Empowering citizens to effect change – a case study of zoo-based community conservation

Abstract

There is little doubt that humans are directly impacting our planet, with biodiversity loss now rated as the most critical global environmental threat alongside climate change. The imperative to act is urgent, and the definition of wildlife conservation is expanding to include humans as central to the solution. Increasingly, behaviour change theories are becoming critical to community campaigns led by zoos, in order to increase the uptake of pro-environmental behaviours. Zoos are in a unique position to address biodiversity loss and can do so by working to inspire and influence their many visitors to change their behaviour in order to help wildlife. By engaging their visitors through interactive encounters with wildlife and by creating emotive experiences, zoos can foster a connection between people and nature that can lead to action and enable the public to help secure a future that meets the needs of both wildlife and people. Here, we critically examine a community conservation campaign aimed at increasing uptake of sustainable palm oil (and thus reducing the use of unsustainable palm oil) led by zoos in Australia and New Zealand. Here, we share the elements of success and key learning to build understanding and improvement of these programs globally.