Figure - available from: Conservation Science and Practice
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Non‐overlapping circles (Dorling) cartogram of threatened species occurrence within the 151 Commonwealth Electoral Divisions (CEDs) and a map showing the geographical boundaries in the background. Bubbles correspond in color and size to the number of threatened species found within the CED. Bubbles represent the geographic region of the CEDs and are arranged as close as possible to the original location of the CED. Heavy clustering of bubbles occurs in metropolitan areas (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne) where CEDs are too small to be represented alongside their rural counterparts on an untransformed scale. Labels are unique abbreviations of the CED name (Table S1 provides the exact number of threatened species and the full names of CEDs).
Source publication
Many of the proposed solutions to the global biodiversity crisis rely on national governments to act. The conservation movement needs to motivate governments or face an ongoing extinction crisis. Here we explore how linking biodiversity to electoral systems may assist in motivating government action. Using Australia as a case study, we analyze the...
Citations
Despite public support for conservation, Australian government policy responses have been insufficient for addressing the biodiversity crisis. This situation represents a disconnect between political decision‐makers and the public. Digital interventions offer a promising tool for bridging this connection through education and political engagement at the constituency level. We present the conceptual foundations, design, and impact of Threatened Australians, a web‐based application aimed at constituency‐based awareness raising and facilitating political actions. Using a transdisciplinary approach, we curated nine data sets including species threats and the voting history of elected representatives to communicate the plight of 1717 species across 151 electoral districts. The app received 17,235 users across all electoral districts over a six‐week period around the 2022 Australian federal election. We discuss the design intentions, impact, and lessons learned such as trade‐offs in navigating data limitations and the benefits of following scientific frameworks. The app demonstrates a case study in augmenting conservation efforts with digital approaches to bridge the gap between public conservation sentiment and government policy.
