A Network Approach to Integrating Social Science into Conservation

Conservation social science is receiving attention, both within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and more broadly in natural resource conservation. As we acknowledge that the majority of conservation issues require... [ view full abstract ]

Conservation social science is receiving attention, both within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and more broadly in natural resource conservation. As we acknowledge that the majority of conservation issues require social solutions and cannot be successfully addressed with only ecological perspectives, the conservation community is thinking more explicitly about how to best incorporate human dimensions into its work. To better understand the needs, current capacity, barriers, and opportunities to promote and expand social science application in the Service and improve conservation outcomes, we conducted an agency-wide survey and social network analysis of those with social science expertise and those who championed the use of social science for achieving conservation. More than half of respondents agreed that barriers within the Service inhibit their ability to integrate social science and address the human dimensions of conservation. In particular, respondents identified lack of staff with human dimensions expertise, lack of adequate funding, and lack of time to do the work in spite of available expertise as some of the top barriers. Respondents also mentioned a general lack of understanding among Service practitioners about the field and the tendency to work in “silos” rather than collaboratively as deterrents to more fully incorporating conservation social science in the agency’s conservation work. Our network analysis results show that though it may not be part of their day-to-day duties, the Service currently has a number of employees with expertise in conservation social science. These experts are not well connected, however, and are distributed unevenly both geographically as well as programmatically within the Service. Although we identified employees with conservation social science expertise and skills about which we were previously unaware, our study also highlighted a number of gaps and a certain degree of fragility in the network of conservation social science experts and champions in the Service. Given its current level of conservation social science expertise, however, the Service is in a good position to strengthen its existing network, begin to address gaps, and focus on integration across programs moving forward.