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# Diogo Veríssimo: Using marketing theory and tools to advance biodiversity conservation

## Sitemaps
[XML Sitemap](https://diogoverissimo.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Harmful advertising is increasingly regulated – except for nature](https://diogoverissimo.com/harmful-advertising-is-increasingly-regulated-except-for-nature/): The new junk food advertising ban recognises marketing as a driver of harm. Environmental policy has yet to catch up.
- [Are We Asking the Wrong Questions About Conservation Communication?](https://diogoverissimo.com/3930-2/): Last week, I had the opportunity to deliver a keynote for the Society for Environmental, Population and Conservation Psychology (APA Division 34) on a topic that has become increasingly prominent in conservation: message framing.
- [An Indian village went from hunting Amur falcons to being their biggest protectors. Here’s how conservationists can harness the power of persuasion](https://diogoverissimo.com/an-indian-village-went-from-hunting-amur-falcons-to-being-their-biggest-protectors-heres-how-conservationists-can-harness-the-power-of-persuasion/): Diogo Veríssimo, University of Oxford and Sahila Kudalkar, Columbia University
- [Conservation is all about persuasion](https://diogoverissimo.com/conservation-is-all-about-persuasion/): Biodiversity conservation isn’t just about protecting species; it’s about changing the way we, as humans, interact with the natural world. Every major threat to wildlife, from climate change and pollution to habitat destruction, is driven by human behavior. That’s why influencing behavior is essential if we are to address the ongoing extinction crisis.
- [Can Mobile Games Help Save Endangered Species? What Our New Study Reveals](https://diogoverissimo.com/can-mobile-games-help-save-endangered-species-what-our-new-study-reveals/): In today’s digital age, mobile games have become a dominant form of entertainment, engaging billions worldwide. But can they also be used as a tool for conservation? This is the question we sought to answer with our study on a mobile game developed to support the critically endangered Kākāpō parrot in New Zealand.
- [Using behavioral insights to assess widllife trade risks](https://diogoverissimo.com/using-behavioral-insights-to-assess-widllife-trade-risks/): Understanding whether wildlife trade is harming a species is no simple task. Much of the focus in conservation has been on larger, more charismatic species, while invertebrates like tarantulas often slip through the cracks. These species are traded in large numbers, and without proper monitoring and regulation, overharvesting can drive populations to dangerous levels. Yet, the motivations behind the trade, both on the demand and supply sides, remain poorly understood, making it difficult to assess the true impact on biodiversity.
- [Journal Choices in Conservation Publishing: What makes authors tick?](https://diogoverissimo.com/journal-choices-in-conservation-publishing-what-makes-authors-tick/): As conservation scientists, the decisions we make about where to publish our work have far-reaching implications, not only for our careers but also for the accessibility of the research we produce. Our new study, Understanding Author Choices in the Current Conservation Publishing Landscape, explores the complex factors that influence these decisions.
- [From Media Buzz to Local Leadership: How Governance Transformed Amur Falcon Conservation in Nagaland](https://diogoverissimo.com/from-media-buzz-to-local-leadership-how-governance-transformed-amur-falcon-conservation-in-nagaland/): We aimed to explore how a media-driven conservation campaign could evolve into a sustainable, community-based governance model. Our study focused on the case of the Amur Falcon hunting ban in Pangti, Nagaland, India. We wanted to understand the key factors that contributed to the successful transition from a top-down imposed hunting ban to a locally led conservation effort. Specifically, we examined:
- [Changing Minds: How Messages Can Help Combat Illegal Wildlife Trade](https://diogoverissimo.com/changing-minds-how-messages-can-help-combat-illegal-wildlife-trade/): We wanted to see which types of messages were most effective in changing consumer behavior. We worked with 2,496 people in China, including potential consumers of wildlife products and those not targeted as consumers. We tested three types of messages:
- [Celebrity Endorsement: A Strategic Tool for Conservation Behavior Change](https://diogoverissimo.com/celebrity-endorsement-a-strategic-tool-for-conservation-behavior-change/): As conservationists, we often grapple with how to effectively motivate people to adopt more environmentally friendly behaviors. Whether it's reducing consumption of wildlife products, embracing sustainable lifestyles, or supporting conservation policies, changing human behavior is critical for achieving our goals.
- [How Do You Protect Something Most People Will Never See?](https://diogoverissimo.com/how-do-you-protect-something-most-people-will-never-see/): Nice to be quoted in this article in the Revelator about the use of flagship species.
- [Reform wildlife trade in the European Union](https://diogoverissimo.com/reform-wildlife-trade-in-the-european-union/): LINK: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ado1142
- [Exploring the Impact of ‘The Elephant Queen’ on tolerance of elephants](https://diogoverissimo.com/exploring-the-impact-of-the-elephant-queen-on-tolerance-of-elephants/): The study explored the impact of a natural history film, "The Elephant Queen" (TEQ), on the attitudes of communities living near elephants in Southern Kenya. Human-elephant conflict poses a significant challenge to wildlife conservation, and while efforts have been made to mitigate conflict, few focus on fostering understanding and tolerance between humans and elephants.
