Summary

Conservation scientists work on the front lines of a field that is often emotionally and psychologically demanding. Confronting biodiversity loss and climate change on a daily basis can lead conservation scientists to experience burnout, despair, and a sense of helplessness – collectively known as ecological grief. This challenge is particularly acute for scientists who may lack the tools and support systems to navigate these emotional burdens. As global environmental threats intensify, so too must our efforts to support the mental health and resilience of those working to address them. This work is part of a larger strategic goal for the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes to transform the field of conservation to better preserve life on earth.

Our Research

The purpose of this research program is to support conservation professionals in sustaining themselves so they can continue doing good work for the planet. By providing space to pause and reflect on where they are in their careers and equipping them with tools to process eco-grief and reconnect with their purpose, this project seeks to cultivate resilience and compassionate leadership at a pivotal stage in professional life. The initiative will culminate in the development of a scalable program that integrates mindful leadership and emotional resilience into professional training for conservation scientists.

Other anticipated outcomes include strengthening leadership capacity, fostering emotional resilience, assessing the effectiveness of specific interventions, and building a supportive community that endures beyond the retreat. By combining lived experience, research-driven design, and a vision for cultural transformation, this project aims to create a model for sustaining the people whose work sustains the planet.

Our goal is to develop and evaluate tools to support the well-being of conservation practitioners, with a particular focus on mid-career scientists. This group was selected because they are distant from the training and support offered in school, and are in the middle of the tumultuous landscape of ecogrief, stress, and burnout–a time when developing coping strategies can have the greatest impact. We will examine how mindfulness and wellness practices can foster resilient and compassionate leadership in conservation. 

Phase 1: Literature Review

We will begin with a systematic literature review of evidence-based interventions that support individuals facing ecological grief and related emotional challenges. This includes research on mindfulness-based practices (e.g., yoga nidra, breathwork), therapeutic interventions (e.g., conservation therapy, safeTALK), and broader wellness frameworks that have proven effective in similarly demanding fields. The information gathered from the literature review will inform key themes and intervention choices for the intervention. 

Phase 2: Intervention

Drawing on practices that have helped us personally cope with ecological grief as well as science-backed interventions, we will design and implement a pilot retreat for mid-career conservation scientists. The retreat will provide conservation practitioners with immersive training in mindfulness, yoga, breathwork, and peer support, creating a safe space for emotional processing and growth. Pre- and post-retreat interviews will assess the impact of the experience on participants’ well-being and leadership capacity. We will consider a three-pronged approach addressing individual practices, peer networks, and broader cultural shifts within the conservation community.

Phase 3: Analysis

We will analyze both qualitative and quantitative data collected from retreat participants to assess the retreat’s effectiveness and identify key themes in how conservationists experience and process ecological grief. In addition to completing a short demographic survey, participants will take a variation of the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 prior to the start of the program to establish a baseline assessment of mental health symptoms such as anxiety and depression, and they will respond to questions about eco-anxiety and work motivation. 

At the conclusion of the retreat, participants will again complete the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 to assess any changes in these symptoms, along with follow-up questions on eco-anxiety and motivation. All interviews will be transcribed and analyzed using thematic coding and qualitative interpretative analysis (Ritchie & Spencer 2002; Lind-Riehl et al. 2006). A codebook will be developed to guide the process, and transcripts will be examined using constant comparison, with coding refined to consensus.

Phase 4: Program Development

Based on insights from the analysis, we will develop a broader, scalable program aimed at integrating mindful leadership and emotional resilience into conservation training and professional development. This initiative aims not only to support individual well-being but also to cultivate a more compassionate, enduring culture within conservation science. To support early and mid-career scientists, it is important to explicitly connect this objective to our proposed interventions and programming. By highlighting how these efforts directly benefit mid-career practitioners, we can reinforce the relevance and impact of our work. Additionally, to ensure the program remains effective and responsive over time, we propose implementing a system for ongoing evaluation. Such continuous assessment will allow us to adapt the program based on measurable results and participant input, ensuring it remains aligned with the evolving needs of those we aim to support.

Publications

  • Gerber, L. R., Reeves-Blurton, Z., Gueci, N., Iacona, G. D., Beaudette, J. A., & Pipe, T. (2023). Practicing mindfulness in addressing the biodiversity crisis. Conservation Science and Practice, 5(7), e12945. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12945

Personnel