This guidance note helps governments, project implementers, and wildlife management practitioners apply social research methods to support wildlife conservation interventions, including those tackling illegal or unsustainable wildlife trade, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and promoting sustainable nature-based tourism.
It explains how social research can be used across three key functions: strengthening understanding of target audiences and behaviours, informing the design of strategies and interventions, and evaluating impact and the factors that drive success. The note also compares the strengths and limitations of different social research methods, helping practitioners select appropriate approaches for different conservation contexts and scenarios.