- [Unveiling the ‘Beauty Bias’](https://diogoverissimo.com/unveiling-the-beauty-bias/): In the realm of conservation, the fate of many endangered species hinges not only on scientific assessments but also on public perception and support. However, a troubling phenomenon has emerged in recent years – the 'beauty bias' – where aesthetically pleasing species receive disproportionate attention compared to their less visually appealing counterparts. This bias has far-reaching implications for conservation efforts worldwide.
- [Looking at shark fin consumer preferences](https://diogoverissimo.com/looking-at-shark-fin-consumer-preferences/): Dive into the world of shark fin consumption we uncover crucial insights in our latest study conducted in Singapore. Sharks, rays, and their cartilaginous relatives face significant threats globally, primarily due to overfishing driven by intricate market forces, including the demand for fins. Read it HERE
- [ABC Covers research on documentary impact](https://diogoverissimo.com/abc-covers-research-on-documentary-impact/): It was great to have ABC cover some of my work exploring the role of documentaries in environmental awareness and action. It's heartening to see discussions around the nuanced dynamics of positive and negative messaging in environmental storytelling. The collaborative effort to dissect the influence of renowned documentaries, such as those presented by David Attenborough, on public perception and behavior is crucial for shaping effective conservation strategies. This research underscores the need for a balanced narrative that not only captures the awe-inspiring beauty of nature but also presents the pressing challenges it faces.
- [Celebrity Species Names Can Boost Public Interest](https://diogoverissimo.com/celebrity-species-names-can-boost-public-interest/): Just published in Conservation Biology a new study looking at whether species named after celebrities get more attention from the public. We examined species across different animal groups - including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Here is what we found.
- [Effectiveness of Value-Framing and Message Valence on Audience Engagement](https://diogoverissimo.com/measuring-the-effectiveness-of-value-framing-and-message-valence-on-audience-engagement-across-countries/): LINK: https://gep.psychopen.eu/index.php/gep/article/view/11181
- [Using SMS surveys to understand songbird ownership and shark consumption in Indonesia](https://diogoverissimo.com/using-sms-surveys-to-understand-songbird-ownership-and-shark-consumption-in-indonesia/): The unsustainable use of wildlife increases the risk of species extinction. In biodiversity-rich Indonesia, information on the scale of wildlife use is limited and requires further study. To address this, we explored the potential of text messaging (short message service; SMS) surveys to investigate levels and spatial patterns of domestic wildlife use, using songbird keeping and shark consumption as case studies because of their widespread occurrence in all 34 Indonesian provinces. We sent 340,000 messages for each survey during October–November 2018 and incentivized responses with a mobile data package as reward. We obtained survey response rates of 1.4% (songbird ownership) and 1.5% (shark consumption). Our results revealed an estimated 175.7 million songbirds being kept by 35% (80.4–86.6 million) of the Indonesian population and 33.5 million people (14% of the Indonesian population) to have consumed shark products in their lifetime. We identified hotspots of songbird ownership in several provinces in Java, corroborating previous findings, and new ones in the North Sumatra province, for example. The provinces of Maluku, Aceh and East Nusa Tenggara had the highest numbers of reported shark consumers per 1,000 people. Responses indicated a wide variety of shark products being consumed, highlighting the need for in-depth research to understand the explanatory factors behind these practices. These findings demonstrate the potential of SMS surveys to be a cost-effective approach for conducting large-scale studies on wildlife consumption patterns over a short period of time.
- [Unveiling the Power of Flagship Individuals in Conservation: Fostering Empathy and Action](https://diogoverissimo.com/unveiling-the-power-of-flagship-individuals-in-conservation-fostering-empathy-and-action/): Conservation efforts have long relied on flagship species to rally support and drive meaningful change. However, recent studies have shed light on the profound impact of individual organisms in this narrative. These extraordinary beings, with their unique traits and compelling life stories, have emerged as powerful catalysts in inspiring empathy and spurring action within the realm of conservation.
- [Are Draculas the Pandas of the Orchid World?](https://diogoverissimo.com/are-draculas-the-pandas-of-the-orchid-world/): Below a summary of a newly published article in Orchids!
