Reasoning & Evidence
Environmental Stewardship has been defined as the actions taken by individuals or groups to protect, care for, or responsibly use the environment in pursuit of environmental and ecological outcomes.(40) Promoting group-oriented environmental stewardship activities creates spaces for social interactions and social connections between individuals united by a common goal. Stewardship groups that maintain and advocate for green and blue spaces have experienced strengthened social trust and community engagement through events that amplify their environmental values and promote socially inclusive environmental activities.(41) Similarly, community gardening groups have noted that the collective act of nurturing a garden increased their motivation to engage in social interactions and helped connect them to a sense of community.(35, 38, 42) Intergenerational strategies can also be blended with these activities. For example, intergenerational contact zones, such as community gardens, parks, and shared spaces, encourage sustained, meaningful interactions between older and younger generations, fostering collaboration and mutual respect. Additionally, structured volunteering programs and educational initiatives designed to bring different age groups together for environmental projects can reduce ageism, strengthen social bonds, and enhance collective action toward environmental stewardship.(54) Rural and Indigenous communities have unique relationships to the environment, as the land is intricately tied to their well-being, livelihood, and cultural values. However, rural communities also often face high rates of social and geographic isolation.(43, 44) While this isolation poses challenges, it also presents opportunities for fostering community resilience and connection through environmental initiatives. When spaces are created for environmental volunteering, engagement opportunities can foster well-being and social connection in these communities while reducing the socially isolating factor of environmental degradation.(45)
While environmental stewardship activities can foster social connection, social connections can in turn spur motivations to engage with the environment. Promoting opportunities for participants to build social connections increases the likelihood that individuals will join volunteer groups, which ultimately strengthens stewardship engagement. Social capital is the foundation for building environmental stewardship groups, and there is strong motivation for people to grow their social networks with individuals who share similar environmental values.(46) One study found that regardless of environmental goals, participants were more likely to join a stewardship movement when it aligned with their social and community engagement motivations.(47) Similarly, climate grief circles, like those organized by Climate and Mind, offer a supportive space for individuals to share their emotional responses to climate change. These social interactions help people process complex feelings such as grief, anxiety, and fear, while fostering a sense of connection and collective resilience.
Examples of Community Implementation
Boston, Massachusetts: The Common Canine Group in Boston aims to engage dog owners to become active environmental stewards of the parks their dogs recreate in. The goal of the group is to create a long-term, sustainable mechanism for restoring park areas that are permitted for off-leash recreation. Dog parks provide opportunities for social interactions between pet owners which can increase social cohesion and neighborhood sense of community, especially in urban areas where pet owners visit the dog park multiple times a day.(48) This program increased community building potential by motivating owners through a shared goal of maintaining the beauty and function of the park.
Portland, Oregon: Environmental Services in Portland have established the Green Street Steward Program to engage community members in green street maintenance like picking up trash and debris, plant weeding, and weekly watering. The community is encouraged to join the program to protect public green spaces and help keep Portland’s rivers clean, all while building a sense of community and meeting like-minded individuals.
Reference: The SOCIAL Framework: The Environmental Sector Supplemental Brief
Back to All Strategies