An Indian village went from hunting Amur falcons to being their biggest protectors. Here’s how conservationists can harness the power of persuasion

Diogo Veríssimo, University of Oxford and Sahila Kudalkar, Columbia University Wildlife conservation is an exercise in human persuasion. It may seem counterintuitive that we hold the keys to the survival of wildlife, but 98% of all threatened species are threatened exclusively by human activities such as pollution, invasive species or habitat loss. Influencing human behaviour … [Read more…]

Conservation is all about persuasion

Biodiversity conservation isn’t just about protecting species; it’s about changing the way we, as humans, interact with the natural world. Every major threat to wildlife, from climate change and pollution to habitat destruction, is driven by human behavior. That’s why influencing behavior is essential if we are to address the ongoing extinction crisis. Our recent … [Read more…]

Can Mobile Games Help Save Endangered Species? What Our New Study Reveals

In today’s digital age, mobile games have become a dominant form of entertainment, engaging billions worldwide. But can they also be used as a tool for conservation? This is the question we sought to answer with our study on a mobile game developed to support the critically endangered Kākāpō parrot in New Zealand. Our randomized … [Read more…]

Using behavioral insights to assess widllife trade risks

Understanding whether wildlife trade is harming a species is no simple task. Much of the focus in conservation has been on larger, more charismatic species, while invertebrates like tarantulas often slip through the cracks. These species are traded in large numbers, and without proper monitoring and regulation, overharvesting can drive populations to dangerous levels. Yet, … [Read more…]

Journal Choices in Conservation Publishing: What makes authors tick?

As conservation scientists, the decisions we make about where to publish our work have far-reaching implications, not only for our careers but also for the accessibility of the research we produce. Our new study, Understanding Author Choices in the Current Conservation Publishing Landscape, explores the complex factors that influence these decisions. Working with my colleagues … [Read more…]

From Media Buzz to Local Leadership: How Governance Transformed Amur Falcon Conservation in Nagaland

What Did We Do? We aimed to explore how a media-driven conservation campaign could evolve into a sustainable, community-based governance model. Our study focused on the case of the Amur Falcon hunting ban in Pangti, Nagaland, India. We wanted to understand the key factors that contributed to the successful transition from a top-down imposed hunting … [Read more…]

Changing Minds: How Messages Can Help Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade

What Did We Do? We wanted to see which types of messages were most effective in changing consumer behavior. We worked with 2,496 people in China, including potential consumers of wildlife products and those not targeted as consumers. We tested three types of messages: What Did We Find? Our study revealed some interesting results: Why … [Read more…]

Celebrity Endorsement: A Strategic Tool for Conservation Behavior Change

As conservationists, we often grapple with how to effectively motivate people to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviors. Whether it’s reducing consumption of wildlife products, embracing sustainable lifestyles, or supporting conservation policies, changing human behavior is critical for achieving our goals. In our recent paper, “Designing celebrity-endorsed behavioral interventions in conservation,” published in Conservation Biology, my … [Read more…]

Reform wildlife trade in the European Union

LINK: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado1142 The wildlife trade spans across various species and motivators, including pet ownership, collections, and derived products like food and medicine. While some trade is legal and sustainable, illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade is growing globally, posing threats to species, ecosystems, and human health. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild … [Read more…]