Urban biodiversity conservation requires active engagement from residents, yet existing frameworks often overlook their leadership potential. This thesis investigates how Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) methodologies can transform urban residents into biodiversity leaders within Trollhättan Municipality. Drawing on Activity Theory, Stakeholder Theory, and Transformative Leadership, the study examines how community participation can be enhanced through structured leadership development.

A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining survey research to assess residents' biodiversity awareness, policy and literature analysis to identify actionable opportunities, and practical engagement initiatives such as square-foot farming. WIL serves as the foundation for knowledge application, ensuring that theoretical insights translate into hands-on biodiversity conservation efforts.

Findings highlight the critical role of stakeholder engagement in shifting biodiversity governance from top-down policies to community-driven initiatives. The study demonstrates how urban biodiversity stewardship can become self-sustaining by integrating structured leadership transformation and recognition-based motivation.

The research contributes both theoretically and practically: it extends the application of WIL in environmental leadership, refines Activity Theory for urban sustainability, and provides a replicable model for municipalities aiming to foster biodiversity engagement. Policy implications suggest that urban planning strategies must prioritise resident-led biodiversity action through sustained learning, participatory governance, and incentive structures. By positioning residents as key actors in biodiversity conservation, this thesis offers a framework for bridging leadership gaps in urban ecological management.