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Commentary: Challenges of evaluating the effectiveness of public awareness campaigns in Congo Republic
Author(s) -
Cox Debby,
Pintea Lilian,
Poaty Patricia,
Nsafou Achille,
Sitou Alain,
Turmo Fernando,
VillaMarin Enrique,
Atencia Rebeca
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
american journal of primatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.988
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1098-2345
pISSN - 0275-2565
DOI - 10.1002/ajp.23205
Subject(s) - wildlife , law enforcement , psychological intervention , enforcement , political science , public relations , public involvement , business , environmental resource management , psychology , law , economics , ecology , psychiatry , biology
Conservation groups are always challenged with assigning limited resources to interventions they assume will have the most effective impact in addressing threats to their conservation targets. These decisions are often made based on experience and perceived outcomes, rather than evidence. In the past decade, multiple public awareness and proactive law enforcement activities have been initiated in the Congo Republic to address the illegal wildlife trade. This paper presents the challenges faced and lessons learned in shifting from experience to evidence‐based program evaluation related to the effectiveness of billboards in informing and inspiring local populations to support positive conservation behavior with regard to great apes.