Written by: Cassidy Wilson
From reducing demand for saiga horn in Singapore’s traditional medicine markets to discouraging the pet trade of Lora parrots in the Netherlands, new approaches to conservation are actively influencing behaviour for biodiversity’s sake.
Why Behaviour Change Matters in Conservation
Human behaviour directly impacts biodiversity, but understanding how to influence that behaviour has often been a missing component in conservation. CASCADE’s recent Evidence Synthesis offers 75 case studies showcasing successful behaviour-change interventions tailored to address key targets within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).To truly drive transformation, conservation strategies must go beyond traditional approaches by gaining political commitment and policy support. Effective behaviour change interventions, which target everything from individual choices to large-scale policies, are essential to meet the 2030 goals set out in the KMGBF. These interventions reflect a whole-society approach that includes individuals, communities, businesses, policymakers, and especially the active involvement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
CASCADE’s Evidence Synthesis
CASCADE’s report provides an in-depth look at 75 case studies that bring six key behaviour change strategies to life. Each strategy is designed to address KMGBF targets 4, 5, 10, and 16, which encompass objectives like halting species extinction, ensuring safe and legal wildlife trade, enhancing sustainable practices in agriculture and forestry, and reducing overconsumption.
Six Macro-Level Strategies for Biodiversity Conservation
The six strategies that emerge across these case studies offer diverse and adaptable solutions:
Motivation & Incentives – Offering rewards or incentives to encourage sustainable choices.
Persuasion – Using tailored messaging to reshape public perception.
Education & Training – Empowering communities and individuals with knowledge and skills.
Enablement – Providing resources and support to make sustainable behaviours easier.
Removing Structural Barriers – Identifying and dismantling obstacles to conservation efforts.
Legislation & Enforcement – Strengthening laws and regulations to promote biodiversity.
Key Policy Implications
For policymakers and practitioners, CASCADE’s findings emphasize the importance of collaborative, multifaceted strategies. Suggested approaches include:
Co-designing programs with diverse stakeholders.
Implementing value-based frameworks to resonate with different communities.
Ensuring capacity-sharing to build resilience in conservation teams.
Evaluating impact and adapting strategies for continuous improvement.
Explore Further
As you continue to read CASCADE’s synthesis, consider: Are any of these six behaviour change strategies present in your own work? How effectively are you articulating these approaches to the public to increase impact and awareness? Reflect on the elements of your research that have proven most impactful—do any of the 75 case studies align with your strategies or reveal potential pathways to strengthen your approach?
We encourage you to dive into the repository here and read more about each of these case studies, as well as access additional resources and guidance documents tailored for practical application.
Brown, M., Tostes Ribeiro, I., Lestari, WP., Beale, C., Papworth, S., Veríssimo, D., and Wells, V. (2024)