Creative Industries & Screen Media, Western Sydney University, Parramatta NSW Australia
  • Sky Hugman School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney NSW Australia
  • Katharina-Victoria Pérez-Hämmerle University of New South Wales Canberra, Canberra ACT, Australia
  • Kate Lee Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia

Keywords:

Sustainability transformation, Relational values, Anthropocene, Futures Thinking

Abstract

Humans are degrading the natural systems we rely on. A transformation in our relationships with nature could reverse this decline, with broad benefits to society. In recognition, governments are seeking to promote positive relationships with nature and increase engagement with pro-nature behaviors. However, these efforts may lack a clear vision to guide transformative change. Developing shared visions between agencies could improve policy effectiveness and instill stewardship. We sought to explore the transformative potential of future visioning through an Appreciative Inquiry approach. In a transformative practice session at the 2023 Transformations Community conference, we guided participants to develop a future vision where humans are living in reciprocity with nature. Our 14 participants drew on their disciplinary expertise (e.g., sustainability transformation, climate change, nature conservation) and personal relationships with nature. We captured these visions via sticky notes, rich picturing, and discussion and later employed thematic analysis to establish relevant themes. The themes we developed encompassed transforming ourselves (e.g., mental barriers and opportunities), transforming society (considering systemic barriers and opportunities), lifelong entanglement with nature (what this looks like and how it is achieved), and incorporating multiple (including more-than-human) voices. The process generated new ideas for change and highlighted the complexities of developing meaningful and socially just visions. We intend to build on this process by engaging government colleagues and other groups to co-produce a vision to inform Victorian policy (Australia).

Author Biographies

Lily van Eeden, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia. Corresponding Author: lily.vaneeden@delwp.vic.gov.au

Lily is a postdoctoral researcher in the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. She has expertise in nature conservation, human-wildlife conflict, and behaviour change science which she applies to government biodiversity policy and programs. She is also affiliated with BehaviourWorks Australia (Monash University) and ICON Science (RMIT University).

Corresponding Author: lily.vaneeden@delwp.vic.gov.au

Christina Renowden, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia

Christina is an interdisciplinary social science researcher at the Arthur Rylah Institute, within the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action. She works within the Victorians Value Nature program in community and stakeholder engagement. Christina has expertise in art-science research, nature engagement programming, and citizen science. Her doctoral research is exploring human nature relationships through a relational lens and multiple ways of knowing.

Fern Hames, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia

As Director of the Arthur Rylah Institute, Fern leads a large team of researchers in ecology and conservation. She led the Victorians Value Nature framework, has developed innovative new programs in environmental education and citizen science, and has helped craft policy and decision making at the highest levels in Victoria. She is passionate about connecting people with wild places, and about transformative, values-based leadership.

Sarah Bartlett, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia

I have a background in managing behaviour change communication, programs and intervention design to deliver innovative and evidence-based social marketing and communication planning, research, design and evaluation. I'm now working with a social science team on the targets of Victoria's Biodiversity Plan 2037 goal, 'Victorians Value Nature'.

Public issues I have personally worked on in my career include: environmental water management; feral deer awareness and reporting; cervical cancer screening; public transport safety regulation; boating and paddling trip preparation and operating behaviours; Indigenous values around water quality; Traditional Owner social enterprise in natural resource management; flood warning design and communication; medical research awareness (including promoting research outcomes for diabetes, human genetics, coeliac disease, influenza, cystic fibrosis, radiation therapy, leukaemia and various other cancers); ADHD; domestic violence services; urban and agricultural water use behaviours; bushfire preparation awareness; rural and commercial land use behaviours; public perceptions of carbon sequestration; championing producer land management behaviour under climate change scenarios; and the less complex, but equally challenging behaviour of littering.

Emma Pearson, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia

Emma Pearson works at the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. She has interdisciplinary expertise in conservation biology, international relations and strategic policy. She has worked across behaviour change for the Victorians Value Nature Program at the Arthur Rylah Institute, on state-wide strategic biodiversity policy, and on natural environment climate change adaptation in both urban and regional contexts.

Michael Dunlop, CSIRO Land and Water, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

Michael Dunlop works at the intersection between the social, institutional and biophysical dimensions of climate adaptation, focusing on enabling transformational adaptation to significant but uncertain change. He has worked in conservation, agriculture, coasts and natural hazards, and with National, State and local governments and NGOs in Australia and internationally.

Maryella Hatfield, Communication, Creative Industries & Screen Media, Western Sydney University, Parramatta NSW Australia

Maryella Hatfield lectures in Screen Media, Communication and Creative Industries at Western Sydney University. She makes films and researches aspects of sustainability, science, technology, design and innovation. Her documentary film The Future Makers explored leading renewable energy scientists in Australia, was commissioned and broadcast for Discovery Channel and screened in many International film festivals. She is a Senior Fellow, UK Higher Education Academy, SFHEA.

Sky Hugman, School of Social Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney NSW Australia

A researcher who works across disciplines, Sky's projects focus on affect, epistemologicalassumptions, and structural power relations in the creation and translation of knowledge. Using acommons-based framework to engage democratic principles for participation and practice, these projects emphasise reflexivity, value, creativity, and the imaginary. Sky is a lecturer in the School of Social Science at Western Sydney University. She is a member of the Sydney Commons Lab and a Research Associate with the Young and Resilient Research Centre.

Katharina-Victoria Pérez-Hämmerle, University of New South Wales Canberra, Canberra ACT, Australia

Transdisciplinary researcher and Fulbright Student with a background in ecology, political science, art and geographic information systems, applying theoretical metaphysics to create practical frameworks for more plural, inclusive and equitable research, policy and implementation. Ask me about 4D mental modeling.

Kate Lee, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action, 123 Brown Street, Heidelberg VIC 3084 Australia

Kate coordinates the Victorians Value Nature Program at the Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, and is an honourary research fellow at the University of Melbourne. Kate explores social dimensions of nature, experiences in urban environments, collaboration and learning, and sector growth.

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Published

2023-12-19

How to Cite

van Eeden, L., Renowden, C., Hames, F., Bartlett, S., Pearson, E., Dunlop, M., … Lee, K. (2023). The Transformative Potential of Future Visioning and Reciprocity For Nature Conservation Policy and Practice. Social Innovations Journal, 22. Retrieved from https://socialinnovationsjournal.com/index.php/sij/article/view/7002

Issue

Vol. 22 (2023): Transformative Partnerships: Proceedings of Transformations Conference '23

Section

Co-producing Transformative Knowledge

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2023 Lily van Eeden, Christina Renowden, Fern Hames, Sarah Bartlett, Emma Pearson, Michael Dunlop, Maryella Hatfield, Sky Hugman, Katharina-Victoria Pérez-Hämmerle, Kate Lee (Author)

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