Conservation and sustainable natural resource management require deep understanding of both human behavior and natural systems. Solutions that seem logical on a technical level may be unfeasible in the real world where culture, institutions and political economy shape outcomes.

To craft sound strategies, we tap into the evidence base and deploy critical thinking. We home in on root causes and make system connections. Our field experience and approach of deep listening to local actors provides a reality test for any strategy or approach.

SocioEcological Strategies builds on President Diane Russell and colleagues’ decades of experience working across sectors, continents and scales with agencies, NGOs, communities and the private sector. Diane has worked to:

• Design, manage and evaluate numerous conservation, climate change and integrated projects.

• Synthesize decades of experience in biodiversity conservation approaches and on the integration of conservation and other development objectives.

• Create and sustain an Agency forum on the intersection of food security and biodiversity conservation.

• Lead a major research institution’s work on agroforestry market systems.

• Bring insights from the domain of democracy, rights and governance to strengthen climate change mitigation approaches.

• Coauthor a definitive chapter on how anthropology contributes to conservation for a new Conservation Social Science textbook.

Learn more about Diane’s experience here.

Photo: Rice paddy bordering Leuser National Park, Aceh Province, Indonesia (D.Russell)