ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY: Exploring the Drivers of Volunteer Stewardship in Community Pollinator Gardens

Abstract

Pollinator biodiversity decline, caused by a wide range of anthropogenic pressures, is a threat to the sustainability of Earth’s ecosystems. This study explored the motivations driving voluntary participation in urban community pollinator garden stewardship by residents of Baltimore, Maryland, USA. The purpose of this research was to examine the extent to which these volunteers are motivated by explicit environmental concerns. Six semi-structured interviews with volunteer gardeners were conducted and analyzed using a qualitative case study approach to determine motivations driving participation in pollinator garden stewardship. Analysis revealed that gardeners are primarily motivated by environmental concerns, with the most prominent motivations being an interest in and a desire to give back to birds, an interest in trees and native plants, and a desire to interact with the urban natural environment. Social factors also shaped motivations but proved less influential than environmental factors in driving participation among most gardeners. The findings differ from previous studies on other forms of urban gardening, suggesting that focusing on the potential positive environmental impacts of pollinator garden stewardship could be an effective tool for community groups, environmental non-profits, or local governments to increase participation in community-based pollinator garden stewardship.