Improving Delivery of Voluntary Conservation on Private Lands

The translation of social science research to practical guidance represents a significant challenge faced by researchers and practitioners alike. However, bridging this gap between research and practitioners on private lands... [ view full abstract ]

The translation of social science research to practical guidance represents a significant challenge faced by researchers and practitioners alike. However, bridging this gap between research and practitioners on private lands is necessary to mitigate the unprecedented landscape scale challenges facing global biodiversity conservation including invasive species, habitat fragmentation and climate change. It is increasingly obvious that conservation cannot be successful when applied to protected areas alone. To that end the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program (Partners Program) - a private lands conservation delivery arm of the USFWS - works with private landowners who voluntarily agree to establish habitat management and improvement projects on their property. Through a partnership between the Partners Program and the Human Dimensions Branch of the USFWS National Wildlife Refuge System (HD Branch) research is being conducted to understand the needs and motivations of landowners in an effort to equip practitioners who deliver conservation programs with information on how they can be even more effective in meeting the mission of the Partners Program. Findings from this study will also be useful to other social scientists and practitioners tasked with bridging this research to management gap while also supporting working lands. This talk will end with a discussion of potential ways to translate research findings and knowledge garnered from the current state of understanding to recommendations for practitioners outlining suggested best practices.