eyes4earth focuses on three key environmental themes :

- ecosystem services;  (i.e. the benefits humans obtain from nature)
- biodiversity  (i.e. the variety of all life forms [in ecosystems] on earth
- climate change (i.e. accelerated human-induced changes in our climate)

The initiative acts as outreach for better communicating scientific research being carried out on public perceptions in relation to these themes. In this sense, eyes4earth aims to re-package and ‘market’ these concepts in ways that reach out, engage civil society and ultimately facilitate a deeper understanding of their everyday relevance is to us on an individual and collective level.

eyes4earth acts as a two-way communication channel for current transdisciplinary PhD research on human-biodiversity interactions (being carried out with Stellenbosch University & the TsamaHUB) and earlier MSc research on ecosystem services (carried out with Wageningen University).

The current PhD research is primarily gaining insights into people’s perceptions of ‘meaningful nature experiences’ (or synchronistic nature experiences) and how learning derived from such events can be better integrated into education programmes for sustainability. The research is also assessing how exotic weeds and pests (e.g. invasive alien plant and animal species) are perceived to affect meaningful nature and wilderness experience. Similarly, an additional aim is to investigate how environmental education may shape such perceptions and what strategies can be employed to facilitate a more experiential understanding.

eyes4earth also employs principles and tools of community-based social marketing to achieve these objectives. Utilising innovative ways of practising ‘citizen science’ (e.g. participatory mapping), eyes4earth ultimately seeks to bridge the gaps between: science and society/spirituality; knowledge and understanding; information and experience; and awareness and lasting pro-environmental behaviour change.

“Science can help ensure that decisions are made with the best available information, but ultimately the future of biodiversity will be determined by society”. ~Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005

The PhD research at Stellenbosch University is being carried out by Matthew Zylstra through the Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology and the Department of Education at Stellenbosch University (with the TsamaHUB).  The research components on nature experience, exotic weeds and education is funded through the Centre for Invasion Biology.

Click here for more information on the research and education…