Nature and people are interconnected. Social science provides critical tools for understanding the role people play in the use, management, and protection of natural resources, and improving the integration of local communities into decision-making, yet many conservation practitioners lack access to adequate training.

To better understand the capacity-building needs of the conservation community, the Conservation Social Science Partnership surveyed conservation professionals and organizations on their current capacity for using the social sciences and performed a review of existing resources and gaps. This work resulted in a library of more than 400 free or low-cost training resources.

In this webinar, we will summarize the essential findings and recommendations from this capacity building needs assessment (a more in-depth presentation of these findings can be found here) and what the ConSoSci Partnership is doing to address the capacity building needs and gaps identified. This will be followed by a live Q & A and an open discussion on building capacity for the conservation social sciences.

To better accommodate our global community, this webinar will be presented twice in two sessions. Please register by clicking the buttons below.

Presenters & Moderators

Nikki DeMello, Social-Ecological Systems Advisor - US, The Nature Conservancy

Nicole DeMello joined The Nature Conservancy in 2008, where she spent the first seven years of her career with the Forests and Climate Team focused on the development of forest carbon projects, shaping emerging forest carbon standards, and management of TNC’s carbon offsets program. In 2015, Nicole transitioned to the Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Team. Her focus is on social-ecological systems, understanding and building the evidence base for socially-oriented conservation strategies, human well-being, monitoring and evaluation, and strategic planning. Nicole holds a BA in Biology from Duke University and a Master of Environmental Science and Management from the Bren School at the University of California Santa Barbara.

Emiel de Lange, Conservation Social Scientist - Cambodia

Emiel de Lange is an environmental social scientist with a track record of delivering interdisciplinary and applied research. He works with conservation practitioners to understand conservation problems and develop solutions. He has used a wide range of social research methods including qualitative data, structured surveys, and social network

Can't make either webinar session?

You can find every online event after it airs on the ConSoSci Youtube channel.

Hope to see you there!

The ConSoSci Partnership