Education, Communication, Outreach Strategies for Behavior Change
Behavior is the interface between ecosystems and human social systems. Human choices and actions create the threats to biodiversity and natural resources – and also create the conditions that motivate conservation and sustainable natural resource management.
Understanding and influencing behavior in conservation and natural resources management is the key to success. Understanding behavior requires understanding how humans value the goods, services, and non-material benefits of nature, and understanding the positive and negative incentives that create either sustainable societies or environmentally destructive actions.
Once the causes and motivations of environmental behaviors are understood, solutions that influence the behaviors can be designed. Education, communication, outreach, and social marketing techniques are some of the tools available. For examples, see:
• ECO Success Stories Presentation for NAAEE Workshop Nov 2007
• ECO Success Stories Report 2003
• Multifaceted Outreach in USFWS Paper 1999
• Behaviors in Conservation Guide 2000
• Behaviors in Conservation Report 1996
• Bolivia – Conservación y Comportamiento en Bolivia
• Bolivia – Observaciones y Sugerencias para Sama
