![]() However, in spite of the substantial development of visual communication research in the past decade (see for example Huddy and Gunnthorsdottir 2000 Flemming et al. ![]() The superiority of pictures over text when it comes to information retention is long-established, as it is thought to engage deeper levels of semantic cognitive processing (Shepard 1967 Whitehouse et al. However, despite the adage “a picture is worth a 1000 words”, there has been less investigation into the potential impacts of visual representations of wildlife. This has included work on framing of messages, messenger effects, and emotionalisation, integrating research from fields such as human wildlife conflict, science communication, and environmental education (Larson 2005 Draheim et al. Much of the research and discussion in this area so far has centred on the efficacy of different narratives and contextual effects. Social marketing is not necessarily a panacea for conservation, but it can provide valuable guidance in designing effective behavioural interventions to be used in conjunction with other approaches that may be needed to catalyse individual, social, and political change (Corner and Randall 2011). 2017) and the Society for Conservation Biology has now a working group dedicated to conservation marketing (Veríssimo 2019). Social marketing has been recognised as an applied conservation social science (Bennett et al. There is increasing interest in approaches to change human behaviour, particularly the use of marketing techniques (Veríssimo 2019). Although there is increasing effort to make urban environments less harmful to wildlife, species are still being lost at an alarming rate and it is vital that we use every tool at our disposal to foster connections between people and wildlife in aid of conservation (Wachsmuth, Cohen and Angelo 2016 Dirzo et al. With increasing urbanisation, however, these direct experiences of nature are becoming less common, a disconnect that is particularly concerning considering the rapid urbanisation in biodiversity hotspots (Kellert 2002 Cohen 2006 Güneralp et al. A sense of connection with nature through the formation of an affective and/or cognitive relationship is believed to create an appreciation and value for all life, transcending a utilitarian view of nature (Lumber et al. 2018).Įxperiences of nature can have beneficial effects on a range of pro-conservation variables (as well as personal well-being), such as connectedness with nature and pro-environmental attitudes (Kellert 2002 Lumber et al. This involves the use of a variety of theoretical and applied perspectives to quantify the non-material relationships between humans and wildlife (Echeverri et al. ![]() Researchers are now attempting to understand the cognitive, social, and motivational processes that inform behavioural models to provide insights into appropriate approaches for effective behaviour change (Schultz 2014 Reddy et al. In recognition of this, the biodiversity conservation field has moved beyond the biological sciences and has incorporated the social sciences and humanities (Bennett et al. From reducing demand for illegally traded wildlife products to promoting the use of renewable energy sources, tackling today’s major environmental threats comes down to influencing human behaviour. Most global environmental problems are a result of human actions (Amel et al. Transdisciplinary research is needed to develop a robust understanding of the contextual and cultural factors that affect how animal images can be used effectively for conservation purposes. Most existing studies are place and context-specific, limiting the generalisable conclusions that can be drawn. Although there is clear evidence that images of animals can have positive effects on people’s attitudes to animals, overall there is currently a dearth of accessible and comparable published data demonstrating the efficacy of animal imagery. We systematically screened existing studies on the use of animal imagery in conservation, identifying 37 articles. Images have a powerful role in shaping persuasive messages, yet research on the impacts of visual representations of nature is a neglected area in biodiversity conservation. With the recognition that most global environmental problems are a result of human actions, there is an increasing interest in approaches which have the potential to influence human behaviour.
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