- [Breaking Barriers: Empowering Non-Native English Speakers in Science](https://diogoverissimo.com/breaking-barriers-empowering-non-native-english-speakers-in-science/): Breaking down language barriers is crucial for harnessing the full potential of non-native English speakers in the field of science. Unfortunately, the dominance of English as the universal language of science presents a significant challenge. Surprisingly, very few studies have explored how language barriers affect the career advancement of non-native English-speaking researchers.To address this gap, our research team surveyed 908 scientists in environmental sciences. We set out to quantify and compare the extra effort required for non-native English speakers, hailing from various countries and linguistic backgrounds, to carry out their scientific activities in English. The results were eye-opening.Our findings revealed that non-native English speakers, particularly those in the early stages of their careers, invest more effort compared to their native English-speaking counterparts. This extra effort is needed for tasks like reading and writing papers, crafting presentations, and disseminating research in English and other languages. Moreover, language barriers often prevent these researchers from attending or presenting at international conferences conducted solely in English.To unlock the untapped potential of non-native English speakers in science, it is crucial for the scientific community to acknowledge and tackle these disadvantages. We call upon individuals, institutions, journals, funders, and conference organizers to take action.Thankfully, we don't have to wait for major overhauls. Simple yet effective solutions can be implemented right away. Supportive measures such as language training programs, dedicated translation services, and increased inclusivity in conference language policies can make a tangible difference. By embracing these solutions, we can empower non-native English speakers to thrive in their scientific careers and foster a truly global and collaborative scientific community. Let's work together to create a more inclusive and impactful future for science.
- [Ethics in behavioral science](https://diogoverissimo.com/ethics-in-behavioral-science/): I am proud of having been part of the working group that put together the Social Marketing Statement of Ethics, which lays out key principles to be observed in the design of behaviour change. This has now been approved by the International Social Marketing Association and its regional affiliates given this document global klout in the social marketing space. Have a look below!
- [Can a documentary help you mitigate conflict with elephants?](https://diogoverissimo.com/can-a-documentary-help-you-mitigate-conflict-with-elephants/): The presentation I gave at the fantastic Human-Wildlife Conflict and coexistence is now online! A summary of the findings can be found below:
- [JUST OUT: IUCN’s guidelines on human-wildlife conflict](https://diogoverissimo.com/just-out-iucns-guidelines-on-human-wildlife-conflict/): The first edition of the IUCN's Guidelines on human-wildlife conflict and coexistence have just been released! This is a labour of love that has taken a team of 40-odd authors several years to put together. I was proud to lead the chapter on behaviour change and co-author the one focused on impact evaluation. Have a look! Here is the blurb:
- [New video abstract!](https://diogoverissimo.com/new-video-abstract/): Here is the new video abstract for the paper: Conservation fundraising: Evidence from social media and traditional mail field experiments. We compared three types of message frames (simple, seed money, and ecological). We found that the seed money frame, which emphasizes the amount already donated, increased the number of donors, whereas the ecological frame, which focuses on the fact that the fundraiser benefits threatened species, led to a relative reduction in the number of donors. We also found that while Facebook advertising costs exceeded donations, while the opposite was true for the traditional mail experiment. This highlights the importance of identifying appropriate donor pools for online and offline fundraising before implementing campaigns. Our findings illustrate some challenges associated with online fundraising and the importance of behavioral evidence to enhance effective fundraising in conservation.
- [Oxford Sparks: My 2 cents on movies and wildlife trade](https://diogoverissimo.com/oxford-sparks-my-2-cents-on-movies-and-wildlife-trade/): Movies have a great deal of influence in our lives. Whether you like to follow the works of a particular director, throw yourself whole-heartedly into cosplay, or just enjoy going to the flicks on a Friday night, most of us have some sort of relationship with the silver screen. But how far does the influence go? Could the appearance of exotic animals in films actually persuade viewers to bring these animals into their lives, as pets?
- [The second extinction of forgotten species](https://diogoverissimo.com/the-second-extinction-of-forgotten-species-2/): We made the cover of Current Conservation! A great feature article entitled "The second extinction of forgotten species" covering our paper on "Societal extinction of species" published a few months back.
- [Going to COP!](https://diogoverissimo.com/going-to-cop/): The 15th Conference of the Parties of the Covention for Biological Diversity. also known as COP 15 is starting in the Canadian city of Montreal.
- [Japan’s ivory market is no longer a threat to elephant populations – here’s why](https://diogoverissimo.com/japans-ivory-market-is-no-longer-a-threat-to-elephant-populations-heres-why/): A new publication just dropped where we try to understand why ivory trade in Japan has reduced drastically in the last few decades. It turns out it has very much to do with how complex the world is and not so much to do with conservation. Read all about in the article in The Conversation
- [Visiting University Michigan – Flint](https://diogoverissimo.com/visiting-university-michigan-flint/): I am very excited to be starting my stint as Thompson Visiting Professor at the University of Michigan Flint! In this role I will be giving a keynote lecture as part of Sustainability Week as well as interacting with students across a number of modules such as ecology, wildlife biology and sustainability more broadly. I will also be connecting with community members who have been doing work around environmental sustainability in Flint which I hope create opportunities for learning on all sides of the table.
- [How good are we at changing behaviour for nature? 300,000 papers later here is what we found](https://diogoverissimo.com/how-good-are-we-at-changing-behaviour-for-nature-300000-papers-later-here-is-what-we-found/): I recently wrote a short summary of a review we published recently (more on that soon) for the excellent blog Please keep to the path! See below..
