This design project, titled "Street Life," addresses the issue of biodiversity loss in urban areas of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. The recent urban expansion of the city has resulted in the rapid destruction and fragmentation of natural spaces, leaving many native species vulnerable and endangered without habitats. This poses the risk of detachment between people and these native species, as the majority of urban residents' daily interactions with nature are limited to parks and home gardens.
The project's purpose is to create an educational campaign to educate children about this problem and encourage them and their community to plant native species on berms, to enhance urban biodiversity and install a sense of empathy, understanding and responsibility for the environment and conservation. By providing resources, such as classes/workshops, an informational website, plant supplies and a worksheet, Street Life aims to empower the next generation to act and transform their berms to promote a more biodiverse and conservationally minded Tāmaki Makaurau.
The overall system involves a travelling educational campaign where Street Life educators travel to primary schools and teach children (years 4-6) about the issue of conservation and biodiversity loss in Auckland. The children learn about how to plant by participating in a workshop where they plant native seeds into recycled containers. They can then take these home, watch them grow, and then plant them into their own berm when they are ready.
During the lesson, they are given a worksheet with instructions and activities to keep them engaged, which also serves as an information booklet to show their parents. This booklet has the link to the Street Life website, which includes all the information one would need to plant on their berm, including the rules and guidelines, instructions on how to plant, and native plant recommendations.
View website: https://samanthapersson.wixsit...
