Inclusive conservation: an analysis of behavior change conservation projects in the Congo as a framework for application to Myanmar

Abstract

Conservation initiatives strive to conserve biodiversity around the world. While efforts adamantly prioritize the successful conservation of endangered species and their habitats, certain strategies can overlook the secondary impacts on nearby human communities. Behavior-change conservation (BCC) integrates humanitarian theories of thought into conservation projects to support both ambassador species populations and the communities they coexist with. This literature review analyzes recent behavior-change conservation projects throughout the Congo region and evaluates their success. The findings suggest the region's utilization of BCC can act as a model for developing similar projects throughout Myanmar. The analysis considered humanitarian and biological aspects of each country. The similarities between these aspects of the two regions indicate the benefits Myanmar may experience once it utilizes BCC theories and projects. Future projects in Myanmar should further examine successful behavior-change conservation projects in the Congo and other regions of the world to develop adapted strategies for implementation across the nation.