Civic Engagement in Local Environmental Initiatives

Abstract

The goal of this chapter is to draw attention to the interrelation of multiple mediatized relationships, including face-to-face interaction, in local civic engagement around biodiversity and the environment. The authors propose that civic engagement and participation transcend the type of media used, and that artificial distinctions between online and offline participation are unproductive. Their argument is supported by three examples of participatory projects in which social media-based and face-to-face interactions are closely interrelated. This contribution highlights local uses of social media and the web. It shows how engagement plays out across multiple channels and how resources can be found in a variety of media formats. In particular, online media significantly alter the visibility of both local actions and of the resulting data.