Increasing the effectiveness of conservation messaging by drawing connections with related political, social, and economic issues

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis article explores whether presenting conservation issues in a manner that makes connections with intertwined issues of violence, economics, social issues, and politics elicits more engagement than does presenting the conservation issues in isolation. Survey data were collected concerning African elephant poaching for ivory and the effect of the palm oil crisis on the orangutan. Some trends, particularly with respect to the elephant issue, support a stronger perceived importance of the issue when presented in a context with other global problems, but some trends support a perception that the conservation issue is actually of diminished importance when presented this way.