Unlocking the human dimensions of conservation

The Human Nature Mission

In nature conservation, the need for sound ecological science is a given. 

We want the same to be true for social science.

People are fundamental to conservation. We can’t address conservation issues and work towards a healthier planet without people being part of the evidence picture – because they are very much part of the planetary picture.  

So if you miss out the people element, or try to impose quantitative methodology where it doesn’t fit, or are unskilled in your qualitative research, the evidence is impoverished. Decision-making is impoverished, possibly counter-productive. As is implementation. 

And, ultimately, you will fall short of your conservation mission. 

Having social science integrated into conservation looks like:

  • More conservation professionals conversant with the principles of social science, and how they complement the natural sciences
  • A greater understanding of and respect for the diversity of social science methods, and how they are used
  • Social science evidence considered as core business in the work of conservation research, practice and evaluation
  • People being valued for their insights on conservation issues, views on social and ecological impacts, and potential contributions to conservation solutions
  • Better conservation outcomes which work for people and nature

In short: it means conservation professionals understanding people better, and putting that evidence to work effectively.  For the benefit of the planet.  

Human Nature exists to help make this happen, through specialist training and mentoring.

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“I have already recommended the Qualitative Methods for Conservation course to several colleagues! I found it to be hugely enlightening and it helped me realise how much I was missing out on prior to the course.”

(Course Participant, November 2023)

Understand people AND planet

Weathered hands in black and white hold a blue and green earth

Human Nature supports conservation professionals and organisations who know they need a stronger grounding in social sciences. When you’re literate in social science you can:

  • Understand what’s possible across both the natural and social sciences
  • Deploy a wider range of research and evaluation methodologies 
  • Work effectively on interdisciplinary projects
  • Build capacity within your organisation
  • Make more effective conservation decisions  

It’s more than a ‘nice to have’. More than ‘just talking to people’. It’s a vital component of conservation research and practice.

On a rapidly changing and increasingly crowded planet, the legitimacy, saliency, robustness and effectiveness of conservation decisions and actions will increasingly depend on rapid social learning and institutional adaptation based on multiple types of knowledge. (Bennett et al)

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“humans don’t have to be part of the problem, they are the solution“

About Rebecca:

Founder of Human Nature

 

I’ve been interested in the natural world for as long as I can remember. I grew up in the land-locked Midlands, but every year we’d go to the coast on holiday, and I’d spend every minute on the beach exploring rockpools. And I now live minutes away from the sea.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that I studied Marine Biology at university – and loved it. But my plot twist came with a dawning realisation that studying crab neurophysiology alone isn’t enough. Humans have a huge impact on crabs, and everything else in the natural world we are part of. And if we want to do good for the crabs – and the rockpools and ocean beyond – we have to understand the humans. This made things feel a lot more complex. I didn’t know it was social science that was missing at first. Just that something was missing. 

I asked questions, researched and talked to supervisors, and ended up adding a couple of social science modules to my masters. And then embarked on an interdisciplinary PhD, using both natural and social sciences to explore people’s perceptions of the sea. After my PhD I did a variety of post-docs, being part of great teams.  However when seeking funding, submitting papers or applying for jobs I  always had a sense of being too ecologist for the social scientists, and too social scientist for the ecologists. One of the positive outcomes I see from Human Nature already is a developing community of scientists who feel like this – it’s no longer so lonely, and things are changing! 

And then I became the first social scientist in the RSPB’s Centre for Conservation Science. Here I was received with a mixture of enthusiasm and scepticism. And this is the story scientists on my courses now tell me too. They and their colleagues are enthusiastic about the potential for social science to unlock evidence with more positive impact, and find plenty of scepticism too: “it’s just talking to people, you don’t need to learn how to do that!”

I am pleased to have witnessed the enthusiasm growing and the scepticism waning since founding Human Nature in 2020. But there’s a long way to go yet. I would love for social science to be recognised as a powerful tool for good in conservation research, and I would love to see more people trained to deploy it skilfully. 

This is partly a personal mission, but it’s also because the evidence is clear: 

“ . . . the natural science methods of conservation biology are insufficient to find solutions to complex conservation problems that have social dimensions.” De Snoo et al. (2013:68).

(And, of course, almost every conservation problem or opportunity has social dimensions).

“The foundation of a knowledge system for sustainability cannot be built within the boundaries of one discipline, or within the boundaries of academia alone.” (Dick et al., 2016)

I help scientists and leaders bring conservation social science into the culture and practice of their work. And I have a strong sense of hope and optimism in our future: both for the profession, and the planet.

For details of Rebecca’s publications please visit Google Scholar.

Building a community of social science-informed conservation professionals

Since its inception in 2020, Human Nature has:

Trained more than 350 conservation professionals 

In over 75 organisations

Across 30+ countries

And here’s what they say:

I appreciated the thoroughness of the course schedule, enabling us to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the social science discipline within a relatively short period. Additionally, the opportunity to interact with other participants and learn from practical examples and ideas from various fields was truly enriching.

The course was a fantastic introduction to social science techniques. It made me realise how much we’re already doing as an organisation, but also the potential of how much more we could integrate into our projects in the future, and the benefits of doing so. 

Bex: you were excellent! Your knowledge and experience are commendable, and you brought a positive and fun vibe to every single part of the course and encouraged sharing and a safe environment. I was lacking confidence but now feel a bit more confident and encouraged to put theory into practice.

What would you like to do now?

Build your foundation knowledge of conservation social science

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Learn how to design, deliver and analyse qualitative research projects

Support organisations to integrate social science as a source of evidence

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As a social enterprise, Human Nature…

Makes conscious choices about our suppliers and prioritising community and/or environmentally focussed organisations where possible.

Makes our research and activities as accessible as possible. Where available, the scientific literature we draw on is Open Access.

Shares our experiences of running a social enterprise with the ambition of supporting others to adopt this model of business.