PATHBREAK: Biodiversity JENGA®
Purpose
To raise awareness of biodiversity loss and ecosystem fragility through a hands-on, interactive game. This method uses a modified JENGA® tower and gameboard to simulate ecological dynamics, linking everyday actions and systemic pressures to species gain or loss. It encourages reflection, dialogue and collaborative learning.
Key Features
Participants:
- Ideal group size: 2–6 players
- Scalable with multiple towers for larger groups
- Suitable for all ages and knowledge levels
Estimated Timeframe:
- Gameplay: 5–15 minutes per round
- Discussion: 15–40 minutes
- Optional: multiple rounds with adapted rules
Budget Level:
- Low to Medium
- Costs may include JENGA® set, colouring materials, printed gameboard and optional tokens or cards
Materials Needed:
- JENGA® tower with coloured ends (6 species categories)
- Printed gameboard (standard and blank versions)
- Six-sided die and player tokens
- Optional: species fact cards, discussion prompts, recording tools
- Institutionally approved ethical information and consent forms (if collecting data)
Skills Required:
- Clear facilitation and rule explanation
- Ecological framing (optional but beneficial)
- Sensitivity to group dynamics and emotional responses
- Adaptability to different contexts and audiences
- Ethical awareness
Case Study
Method in Practice
Context of Use
Used in PLANET4B as an icebreaker and educational tool. Players moved around a gameboard responding to prompts (e.g. forest fire, pollution), removing or adding blocks to represent species loss or restoration. The game ended when the tower collapsed, symbolising ecosystem breakdown.
How It Worked
Players rolled a dice, moved tokens, and followed board instructions. Each action corresponded to a species group, prompting removal or addition of blocks. Facilitators narrated scenarios and guided post-game discussion, linking gameplay to real-world biodiversity challenges.
Engagement & Participation
Participants engaged through play, storytelling, and reflection. The method supported inclusive participation and could be adapted for different learning levels. A blank board allowed groups to co-create rules based on local biodiversity issues.
Outcomes & Insights:
- Fostered ecological awareness and systems thinking
- Prompted reflection on human impacts and restoration
- Created space for dialogue and emotional engagement
- Encouraged cascading use in other settings
- Served as a gateway to deeper methods (e.g. storytelling, PATHBREAK – A Biodiversity-Food-Governance Game)
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths:
- Visually and physically engaging
- Accessible and adaptable across contexts
- Encourages collaborative learning and dialogue
- Can be tailored to local biodiversity themes
- Supports emotional and cognitive engagement
Considerations:
- Simplified model; ecological complexity must be discussed
- Requires preparation (colouring blocks, printing board)
- Impact depends on quality of post-game facilitation
- Trademark use must be acknowledged (JENGA®)
- Best used as part of a broader engagement strategy
