From Information to Understanding: Rethinking Conservation Communication - Nature FIRST Conference Workshop


25 June 2025, 14:00–15:00 CET
Nature FIRST Conference, Rhenen

Moderator: Kacia Rutkoŭskaja (dotSPACE Foundation)

Every message we share in conservation carries weight. It helps shape how people understand an issue, how they respond to it, and how it fits into broader conversations. Communication can build trust and drive engagement, but it also comes with choices. What we emphasise, how we frame it, and where we share it all influence how the message is received.

This session explores the practical role of communication in conservation. It invites participants to reflect on how stories are shaped and what effects they may have, from building local trust to influencing public awareness or interest. We will also look at how the perceived value of a message, including its relevance or resonance in different settings, can affect which topics receive more attention.

The session includes:

  • A short introduction to the facilitators and the TransWILD project

  • Two short presentations (10 minutes each):

    • Iva Toncheva-Boesten will offer practical insights into working with the media, sharing stories under pressure, and maintaining trust in complex or sensitive contexts.

    • Stefania Volani or Kyle Jewell (to be confirmed) will share experiences from the Transwild project and regional fieldwork in Trentino. Their talk will reflect on how values, perceptions, and context influence how conservation messages are received, and how the visibility of some topics may be shaped by emotional or perceived relevance.

  • An interactive poll to explore participants’ experiences with communication in their work

  • A short group assignment, where participants will be invited to reflect on how they would approach communication around a controversial conservation issue

Please note: Active participation is expected. Attendees will work in small groups during the session to develop a short communication approach around a real-life scenario.

This session builds on the April webinar and is designed to encourage practical thinking on how communication strategies can support conservation outcomes in different settings.

Workshop Facilitators

Iva Toncheva-Boesten

Journalist / PR & Communication Expert
Seasoned journalist with experience at the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) and the BBC World Service. Iva has led communications for international projects in civil society development and sustainable development, funded by the European Commission, Dutch Ministry of Economy, EEA Grants, and others. She is currently Senior Team Leader of BTA’s Social Media Department.

Stefania Volani
Researcher, University of Trento
Ecologist and GIS specialist working on the Biodiversa+ EU funded TransWILD project. Her work combines ecological data with sociological insights to better understand human-wildlife interactions. “Multidisciplinarity is key to find coexistence when dealing with the challenges of human-wildlife interactions.”

Simona Capelli
Research Fellow, University of Trento
Currently involved in the TransWILD project, focusing on nature perceptions, human-wildlife interactions, and community engagement in Trentino, Italy.
“Understanding the human realities that inhabit a given territory is essential for achieving coexistence between humans and wildlife.”

Kyle Luca Jewell
PhD Candidate, University of Inland Norway / Researcher, University of Trento
Specialises in human-nature interactions and socio-ecological systems, with a strong focus on values, identities, and landscape change. Currently working on the TransWILD project.