Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2025
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
7.9K
Gap analysis of social science resources for conservation practice
Diane Detoeuf1, Emiel de Lange2, Harriet Ibbett3
1Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USA.
Summary
Conservation social science training is often inaccessible. A global survey and resource analysis revealed a need for more accessible, diverse, and context-specific training, especially in data analysis and ethics, to support conservation practitioners.
Area of Science:
- Conservation Social Science
- Environmental Education
- Human Dimensions of Natural Resource Management
Background:
- Conservation is a social process, yet social science training is less common than natural science training for practitioners.
- Formal social science education is often unavailable or inaccessible globally, highlighting the need for nonformal education solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify social science knowledge gaps and training needs of conservation practitioners worldwide.
- To analyze the availability of social science training resources for conservation.
Main Methods:
- A global survey of conservation practitioners was conducted to assess training needs and knowledge gaps.
- A gap analysis of existing social science training resources was performed, compiling resources into an open-access database.
- Resources were categorized by topic (e.g., communication, data analysis, ethics) and language.
Main Results:
- A database of 449 social science resources was compiled, with most being open access and tailored to conservation.
- Surveyed practitioners (n=90) expressed a strong need for support in data analysis, research ethics, and human rights.
- Significant demand exists for training resources in diverse formats, languages, and conservation-specific contexts.
Conclusions:
- There is a critical need for conservation organizations to prioritize social science training.
- Increased development and accessibility of diverse, context-specific social science resources are essential for effective conservation practice.
- Addressing gaps in data analysis and ethics/human rights training is crucial for practitioners.
Keywords:
capacity buildingconservation policydesarrollo de capacidadesevaluación de necesidadesinvestigación cualitativainvestigación cuantitativamétodos de ciencias socialesneeds assessmentpolítica de conservaciónqualitative researchquantitative researchsocial science methodsMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:57What is Conservation Biology?
18.3K
Conservation biology is a scientific field that focuses on the preservation of biodiversity in order to protect ecosystems while meeting the needs of the human population. Humans require properly functioning ecosystems to maintain our supply of natural resources, including food, medicines, and building materials.
18.3K
02:31Habitat Fragmentation
17.3K
Habitat fragmentation describes the division of a more extensive, continuous habitat into smaller, discontinuous areas. Human activities such as land conversion, as well as slower geological processes leading to changes in the physical environment, are the two leading causes of habitat fragmentation. The fragmentation process typically follows the same steps: perforation, dissection, fragmentation, shrinkage, and attrition.
17.3K
02:07Conservation of Declining Populations
9.6K
Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
9.6K
02:04Conservation of Small Populations
13.1K
Small population sizes put a species at extreme risk of extinction due to a lack of variation, and a consequent decrease in adaptability. This weakens the chances of survival under pressures such as climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. Large populations are more likely to survive pressures such as these, as such populations are more likely to harbor individuals that have genetic variants that are adaptive under new stresses. Small populations are much less...
13.1K
02:30Naturalistic Observations
15.3K
If you want to understand how behavior occurs, one of the best ways to gain information is to simply observe the behavior in its natural context. However, people might change their behavior in unexpected ways if they know they are being observed. How do researchers obtain accurate information when people tend to hide their natural behavior? As an example, imagine that your professor asks everyone in your class to raise their hand if they always wash their hands after using the restroom. Chances...
15.3K
01:43Sustainable Development
13.1K
As the human population continues to grow and use resources, we must be mindful of our planet’s natural limits. Sustainable development provides a pathway to maintain and improve human life now while also ensuring that future generations will have the resources that they need. The long-term success of sustainability efforts rests on understanding the interplay between human actions and ecological systems.
13.1K