Public education videos sensitize people to issues that matter
Videos have the power to engage with people both rationally and emotionally. That’s why government government and non-profit agencies use public education video production to inform people about important issues, such as the environment and endangered species. By speaking to social causes, videos can invite people to act and help persuade them to get involved.
To engage people in these issues, videos should state the issue simply, address common questions and concerns, explain the ways people can become engaged in the solution, and provide a way for people to get more information if they are interested.
That’s the approach we took when we worked with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to create a video that communicates that Oregon spotted frogs are endangered and how private landowners can partner with the agency to help save these frogs.
Public education videos start with stating the issue
Oregon spotted frogs are a native species to western Washington. Once commonly found, only six watersheds are currently known to be occupied in Washington.
In the past, we had abundant habitat for Oregon spotted frogs with wetlands that covered most of western Washington. Development for residential and commercial use meant creeks and streams were diverted and much of our wetlands were drained, creating a more fragmented habitat for aquatic frogs. These frogs return to the same breeding areas each year. We only find them now in those places that still have water year-round — and many of those are on private property.
Addressing common questions through public education videos
In Thurston County’s Black River drainage, WDFW biologists have been relatively successful in engaging private landowners to gain access to conduct surveys. Similar efforts are needed in Whatcom and Skagit counties where the distribution of the species and the population status is only partially known due in part to landowner concerns regarding potential restrictions on the use of their land if this federally listed species is detected.
Explaining ways people can become engaged
To help conserve and recover these frogs, the WDFW offers a variety of incentives to landowners when these frogs are found on their property, such as paying for a conservation easement, helping secure a tax break on the portion of the property being used as habitat, or even buying the land. These can be particularly appealing to agricultural producers such as berry farmers, dairy farmers, and ranchers, which is why we emphasized these points in the public education videos.
Oregon spotted frogs are part of our inheritance as Washingtonians, and we’re fortunate that we still have this native species on our landscape.