Developing a Behavior Change Strategy for Wildlife Conservation : Guidance Note

Overview & Synopsis

Behavior change refers to the process of altering human actions by targeting a specific audience and using insights into the context and timing of the action, either to discourage a detrimental behavior or encourage a desired one. The purpose of this guidance note is to assist governments, project implementers, and wildlife management practitioners to develop behavior change strategies to support wildlife conservation interventions, such as addressing illegal and unsustainable wildlife trade, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and ensuring the sustainability of nature-based tourism. The note provides definitions of behavior and behavior change, illustrates core behavior change approaches, and provides a three-step practical pathway to design a behavior change strategy and promote behaviorally informed interventions.