Communicating Biodiversity Conservation Research Through Dialogue and Mutual Learning in Rural and Indigenous Communities

Abstract

Dialogue and mutual learning between civil society and researchers involved in natural resource management have been increasingly advocated as a means of improving public understanding of science, biodiversity conservation, and local well-being. In rural areas in developing countries, however, science communication and environmental education strategies for disseminating biodiversity conservation research have traditionally used methods based on top-down, one-way approaches that have limited local engagement in research and undermined feedback generation between local people and researchers. This chapter examines a participatory process of developing a communication strategy for an environmental conservation research project in Southeastern Mexico. By analyzing data from interviews and focus groups with stakeholders from six rural and indigenous communities, opportunities and challenges on how to collaboratively plan a communication strategy aiming to both disseminate the research and foster mutual learning are identified and discussed. Such participatory approach increases the social relevance of the research and improves both research results and dissemination products.