Interview Guide for Social Impact Assessments of Nature Restoration and Protection Projects

A New Tool for Understanding Social Outcomes of Conservation Efforts

The Interview Guide for Social Impact Assessments is a structured tool designed to capture the perceived social effects ofProtected Areas (PAs)and other nature restoration initiatives. Developed as part of the FIDELIO project at the University of Warwick, this guide provides a comprehensive framework for conducting qualitative interviews that assess local perspectives on conservation projects. The interview guide is available here.

Why Use This Guide?

• Systematic Social Impact Assessment: Helps researchers, policymakers, and conservation organizations gather insights into how nature restoration projects affect communities.

• Diverse Stakeholder Perspectives: Designed for interviews with bothnon-expertindividuals (such as community members) andexperts(such as conservation professionals and policymakers).

• Flexible and Adaptive Approach: Allows for tailored questioning based on the interviewee’s background and level of knowledge.

• Supports Evidence-Based Decision Making: Helps conservation planners understand public perception, local engagement, and social dynamics around Protected Areas.

Key Features of the Interview Guide

1. Understanding Local Connections to Nature

• Exploring personal experiences and emotional ties to the Protected Area.

• Assessing changes in community perceptions over time.

2. Capturing and Understanding Public Support for Conservation Policies

• Identifying levels of support or opposition to nature protection initiatives.

• Understanding the reasons behind community attitudes.

3. Evaluating Social and Economic Impacts

• Examining how conservation projects influence jobs, livelihoods, and local economies.

• Assessing benefits and challenges faced by local communities.

4. Trust and Engagement with Key Stakeholders

• Investigating relationships between local communities and conservation managers.

• Evaluating perceptions of fairness, inclusivity, and governance in nature protection.

5. Perceived Environmental and Social Changes

• Documenting community observations on landscape and ecological changes.

• Understanding how conservation policies shape daily lives and cultural practices.

How to Use the Guide?

The guide providesstructured and flexible interview questions, ensuring that researchers can adapt their approach based on the interview context. It supports anopen, conversational styleto allow participants to express their perspectives freely.

• Designed for 1-on-1 Interviews: Ideal for capturing in-depth responses.

• Estimated Interview Duration: Approximately one hour (may vary by participant).

• Customizable Questions: Sections include optional prompts to encourage detailed discussions.

Who Can Benefit from This Guide?

• Researchersstudying the social impacts of conservation.

• Government Agenciesdesigning and evaluating environmental policies.

• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)engaged in community-based conservation.

• Protected Area Managerslooking to improve stakeholder engagement.

• Academics & Studentsin environmental and social sciences.

Get Involved

This guide was developed by Dr James McGinlayas part of the FIDELIO project and is freely available for use in conservation research. If you would like to use this tool, please contact fidelio@warwick.ac.ukfor further details.

For more information, visit the FIDELIO project page.