- [PAWCAST! How can we use the power of persuasion to reduce the demand for tiger parts?](https://diogoverissimo.com/pawcast-how-can-we-use-the-power-of-persuasion-to-reduce-the-demand-for-tiger-parts/): I was one of the guests in the latest episode of the WildCats Conservation Alliance "Pawcast" focused on influencing consumer behaviour in the context of the illegal trade in tiger parts. It was great to have the chance to discuss some of the challenges around influencing behaviour..
- [The Hunt for a Lost Bat](https://diogoverissimo.com/the-hunt-for-a-lost-bat/): Lost and Found Project was featured in the New Yorker! Following on from the rediscovered of the Hills’ horseshoe bat in Rwanda after many decades of no sightings.. A very cool story.
- [Enforcement: is more always better?](https://diogoverissimo.com/enforcement-is-more-always-better/): Malta is renowned as a “blackspot” for illegal bird hunting. This article describes Malta's current enforcement efforts which, assisted by the Army, and surveillance technology such as drones, and have likely led to a reduction in crime. However, this article also describes how current conservation policies are being counterproductive. They are fostering a culture of suspicion and distrust between hunters, environmental NGOs, and the state, which, in turn, drives further surveillance. This increase has encouraged some hunters to take their hunting abroad, especially to countries were laws and enforcement are weaker, with larger impacts n biodiversity. This article reinforces the need to go beyond a focus on increased enforcement, especially when taking into account the impacts of regulation across multiple jurisdictions.
- [The second extinction of forgotten species](https://diogoverissimo.com/the-second-extinction-of-forgotten-species/): We often think of extinction as happening out there, in far away wild places, but it also takes place right inside our minds, in our everyday conversations and on social media. Beyond biological extinction, which takes place when the last animal or plant of its kind dies, species can live on in our collective memory, traditionally transmitted locally through word of mouth, art and literature, and more recently through movies, television, and the internet. These memories can, almost paradoxically, keep an extinct species like the passenger pigeon, present in our everyday lives long after they are gone. But, tragically, the contrary also occurs. When a species disappears from, or has never been in, our minds despite still existing across the Earth, this lack of collective knowledge and memories of the species can accelerate its physical disappearance.  This process of disappearing from collective memory is what we refer to as ‘societal extinction’ in a recent paper—in contrast to biological extinction—and it often occurs gradually.
- [Book Review for Con Bio](https://diogoverissimo.com/book-review-for-con-bio/): I recently wrote a book review for the journal Conservation Biology, focused on the two books below:
- [As times and tastes change, Vietnam’s bear bile industry is fading away](https://diogoverissimo.com/as-times-and-tastes-change-vietnams-bear-bile-industry-is-fading-away/): What do consumers of a wildlife product do when a market closes? We mostly have no clue. Today we had a paper published on the intentions of bear bile consumers to the closing of the market in Vietnam. We sampled at seven areas across the country of Vietnam (total respondents = 2,463). We found low use of farmed and wild bear bile. Despite widespread belief in farmed and wild bear bile's efficacy, we found that individuals were apathetic about continuing to use bear bile. Coupled with a strong preference for using synthetic bear bile over wild and farmed bear bile found in the DCEs, we posit that bear bile consumers in Vietnam will be willing to use non animal-based products, including bear bile plant and Western medicine, to treat future ailments.
- [De veneno à antídoto: como o marketing pode ajudar na conservação da biodiversidade](https://diogoverissimo.com/de-veneno-a-antidoto-como-o-marketing-pode-ajudar-na-conservacao-da-biodiversidade/): Quando falamos em mudanças climáticas, o marketing costuma ser lembrado sempre como parte do problema e não da solução. As verbas milionárias gastas em publicidade para estimular a compra incessante de novos produtos têm papel fundamental na construção dos desejos da nossa sociedade do consumo. Mas e se as ferramentas do marketing fossem usadas para outros fins? Seria possível vender hábitos sustentáveis assim como se vende sabão em pó?
- [Not a cookie-cutter approach: how the uses and trade of giraffe parts vary across Africa](https://diogoverissimo.com/not-a-cookie-cutter-approach-how-the-uses-and-trade-of-giraffe-parts-vary-across-africa/): Where are giraffe parts sourced from? 
- [Blackfish: how captive killer whale documentary ended SeaWorld’s orca breeding programme](https://diogoverissimo.com/blackfish-how-captive-killer-whale-documentary-ended-seaworlds-orca-breeding-programme/): Laura Thomas-Walters, University of Stirling and Diogo Veríssimo, University of Oxford
- [#Seaspiracy: The debate](https://diogoverissimo.com/seaspiracy-the-debate/): The documentary Seaspiracy has generated lots of debate, and as someone who has worked a bit around the impact of documentaries I had the chance to wage in the Discussion.
