Advocacy for nature conservation

In addition to the more direct nature conservation activities described above, there are other actions or choices made by Australians that can help in managing and reducing threats to the natural environment. This may include advocacy for nature conservation and consideration of the negative effect on the environment when purchasing particular products.

Advocacy for nature conservation can include actions such as donating money to a relevant cause or organisation, signing a petition, participating in rallies or contacting a Member of Parliament. In 2011-12, nearly one quarter of Australian adults (23%) engaged in one of these activities. Seventeen percent of Australian adults donated money and 11% signed a petition related to nature conservation. People living in Tasmania were more likely to sign a petition (15%) than any other state or territory (Table 9).

The choices we make in purchasing goods and services for our individual, family and household needs can also make a difference (Biodiversity Strategy 2010). In 2011-12, almost two in five Australian adults (39%) indicated they consider the negative environmental impact when purchasing particular products. Women (45%) were more likely to do this compared with men (33%). Both 18-24 year olds and those aged 75 years and over were the least likely of all groups to consider negative environmental impacts when shopping (27% and 26%, respectively). People with a non-school qualification of bachelor degree or above were the most likely to consider these impacts (52%) (Table 1 and Graphs 6 and 7).





Of the estimated 6.7 million Australian adults who consider the negative effect on the environment when purchasing products, most chose not to buy certain cleaning or laundry products (71%) for this reason (Table 12 and Graph 8).