General project update

Over the past months, we have been developing our first output of the project. The manuscript proposes a set of principles for understanding the diverse benefits of conservation initiatives. We will shortly submit the paper to a journal once it has been reviewed by the wider team.

We are currently in the process of developing our human ethics application for the first phase of fieldwork: focus group discussions with project partners and key actors involved in PPA management. The purpose is to gain expert knowledge on who and what is influenced by the PPA sites from perspectives of those involved in their management. Our first confirmed case study is Gluepot reserve, South Australia. The focus group is planned for July in Adelaide this year with BirdLife staff and other members of the Gluepot reserve management committee.

Ascelin, Kylie & Jasmine will be facilitating a workshop at the International Congress for Conservation Biology (ICCB) 2025 in June. This workshop directly aligns with the aim of the focus group, providing an opportunity to pilot-test the method. Jasmine will also give a talk about the wider project at ICCB, presenting another opportunity to gain feedback and insights from a range of conservation experts.

Kylie’s PhD Research Update

Kylie’s overarching focus for her PhD research within the broader ARC project will be on the role of social capital stemming from PPAs. Specifically, this focus will be on NGO owned PPAs involving active stewardship by local communities. The research aims to demonstrate the scale of social capital stemming from the PPAs, which may include individual, community and institutional levels within the social-ecological context of the PPA.

The research aims to examine the forms of social capital beyond traditional boundaries. It will also investigate the qualities and flows that exist within these networks, such as resource and knowledge exchange. It also aims to determine how social capital contributes to other capital outcomes across scales. This will culminate in a deeper understanding of the valuable contributions made by the people in the PLC sector and may also lead to insights and opportunities that support the scaling-up of collaborative efforts in conservation.

To achieve this, Kylie is interested in interviewing a range of actors associated with up to 3 NGO owned PPAs, including NGO staff, volunteers, sector groups and other actors/groups from each PPAs social-ecological landscape. Kylie is keen to discuss this research with the project partners to understand feasibility, relevance and benefits for the NGOs.