- [What determines the success and failure of environmental crowdfunding?](https://diogoverissimo.com/what-determines-the-success-and-failure-of-environmental-crowdfunding/): Online crowdfunding can help address the perennial financial shortfalls in environmental conservation and management. Although many online crowdfunding campaigns fail to collect any funds due to not achieving their targets, little is known about what drives success. To address this knowledge gap, we applied a mixed-methods approach to data from 473 successful and failed campaigns hosted on the online crowdfunding platform Readyfor. We found that fundraising performance varied by topic, with campaigns on pet animal management outperforming those focussed on landscape management and sustainable use. We also found that marketing strategies associated with online findability and increased reach through social networks, increased fundraising success. However, the existence of other environmental campaigns running simultaneously, reduced the chance of success, which implies that the selecting popular topics does not always increase the likelihood of success due to increased competition. Wider applications of marketing could enhance the ability of environmental crowdfunding campaigns to raise funds.
- [Investigating the international and pan‐African trade in giraffe parts and derivatives](https://diogoverissimo.com/investigating-the-international-and-pan%e2%80%90african-trade-in-giraffe-parts-and-derivatives/): New article out today on Conservation Science and Practice: Investigating the international and pan‐African trade in giraffe parts and derivatives. Here we review the evidence and interview experts about giraffe trade, concluding in the end that " the dynamics of legal and illegal trade and the use of giraffe parts vary throughout Africa, ranging from local consumption to cross border and international trade, and from ornamental adornment to medicinal and consumption use. While the CITES listing of giraffe provides a mechanism through which international trade can be monitored, our findings suggest that the majority of illegal hunting currently occurs domestically and only within certain giraffe populations".
- [Rising with the tide](https://diogoverissimo.com/rising-with-the-tide/): Last week I was featured on the "Rising with the Tide" podcast. It was a lot of fun talking about how marketing can be used to help keep our planet biodiverse, discuss the impacts of Harry Potter on the trade in owls and why pangolins make great vloggers. Have a listen below:
- [Cash of the Titans](https://diogoverissimo.com/cash-of-the-titans/): The trade in wildlife has received a lot of coverage in the last year but we almost never think of insects when we think of the wildlife trade. I was happy to have participated in the documentary "Cast of the Titans" that sheds light on this trade, with a particular focus on the titan beetle and the trade taking place in French Guyana, in South America.
- [Have you met Eric?](https://diogoverissimo.com/have-you-met-eric/): Eric is a Pangolin and he has started a vlog (check it out below!). This is part of the development of the Youtbe Channel of On the Edge Conservation where we will have not only Eric but also other EDGE species talk about their daily lives... For now you can also check out a vlog by Lexi an aspiring DJ that also happens to be an aye-aye! But there are more colorful characters still to come...
- [Gaming for conservation](https://diogoverissimo.com/gaming-for-conservation/): That is why I have been working with On The EDGE Conservation (OTEC), with game developer Quantum Shift Studios and publisher Playstack to launch ‘Kakapo Run’. This is the first in a series of games to gather support for Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) species, creatures that have no close relatives and thus represent a big slice of our natural heritage, which are in real risk of disappearing forever. The game is available for download on App Store and Google Play Store, and has no adverts or in-app purchases.
- [Understanding the public debate about trophy hunting in China as a rural development mechanism](https://diogoverissimo.com/understanding-the-public-debate-about-trophy-hunting-in-china-as-a-rural-development-mechanism/): This NEW paper in Animal Conservation looks at the trade-offs made by people in China across rural and urban areas when it comes to the use of trophy hunting. Download it here!
- [Five reasons people buy illegal wildlife products – and how to stop them](https://diogoverissimo.com/five-reasons-people-buy-illegal-wildlife-products-and-how-to-stop-them/): Laura Thomas-Walters, University of Stirling; Amy Hinsley, University of Oxford, and Diogo Veríssimo, University of Oxford

## Pages
- [Team](https://diogoverissimo.com/team/): Our mission is to integrate cutting-edge behavioural science with biodiversity conservation to effectively influence human behaviours negatively impacting biodiversity. Through rigorous research, evidence-based interventions, and global collaboration, we aim to drive meaningful and lasting change that promotes sustainability and protects the natural world.
- [Privacy Policy](https://diogoverissimo.com/privacy-policy/): Last updated: August 05, 2025
- [Home](https://diogoverissimo.com/): Scroll down ↓
- [Blog](https://diogoverissimo.com/blog/)
- [Research](https://diogoverissimo.com/research/): Click on the locations to open the projects list
- [Ethical publishing in conservation](https://diogoverissimo.com/ethical-publishing-in-conservation/): Are you looking for a more ethical journal to publish your research, but not sure where to begin?
- [Outreach](https://diogoverissimo.com/outreach/): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqIeyLJgY7o Culturomics to monitor attitudes towards wildlife https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iezpEapWMmA The Elephant Queen: can a nature documentary help mitigate HEC? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o3UpmEcv3M
- [Contact](https://diogoverissimo.com/contact-me/): I collaborate with researchers, NGOs, media outlets, and event organisers to advance biodiversity conservation.
- [In the media](https://diogoverissimo.com/science-communication/): See my media appearances Highlights Pressbook Years All 2012 2015 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2024
- [About me](https://diogoverissimo.com/about-me/): I’m an award-winning scientist passionate about conservation and human behaviour. My work brings together conservation and behavioural science to design practical solutions that help shift human actions for the benefit of nature. I’ve been fortunate to contribute to projects in over 15 countries and to support many early-career professionals along the way.
