Social networks as conservation practice: Targeting wetland conservation for women landowners

In order to inform a larger study about women landowners’ engagement in conservation decision-making related to wetlands, we piloted a collaborative and targeted conservation outreach program informed by existing literature. Here, we summarize our piloted approach, key takeaways from participants’ meeting evaluations, and recommendations to inform others as they work to create more inclusive conservation programming and outreach. This work contributes to the ongoing conversation in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation about the importance of tailoring outreach for landowners (Carolan et al. 2004; Petrzelka and Armstrong 2015; Petrzelka et al. 2021) and for women in particular (Everett 1983; Wells and Eells 2011; Druschke and Secchi 2014). We applied existing recommendations emphasizing the importance of relational learning and content especially tailored for women (Eells 2010; Wells and Eells 2011; Druschke and Secchi 2014; Bregendahl et al. 2007; Carter 2019; Petrzelka et al. 2019).

Traditional sources of agricultural conservation information are missing potential partners, including women, slowing conservation progress (Wells and Eells 2011; Druschke and Secchi 2014). For example, Druschke and Secchi’s (2014) survey of landowners and operators in an Iowa watershed found that men and women did not differ in their low knowledge of local water quality issues, but more women than men were unsure of specific practices’ effectiveness. In another study, almost half of the respondents to Petrzelka and Armstrong’s (2015) survey of Great Lakes basin and Utah absentee landowners did not rely on traditional sources for their conservation information. Those who differ from the norm, especially when the norm is male and prioritizing “production,” may not rely on …