In collaboration with the Metro Conservation Districts, ACD applied for a 2021 LCCMR Environmental Education grant in the amount of $546,000. If funded, the proposed project would influence perceptions, practices, and policies surrounding ecoscaping in the 11-county metro area by launching a multi-pronged outreach campaign, elevating the educational value of high-profile demonstration projects, and engaging local leaders to adopt eco-friendly policies. The proposed project involves a rigorous barriers and benefits analysis using the proven Community Based Social Marketing framework to identify common barriers faced by residents that limit the widespread acceptance and adoption of eco-friendly lawn care practices. The project will promote the benefits of ecoscaping and create a widespread conservation ethic, particularly in suburban Minnesota. This work is important because turf lawns are unsustainable for the long-term health of our waters and wildlife. While eco-friendly lawn care practices are growing more popular, social norms and misinformation hinder widespread adoption of these practices. Only by addressing the public's perception of ecoscaping, the policies related to preserving and restoring native landscapes, and the practices at all levels of the community will we be able to eliminate barriers and motivate large-scale behavior change.
