Effective communication, education and public awareness (CEPA) are essential for collaborative management of protected areas, particularly in culturally and linguistically diverse contexts where conventional, lecture-based approaches often have limited impact. This paper presents a practice-based case study from Hoang Lien National Park, an ASEAN Heritage Park in northern Vietnam, examining the use of animation-based communication as a CEPA tool to support biodiversity awareness and stakeholder engagement. Between 2023 and 2025, a short, multilingual animation was co-developed using locally relevant storytelling and visual representations of the park’s ecosystems and was integrated into training and outreach activities with park staff, teachers, and ethnic minority communities in the buffer zone. Data from pre- and post-training assessments, participant evaluations, focus group discussions and direct observations indicate improved understanding of biodiversity values and climate change impacts, high levels of engagement, and positive perceptions of the approach compared to conventional communication methods. The animation also supported dialogue between park authorities and local communities by providing an accessible basis for discussion. The findings suggest that culturally adapted animation can be a useful and scalable addition to CEPA strategies in protected areas facing linguistic diversity and varying literacy levels, when embedded within facilitated and participatory engagement processes
Canada’s ability to fulfil international marine conservation commitments, notably Aichi Target 11, depends on transparent, consistent and inclusive monitoring of marine protected areas (MPAs). This study identifies persistent discrepancies between the Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD), World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA) and Oceans Act MPAs despite recent efforts to establish a national baseline for coastal protected and conserved areas. Using spatial overlay analysis and a Decision Support Tool (DST) framework, we show how fragmented governance and inconsistent reporting hinder assessment of coverage targets, particularly at the land–sea interface. Findings highlight underrepresentation of Indigenous-led protected and conserved areas and the need for harmonised terrestrial-marine reporting, clearer procedures for overlapping designations, and Indigenous-led pathways to recognise Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) in national and international databases.
Citizen science holds considerable potential as a strategic approach for public engagement in protected areas, yet its implementation varies substantially across conservation contexts. This paper analyses the integration of citizen science in Brazilian protected areas, focusing on its main characteristics and the variations in its use across different conservation types. Based on a systematic review of 59 publications from 2011 to 2023, the study identifies 24 good practices grouped into four analytical dimensions: volunteering, research, governance and operational. The review highlights 20 recurring challenges and compiles 35 recommendations to address methodological, institutional and participatory barriers. The findings reveal variation between conservation types: national parks tend to favour scientific and educational approaches with limited community engagement, while extractive reserves and sustainable development reserves demonstrate stronger community integration and territorial participation. This study presents a comparative mapping by protected area type, relating the characteristics of citizen science to conservation objectives. The full realisation of the transformative potential of citizen science will depend on its deeper integration into decision-making processes and governance structures, consolidating it as a strategic tool for more democratic and effective conservation.
Communicating conservation ‘bright spots’ – concrete, demonstrated wins for biodiversity – is vital for inspiring public confidence, mobilising political commitment, and maintaining the long-term financing needed to scale impact, specifically by expanding, replicating and accelerating actions that meaningfully improve biodiversity outcomes. Yet research on how best to frame and share these successes with diverse audiences remains limited. To address this gap, we surveyed 45 Canadian conservation experts on the benefits, challenges and opportunities of communicating positive ecological and social outcomes from protected and conserved area initiatives. Respondents strongly endorsed the value of success stories for demonstrating conservation impact, inspiring action and boosting morale within organisations, particularly in countering conservation grief. Narratives that connect people to landscapes – such as those highlighting Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas – were viewed as especially compelling. However, experts cautioned against oversimplification, which can obscure the complexity and resources required for effective and urgent conservation. Our findings underscore the need for strategic, evidence-based communication approaches that balance optimism with realism, integrate diverse knowledge systems, and resonate across audiences. These insights can inform efforts to advance national and international conservation goals and targets, including Targets 3 (expanding protected and conserved areas) and 21 (knowledge sharing) of the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
