Fascination and Joy: Emotions Predict Urban Gardeners’ Pro-Pollinator Behaviour

Abstract

The conservation of pollinators requires social understanding to catalyse restoration action. Citizen science (CS) is discussed as a way to promote interest and action for pollinating insects. Yet, the drivers behind pro-pollinator behaviour are largely unclear, especially in urban areas. To better understand public engagement in pollinator conservation, we studied urban community gardeners’ identity, nature-relatedness, emotions, and attitudes toward pollinators and their intentions to get involved in pro-pollinator behaviour in their gardening practice. We surveyed community gardeners in Berlin and Munich, Germany, some of which were participating in a citizen science project. In this scientific study, we created four different sets of generalized linear models to analyse how the gardeners’ pro-pollinator behaviour intentions and behaviour were explained by socio-psychological factors. The responses of 111 gardeners revealed that gardeners that were fascinated by pollinators, held positive attitudes and felt joy about seeing pollinators reported intentions to protect or support pollinators, suggesting that fascination and joy can be harnessed for research and conservation on pollinators. Similarly, joy about seeing pollinators predicted participation in the CS project. We believe that CS may represent a pathway through which urban residents may become key actors in conservation projects within their nearby greenspaces.

The Joy of birds: the effect of rating for joy or counting garden bird species on wellbeing, anxiety, and nature connection

“…While evaluations tend to focus on knowledge and learning outcomes (Peter et al 2019), the results of this study support research showing people are motivated to take part in citizen science projects by a desire to connect to nature (Vasiliades et al 2021), and report psychological and emotional benefits from participating (Schuttler et al 2018). In line with Sturm et al (2021), the research suggests the importance of citizen science projects recognising and utilising people's affective relationship with nature in supporting their participation. This may maximise the psychological benefits they gain from taking part, as well as supporting intention to engage in pro-nature conservation behaviour (Sturm et al 2021).…”

“…In line with Sturm et al (2021), the research suggests the importance of citizen science projects recognising and utilising people's affective relationship with nature in supporting their participation. This may maximise the psychological benefits they gain from taking part, as well as supporting intention to engage in pro-nature conservation behaviour (Sturm et al 2021).…”

“…None of the models were significant, suggesting that these characteristics of birds did not significantly moderate improvements in outcomes. Richardson and Sheffield 2017;Sturm et al 2020Sturm et al , 2021.…”

“…That is, people's negative feelings and anger towards the birds mattered more than what they 'thought' about birds and human-wildlife relationships. Positive emotions may also shape behaviour -a recent study of gardeners found that those who reported feelings of joy in seeing pollinators were more likely to engage in pro-pollinator behaviour (Sturm et al 2021).…”

In defence of urban community gardens

“…We observed intense care and willingness to monitor plant development until the end of the project, even though many gardeners harvested very few fruits from the plants they observed and reported that fruits were stolen by visitors. It seems that the gardeners' motivation to actively engage in pro‐pollinator activities in their gardens, for example by participating in a scientific research project, goes beyond harvest success (Karlebowski et al., in preparation; Sturm et al., 2021). When surveying these gardeners on their motivation to participate in the citizen science project—an indicator of pro‐pollinator behaviour itself—we found the importance of positive nature experiences that are based on nature‐relatedness as well as emotions.…”