- [Publications](https://diogoverissimo.com/publications/): My Published work Diogo VeríssimoLead Researcher, University of Oxford; Chair, IUCN SSC CEC Behaviour Change Taskforce Research Interests Biodiversity ConservationBehaviour changeEvaluationConservation MarketingSocial Marketing PublicationsShowing 1-20 of 223 publications Title Year Cited by Automating the analysis of public saliency and attitudes toward biodiversity from digital mediaN Giebink, A Gupta, D Veríssimo, CH Chang, T Chang, A Brennan, ...Conservation Biology 40 (2), e70217, 2026 2026 7 How commercial video games engage with biodiversity and conservation: a systematic map of literatureK Blake, U Arbieu, S Castelló y Tickell, A Gleave, P Johnson, T Kubo, ...ACM Games: Research and Practice 4 (3), 1-22, 2026 2026 3 Wildlife diversity in global team sport brandingU Arbieu, C Bellard, CJA Bradshaw, R Correia, P Courtois, E Di Minin, ...BioScience 76 (2), 179-187, 2026 2026 3 Six actions to harness the potential of social surveys on people and nature relations: A UK cross‐sectoral perspectiveJ Montana, LM Anderson, T Marshall, D Barrios‐O'Neill, S Bavin, ...People and Nature, 2026 2026 0 Wildlife icon use reflects value in global consumer marketsK Tubb, D Veríssimo, E McBride, A Lockey, I Campbell, A Dickman, ...Available at SSRN 6509801, 2026 2026 0 Evaluating synthetic substitutes to reduce illegal harvesting and support species recoveryAS Malgaonkar, G Whittington‐Jones, T Dickerson, M Lishandu, S Davies, ...Conservation Biology, e70266, 2026 2026 0 GamesS Birnstiel, B Duemler, B Morschheuser, K Blake, U Arbieu, SC y Tickell, ... 2026 0 Banning wildlife trade can boost the unregulated trade of threatened speciesT Kubo, T Mieno, S Uryu, S Terada, D VeríssimoConservation Letters 18 (1), e13077, 2025 2025 23 Language, economic and gender disparities widen the scientific productivity gapT Amano, V Ramírez-Castañeda, V Berdejo-Espinola, I Borokini, ...PLoS Biology 23 (9), e3003372, 2025 2025 21 A unifying theoretical framework for conservation flagshipsI Jarić, SL Crowley, JM Jeschke, U Arbieu, GH de Oliveira Caetano, ...Biological Conservation 308, 111199, 2025 2025 12 The value of qualitative approaches to impact evaluation in biodiversity conservationW Sharkey, L Jeha, MGY Lo, AT Simkins, JC Llopis, MM Felipe Cadillo, ...Conservation Science and Practice 7 (11), e70102, 2025 2025 10 Bridging worlds: exploring synergies between the arts and biodiversity conservationI Jarić, S Januchowski‐Hartley, S Mammola, J Malumbres‐Olarte, C Lux, ...Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 23 (10), e70012, 2025 2025 5 Understanding author choices in the current conservation publishing landscapeN Yoh, MJM Holle, J Willis, LF Rudd, IM Fraser, D VeríssimoConservation Biology 39 (2), e14369, 2025 2025 4 Professional sport organizations as potential champions of biodiversity conservationU Arbieu, C Bellard, CJA Bradshaw, RA Correia, P Courtois, E Di Minin, ...Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2025 2025 3 Measuring impact of digital conservation campaigns using culturomicsG Caetano, V China, U Roll, D VeríssimoConservation Science and Practice 7 (11), e70126, 2025 2025 2 Languages of life: A global perspective on linguistic priorities for biodiversity conservationD Veríssimo, C Hazin, R Rocha, MP DiasConservation Letters 18 (5), e13139, 2025 2025 2 Games for Gaia: Leveraging gaming interventions for biodiversity conservationK Blake, K Tubb, D VeríssimoConservation and Society 23 (2), 98-102, 2025 2025 2 Mainstreaming behaviour change in biodiversity conservation: Needs, barriers and ways forwardD Veríssimo, E Ribeiro, L Perry, NW Roth, Y RibeiroIUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 2025 2025 2 Synthetic Substitutes as a Conservation Tool: Evaluating Synthetic Leopard Fur for Demand Reduction and Species RecoveryAS Malgaonkar, G Whittington-Jones, T Dickerson, M Lishandu, S Davies, ...bioRxiv, 2025.07. 31.666914, 2025 2025 1 Environmental crimes are overlooked in global enforcement: an analysis of Interpol Red NoticesSL Sinclair, EC Rubino, D VeríssimoOryx 59 (5), 603-605, 2025 2025 0 ‹ Previous 123…12 Next › Citations All Since 2019 Citations 12,494 0 h-index 0 0 i10-index 0 0 Co-authors 20 co-authors Bob SmithDirector, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent Douglas MacMillanEmeritus Professor of Land Use and Biodiversity Economics; Leibniz Chair of Environmental Economics E.J. Milner-GullandTasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity, University of Oxford Amy HinsleySenior Research Fellow, University of Oxford; Co-chair IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group Ivan JaricJunior Professor, University of Paris-Saclay; Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences Laura Thomas-WaltersYale University Ricardo A. CorreiaAssociate Professor, Department of Biodiversity Sciences, University of Turku Dan ChallenderSenior Research Fellow, University of Oxford Uri RollBen-Gurion University Hunter DoughtyWildlife Works Carbon Iain FraserSchool of Economics, Adelaide University Courchamp FranckResearch Director, CNRS, University of Paris Saclay Richard J. LadleProfessor of Conservation Science, Federal University of Alagoas, Brazil Sarah C. KlainUniversity of Oregon Nathan J. BennettGlobal Oceans Lead Scientist, WWF; Chair, People and the Oceans SG, IUCN; Adjunct Professor, IOF UBC Tara TeelProfessor, Colorado State University Rebecca E.W. ThomasSlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania Sarah L CrowleySenior Lecturer, Centre for Geography and Environmental Science, University of Exeter Takahiro KUBONational Institute for Environmental Studies / Hokkaido University / University of Oxford David L RobertsDurrell Institute of Conservation & Ecology, University of Kent

