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…]
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…]
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…]
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…]
The study explored the impact of a natural history film, “The Elephant Queen” (TEQ), on the attitudes of communities living near elephants in Southern Kenya. Human-elephant conflict poses a significant challenge to wildlife conservation, and while efforts have been made to mitigate conflict, few focus on fostering understanding and tolerance between humans and elephants. Researchers … [Read more…]
In the realm of conservation, the fate of many endangered species hinges not only on scientific assessments but also on public perception and support. However, a troubling phenomenon has emerged in recent years – the ‘beauty bias’ – where aesthetically pleasing species receive disproportionate attention compared to their less visually appealing counterparts. This bias has … [Read more…]
Dive into the world of shark fin consumption we uncover crucial insights in our latest study conducted in Singapore. Sharks, rays, and their cartilaginous relatives face significant threats globally, primarily due to overfishing driven by intricate market forces, including the demand for fins. Read it HERE Our study, centered around an online discrete choice experiment, … [Read more…]
It was great to have ABC cover some of my work exploring the role of documentaries in environmental awareness and action. It’s heartening to see discussions around the nuanced dynamics of positive and negative messaging in environmental storytelling. The collaborative effort to dissect the influence of renowned documentaries, such as those presented by David Attenborough, … [Read more…]
LINK: https://gep.psychopen.eu/index.php/gep/article/view/11181 Changing public behaviour is an essential step for successful conservation, and can be achieved through effective use of message framing. However, its use in the conservation sector is not well-studied. We first performed a content analysis to assess what types of framing styles environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) often employ for their social media … [Read more…]
The unsustainable use of wildlife increases the risk of species extinction. In biodiversity-rich Indonesia, information on the scale of wildlife use is limited and requires further study. To address this, we explored the potential of text messaging (short message service; SMS) surveys to investigate levels and spatial patterns of domestic wildlife use, using songbird keeping … [Read more…]