The Human Factor: IUCN-Zoomarine Alliance Creates European Center for Conservation

The main goal of the CSS Behaviour Change is to create a vital hub in Europe that connects conservation practitioners, researchers, and policymakers advancing behaviour change approaches to address critical biodiversity challenges. By fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors, the Center aims to accelerate the integration of behavioural science into conservation practice and policy development worldwide.

The CSS Behaviour Change launches with a dedicated team of multidisciplinary conservation and education experts from Zoomarine Portugal, supported by the expertise of the IUCN SSC CEC Behaviour Change Task Force.

"Traditional conservation approaches often focus on biological interventions while overlooking the human behaviours driving species declines… and recoveries" explained Diogo Veríssimo, Chair of the IUCN SSC CEC Behaviour Change Task Force. "This Center represents a critical step toward aligning conservation efforts with human behavioural patterns, significantly improving outcomes where traditional approaches have shown limited success."

As a fully accredited member of multiple zoological associations, including the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, Zoomarine Portugal brings extensive networks and practical conservation experience to this pioneering initiative.

“We recognise that the future of conservation lies at the intersection of ecological and human dimensions," said João Neves, Director of Science and Conservation at Zoomarine Portugal. "This pioneering Center allows us to pilot-test and implement 21st century conservation strategies that address the root causes of biodiversity loss. By understanding and influencing human behaviour, we're developing solutions that benefit both people and nature, creating a model that can be adapted worldwide."

Through formal partnerships with local and national authorities, as well as international institutions, the Center will prioritise behaviour change interventions for marine fauna conservation, building coalitions and capacity to advance these approaches in environmental policy instruments.