## Projects
- [Conserving the Sea Turtles of Playa Norte](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/conserving-the-sea-turtles-of-playa-norte/)
- [Toward Sustainable Logging in São Tomé](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/toward-sustainable-logging-in-sao-tome/)
- [Reducing the demand for sea turtle meat and eggs in São Tomé](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/reducing-the-demand-for-sea-turtle-meat-and-eggs-in-sao-tome/)
- [Decreasing threats to protected wildlife populations in Central Africa by reducing demand for bushmeat in large urban areas](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/decreasing-threats-to-protected-wildlife-populations-in-central-africa-by-reducing-demand-for-bushmeat-in-large-urban-areas/)
- [Illegal pet trade in the Eastern Caribbean](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/illegal-pet-trade-in-the-eastern-caribbean/)
- [Living with Tigers: poverty reduction for human-wildlife coexistence](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/living-with-tigers-poverty-reduction-for-human-wildlife-coexistence/)
- [Lesser Florican Community Leadership Programme](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/lesser-florican-community-leadership-programme/)
- [Bird hunting and conservation in Malta: an exploratory stakeholder analysis](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/bird-hunting-and-conservation-in-malta-an-exploratory-stakeholder-analysis/)
- [Influencing consumers of pangolin products in China](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/influencing-consumers-of-pangolin-products-in-china/)
- [Managing the demand for wild song birds in Indonesia](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/managing-the-demand-for-wild-song-birds-in-indonesia/)
- [Influencing consumers of bear bile to reduce threats to bears](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/influencing-consumers-of-bear-bile-to-reduce-threats-to-bears/)
- [Understanding and mapping the consumption of sea turtle eggs and meat](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/understanding-and-mapping-the-consumption-of-sea-turtle-eggs-and-meat/)
- [Evaluating the impact of a behavioural intervention to reduce ivory purchases among Chinese tourists](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/evaluating-the-impact-of-a-behavioural-intervention-to-reduce-ivory-purchases-among-chinese-tourists/)
- [Exploring behavioural approaches to reduce seabird bycatch in Cabo Verde](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/exploring-behavioural-approaches-to-reduce-seabird-bycatch-in-cabo-verde/)
- [Research insights to promote the use of synthetic leopard skins as substitutes](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/research-insights-to-promote-the-use-of-synthetic-leopard-skins-as-substitutes/)
- [Designing and evaluating an intervention to reduce demand for pangolin parts](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/designing-and-evaluating-an-intervention-to-reduce-demand-for-pangolin-parts/)
- [Understanding and improving sustainability of songbird keeping and trade in Guyanese diaspora communities in the USA](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/understanding-and-improving-sustainability-of-songbird-keeping-and-trade-in-guyanese-diaspora-communities-in-the-usa/)
- [Saiga horn in Singapore and Japan](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/saiga-horn-in-singapore-and-japan/)
- [Understanding the Impact of the documentary Tigre Gente](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/understanding-the-impact-of-the-documentary-tigre-gente/)
- [Countering Jaguar Conflict and IWT in the Bolivian Amazon](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/countering-jaguar-conflict-and-iwt-in-the-bolivian-amazon/)
- [Measuring the impact of the UNEP Tide Turners Challenge to reduce plastic pollution](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/measuring-the-impact-of-the-unep-tide-turners-challenge-to-reduce-plastic-pollution/)
- [Andean bears and people: coexistence through poverty reduction](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/andean-bears-and-people-coexistence-through-poverty-reduction/)
- [Reducing demand for illegal wild animals in the pet trade](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/reducing-demand-for-illegal-wild-animals-in-the-pet-trade/)
- [Wildverse: Measuring the impact of online gaming on proenvironmental behaviour](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/wildverse-measuring-the-impact-of-online-gaming-on-proenvironmental-behaviour/)
- [Estimating the population of Maire’s yew and engaging communities in conservation in Nepal](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/estimating-the-population-of-maires-yew-and-engaging-communities-in-conservation-in-nepal/)
- [Tackling the illegal wildlife trade in Muslim Communities in Sumatra](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/tackling-the-illegal-wildlife-trade-in-muslim-communities-in-sumatra/)
- [Evaluating the Effective Use of Celebrities in Wildlife Demand Reduction Changing Perceptions of Pangolins in Vietnam](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/evaluating-the-effective-use-of-celebrities-in-wildlife-demand-reduction-changing-perceptions-of-pangolins-in-vietnam/)
- [Understanding the impact of a social marketing campaign to reduce the demand for bushmeat in Kinshasa, DRC](https://diogoverissimo.com/projects/understanding-the-impact-of-a-social-marketing-campaign-to-reduce-the-demand-for-bushmeat-in-kinshasa-drc/)

