Involving the Wider Community

The limited expertise in insect conservation and the restricted logistic support for related activities, combined with the low priority of most insect conservation projects in most environmental agency agendas, can be augmented considerably by involving the wider community, amongst whom effective advocacy can increase public awareness and participation. The three themes of ‘education’, ‘scientific leadership’, and ‘citizen science’ are all avenues to progress and indicate the ways in which volunteer interests can be harnessed. Such community participation can—and does—contribute critically to advancing insect conservation. Support from government agencies and/or some of the wide variety of non-government organisations (NGOs) with a conservation remit can markedly strengthen the standing of an insect conservation case in the community.