Understanding and influencing human behaviour is increasingly recognised as a key component of effective biodiversity conservation. A new three-day workshop, “Influenciar para Conservar: Ciência do Comportamento Humano para Conservacionistas” (Influencing to Conserve: Human Behaviour Science for Conservationists), will take place from 23 to 25 November 2026 at Zoomarine in Albufeira, Portugal.
Delivered entirely in Portuguese, the training offers conservation professionals an evidence-based and structured approach to designing behaviour-change interventions, from identifying and understanding a conservation problem to implementing actions and evaluating their impact.
The programme combines theoretical foundations, practical exercises and real-world conservation examples, enabling participants to apply behavioural science tools directly to their own projects and challenges.
From understanding behaviour to designing effective interventions
The workshop is structured around three main stages.
On 23 November, participants will focus on diagnosing behaviour and understanding its context. Topics include the role of human behaviour in conservation, identifying and prioritising behaviours, understanding barriers and motivations, stakeholder analysis, audience segmentation and the ethical dimensions of behaviour-change interventions.
The second day, 24 November, will explore how evidence can be translated into effective interventions. Participants will work on defining behavioural objectives, selecting intervention approaches and techniques, co-designing initiatives with target audiences, testing interventions and planning their implementation.
On 25 November, the focus will move to evaluation, learning and adaptation. The programme will address how to define success, distinguish between activities, outputs, outcomes and impacts, select appropriate indicators and evaluation methods, and use results to improve future interventions.
Participants will also work on developing their own behaviour-change plans and applying the tools introduced during the workshop to concrete conservation projects.
Training led by Diogo Veríssimo
The workshop will be led by Diogo Veríssimo, a researcher at the University of Oxford and an internationally recognised expert in the design and evaluation of behaviour-change interventions for biodiversity conservation.
Over the past two decades, Veríssimo has applied behavioural science and social marketing approaches to conservation challenges across Latin America, South and Southeast Asia, and West and Central Africa. His work has addressed issues including illegal wildlife trade, human–wildlife conflict, overfishing and invasive species management.
He is also President of the Behaviour Change Task Force of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and Commission on Education and Communication.
Who is the workshop for?
The training is aimed at conservation professionals, researchers, project managers, conservation science students, NGO teams and environmental agencies interested in integrating behavioural science into their conservation strategies.
Participation is limited to 20 people, with a minimum of 10 participants required.
The registration fees are:
- Students: €150
- NGOs and academics: €250
- Public sector: €300
- Private sector: €400
- Citizens of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA): free of charge, thanks to five fully funded scholarships supported by the Notsew Orm Sands Foundation.
The KAZA scholarships are available to nationals of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Practical information
Dates: 23–25 November 2026
Time: 09:00–16:00
Venue: Zoomarine, EN 125 – KM 65 Guia, 8201-864 Albufeira, Portugal
Language: Portuguese only
Places available: 20
Limited shared accommodation is also available through the organisers at a cost of €30 per night.
Following the in-person workshop, participants will also have access to three online follow-up sessions, designed to support the practical application of the course content to individual conservation projects and challenges.
Registration
Registration is now open through the official application form:
Register for the workshop:
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/NZ2G15ncKP
Further information, including practical guidance on accommodation, transport and restaurants, is available from the organisers.
The workshop offers a valuable opportunity for the conservation and environmental education communities to explore how behavioural science can strengthen biodiversity initiatives, improve stakeholder engagement and support lasting changes in the relationship between people and nature.
