Environmental stewardship refers to the responsible use, protection and enhancements of natural resources. It entails family, individual and community efforts to preserve, sustain or improve the health of local natural resources. Local environmental stewardship may be achieved through actions and behaviors such as maintaining or setting up community gardens, removing unwanted species, cleaning up an area that is public, observing wildlife habitats, or participating in watershed cleanup events. It can also include community involvement in planning policies and making decisions which affect the environment at the state or local level. The academic literature on stewardship has produced a broad range of theories about the fundamental factors that influence its outcomes. These include frameworks of sustainable livelihoods CBNRM, adaptive co-management and concepts of ecological and socio-ecological system as well as ecological sustainability.
In general, stewardship efforts are motivated by a desire for achieving objectives that are social or environmental (e.g. increasing biodiversity, restoring degraded habitats as well as preserving wildlife and fishing catch). The goal-setting process usually includes considering the desired benefits, costs and risks of stewardship initiatives. Economic motives can include the desire to receive external rewards or avoid sanctions like financial incentives for activities that minimize environmental impact and market premiums for products that are environmentally friendly and fines for violating restricted resource use (Wunder 2007).
A broader view of environmental stewardship includes the concept of civic actions which is a type of environmental stewardship. Communities or individuals can take action to improve environmental quality through a series of reflection, practice, and research. This cycle helps them develop the skills, knowledge and values that enable them to take part in environmental conservation https://mountaincountryfarm.com/what-is-environmental-stewardship/ as an integral part of their lives (Stern 2000 link offsite).