Conservation social science: Understanding and integrating human dimensions to improve conservation

Background

Many scholars believe that there is an urgent need to integrate social sciences into conservation efforts. Although researchers widely acknowledge the importance of understanding the human dimensions of conservation, social science insights remain underutilized in practice.

Goals and Methods

This paper serves as a comprehensive reference for conservation scientists and practitioners, defining the scope and purpose of conservation social sciences and illustrating their unique contributions. By reviewing classic, interdisciplinary, and applied conservation social sciences, the paper clarifies their role and demonstrates why engaging with social sciences strengthens conservation efforts. Ultimately, it aims to expand knowledge and inspire greater adoption of social science perspectives to enhance conservation policy and practice.

Conclusions and Takeaways

To enhance the impact of social science on conservation, researchers should prioritize interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge co-production, effective science-policy engagement, and clear science communication. Conservation social sciences contribute in multiple ways—descriptive, diagnostic, disruptive, reflexive, generative, innovative, and instrumental—ultimately fostering more effective and widely accepted conservation outcomes.