Education & Research

eyes4earth is a communication and outreach portal for transdisciplinary research currently being carried out on ‘meaningful nature experiences’ and implications for sustainability education.  A core component is to gain insight into how issues such as exotic/alien invasive species and biodiversity loss affect the integrity, frequency and richness of these experiences as well as other profound encounters with wildlife.

Whilst the research seeks to learn about global perspections on this topic, the core focus area of the experimental research is located in and around the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve in South Africa. Research and educational activities are focusing on a variety of target groups including previously disadvantaged youth, tertiary students as well as local community and governmental decision-makers.  The research participates with, e.g. local education courses and wilderness trails to learn more about participants’ nature experiences and related stories. We ask scientific experts, conservation managers, elders, community leaders and general public how they think we can better educate and tackle environmental issues,  such as the spread of non-native species.

This eyes4earth website is utilised for gaining insights into public perceptions which will help shape the research outcomes and our collective learning for sustainability. The website will also act as a forum for dialogue as well as providing regular updates of research activities, insights, results and publications.

Questions or feedback are welcome at info@eyes4earth.org

This research is being led by Matthew Zylstra and based at Stellenbosch University (Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology and Department of Education) and housed in the TsamaHUB’s trandisciplinary doctoral programme for sustainability. The research is funded through the Centre for Invasion Biology and supported by EarthCollective and Living Lands. Acknowledgements also go out to: IDEA WILD for the handheld GPS Pocket PC; to Cybertracker for free use of their versatile field software; and to the Canon Australia Environmental Grant for imaging equipment to support outreach activities with “What did nature do for you today” in 2007-2008.

  • Community Nature Experience

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    Some practical examples

    eyes4earth is collaborating with environmental education courses and wilderness trails  across the Baviaanskloof Mega-Reserve.  Action research is being carried out with urban street youth and ‘nature-deficit’ teens participating in experiential nature courses in the region. The aim of such activities has been to understand perceptions of non-native trees/animals (scientifically regarded as ‘alien invasive species’). This results are being used as a basis for formulating more integrated approaches toward youth environmental education from an inter-cultural perspective. Research is also being conducted with participants in regional wilderness awareness courses in order to gain better insight into the nature of experiences. A primary aim has been to study the depth of experience, possible meanings derived from encounters in nature and if the integrity of the experience was enhanced or diminished by the presence of alien invasive species.

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    Take the survey

    Please click here to take the eyes4earth survey and tell us about your profound encounters with wildlife encounters. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete. The results are being used to further research on how experiences (such as synchronicity in nature) may influence one’s connectedness to nature or be affected by environmental change.  The long-term aim is to use insights from your and others’ experiences from around the globe to better inform and shape sustainability education and conservation management.

    If you choose not to take the  survey but would still like to make contact or share a story then simply email matt@eyes4earth.org and we’ll take it from there….

    Thanks in advance for your cooperation and assistance.

    Please view our privacy policy to reassure that your responses will be used responsibly and in a confidential manner if desired.