Local Resistance to Conservation
A lot of people are resistant to conservation efforts where they live, and it is not simply due to laziness. Conservation efforts could have negative effects on the lives of people, such as the conservation of gorillas who raid farms. Farmers certainly do not want gorillas stealing all their produce. The conservation of the species or area that you are focusing on for your portfolio project will certainly meet with resistance. Find out what kind of local resistance the conservation of your species or natural area has experienced. You can research this online, but if you do not find the information, call or email a researcher or conservation organization that is working to help protect your species or natural area. Then, consider how you might overcome that resistance. A key component of that task entails effectively communicating scientific information to your stakeholders. Accomplishing that, in turn, requires emotional intelligence – the ability to be aware of, express, and control your emotions. The ability to tell stories – to capture stakeholders’ interests using inclusive narratives – is another helpful skill. Read the article Science, Emotion, Communication!Links to an external site. which contains an exploration of strategies incorporating emotion and narrative that have been used by some of the most famous science communicators of all time, such as Carl Sagan. Consider how these strategies might aid you in your task.
In your main post discuss the following:
Describe the resistance people could have regarding the conservation of your species or natural area. Does it affect their income? Does it reduce their ability to do something?
Why is it important to have these people on board for the conservation of your species or protected area?
Propose ways to help solve the problems that cause resistance to conservation. Specifically, what communication strategies might be most effective in turning a resistant stakeholder into an ally of a conservation project?