Transboundary strategy for communication about nature conservation

The joint, participatory process led to insights for park staffs in coordinating their external communication about nature conservation in the parks and enhanced communication between authorities of the two protected areas. Authorities from each park came to a common understanding of shared objectives, actions, external factors at least partly beyond their control, and their linkages regarding external communication about nature conservation in the parks. The project generated a decision-analytic tool that can be expanded to inform an adaptive external communication program that can be linked to surveys and other analyses of public opinion. The park authorities also learned about structured decision making as a participatory decision-analytic process, which led to new insights about their respective external communication programs and activities. The joint communication activities are expected to improve public opinion of maintaining or increasing non-intervention areas, natural resource management activities, and trustworthiness and competence of park staffs. Improved public opinion and transboundary cooperation are expected to enhance peace, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services in the transboundary region.