Reframing the Biodiversity Debate

When Biodiversity Project was founded, one of our goals was to promote messages that go beyond “There's a Big Crisis at Hand--Everyone Should Worry More!” These days, more worry won’t sell; Americans already have a full plate of worry.

People react to big, bad news (like the degradation of Earth’s life support systems) with a variety of coping tactics. What we’re seeking, of course, is a positive response – action and behavior change that drives the big solutions, not just the short-term fixes. To engage people and motivate action, we need to move beyond worry and blame messages. Our work helps the the environmental movement expand the public dialogue about the environment to more frequently include ethics, values, and concrete things real people can do to make a difference.

See more information on these projects:

Expanding the Dialogue on the Ethical and Theological Reasons for Protecting Biodiversity

Public Opinion Research and Handbooks to Guide the Discourse

Reframing the debate has given us an opportunity to work with biodiversity advocates and educators across the country. Here is just a sampling of groups who have made use of Biodiversity Project strategies and resources:

American Community Gardeners Association
American Zoological Association
British Columbia Endangered Species Coalition
Brookfield Zoo
California Wilderness Coalition
Center for A New American Dream
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Chicago Wilderness
Clean Water Network
The Conservation Fund
Coral Reef Alliance
Growth Management Leadership Alliance
Idaho Conservation League
Indiana Dunes Learning Center
Missouri Botanical Gardens
New England Aquarium
New Jersey Future
1000 Friends of New Mexico
River Alliance
Sierra Club
Smart Growth America
Surfers Tired of Pollution
Sustainability Network (Ontario)
The Wilderness Society
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
World Wildlife Fund

	Reframing the Biodiversity Debate
	When Biodiversity Project was founded, one of our goals was to promote messages that go beyond “There's a Big Crisis at Hand--Everyone Should Worry More!” These days, more worry won’t sell; Americans already have a full plate of worry. People react to big, bad news (like the degradation of Earth’s life support systems) with a variety of coping tactics. What we’re seeking, of course, is a positive response – action and behavior change that drives the big solutions, not just the short-term fixes. To engage people and motivate action, we need to move beyond worry and blame messages. Our work helps the the environmental movement expand the public dialogue about the environment to more frequently include ethics, values, and concrete things real people can do to make a difference. See more information on these projects: Expanding the Dialogue on the Ethical and Theological Reasons for Protecting Biodiversity Public Opinion Research and Handbooks to Guide the Discourse Reframing the debate has given us an opportunity to work with biodiversity advocates and educators across the country. Here is just a sampling of groups who have made use of Biodiversity Project strategies and resources: American Community Gardeners Association American Zoological Association British Columbia Endangered Species Coalition Brookfield Zoo California Wilderness Coalition Center for A New American Dream Chesapeake Bay Foundation Chicago Wilderness Clean Water Network The Conservation Fund Coral Reef Alliance Growth Management Leadership Alliance Idaho Conservation League Indiana Dunes Learning Center Missouri Botanical Gardens New England Aquarium New Jersey Future 1000 Friends of New Mexico River Alliance Sierra Club Smart Growth America Surfers Tired of Pollution Sustainability Network (Ontario) The Wilderness Society U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service World Wildlife Fund