## Media Links
- [Famous monkey‑face ‘Dracula’ orchids are vanishing in the wild](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/famous-monkey-face-dracula-orchids-are-vanishing-in-the-wild/)
- [Why are so few environmental criminals on Interpol’s ‘most wanted’ list?](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/why-are-so-few-environmental-criminals-on-interpols-most-wanted-list/)
- [Stars d’Internet, les orchidées à visage de singe sont pourtant au bord de l’extinction](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/stars-dinternet-les-orchidees-a-visage-de-singe-sont-pourtant-au-bord-de-lextinction/)
- [Banning wildlife trade can increase trade of other threatened species](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/banning-wildlife-trade-can-increase-trade-of-other-threatened-species/)
- [Speaking the Language of Life](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/speaking-the-language-of-life/)
- [Finding Dory did not increase demand for pet fish despite viral media stories](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/finding-dory-did-not-increase-demand-for-pet-fish-despite-viral-media-stories/)
- [The path to community led conservation: the amur falcon story](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/the-path-to-community-led-conservation-the-amur-falcon-story/)
- [The second extinction of forgotten](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/the-second-extinction-of-forgotten/)
- [Blackfish: how captive killer whale documentary ended SeaWorld’s orca breeding programme](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/blackfish-how-captive-killer-whale-documentary-ended-seaworlds-orca-breeding-programme/)
- [Do celebrity endorsements really help environmental campaigns? We found no evidence](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/do-celebrity-endorsements-really-help-environmental-campaigns-we-found-no-evidence/)
- [Would you pay to save this creature? Fake beasties reveal why some animals get conservation bucks](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/would-you-pay-to-save-this-creature-fake-beasties-reveal-why-some-animals-get-conservation-bucks/)
- [Rumour of Dory’s demise were greatly exaggerated](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/rumour-of-dorys-demise-were-greatly-exaggerated/)
- [Lost and found: telling the stories of rediscovered species](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/lost-and-found-telling-the-stories-of-rediscovered-species/)
- [Can “genetically identical” synthetic horn save rhino?](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/can-genetically-identical-synthetic-horn-save-rhino/)
- [Even ugly animals can win hearts and dollars to save them from extinction](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/even-ugly-animals-can-win-hearts-and-dollars-to-save-them-from-extinction/)
- [Why killing lions Cecil may actually be good for conservation](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/why-killing-lions-cecil-may-actually-be-good-for-conservation/)
- [Jaguar vs sea turtle: when land and marine conservation collide](https://diogoverissimo.com/media/jaguar-vs-sea-turtle-when-land-and-marine-conservation-collide/)

## Categories
- [Conference](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/conference/)
- [Fronm the field](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/fronm-the-field/)
- [Good news](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/good-news/)
- [In the popular press](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/in-the-popular-press/)
- [Publications](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/publications/)
- [Talk](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/talk/)
- [Uncategorized](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Workshops](https://diogoverissimo.com/category/workshops/)

## Project Country
- [Bolivia](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/bolivia/)
- [Cabo Verde](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/cabo-verde/)
- [Cambodia](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/cambodia/)
- [China](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/china/)
- [Costa Rica](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/costa-rica/)
- [Democratic Republic of Congo](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/democratic-republic-of-congo/)
- [India](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/india/)
- [Indonesia](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/indonesia/)
- [Japan](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/japan/)
- [Malta](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/malta/)
- [Nepal](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/nepal/)
- [Online](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/online/)
- [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/)
- [São Tomé & Príncipe](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/sao-tome-principe/)
- [Singapore](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/singapore/)
- [South Africa](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/south-africa/)
- [Sumatra](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/sumatra/)
- [Trinidad and Tobago](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/trinidad-and-tobago/)
- [USA](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/usa/)
- [Vietnam](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/vietnam/)
- [Zambia](https://diogoverissimo.com/project-country/zambia/)