Bringing People and Knowledge Together for Conservation
ReConnect Consulting works with conservation organizations, governments, and partners in Canada and internationally to address environmental challenges. Through collaborative research, engagement, and knowledge synthesis, we help organizations better understand the human dimensions of conservation and develop practical, evidence-informed approaches to conservation planning, policies, and programs.
Why Conservation Social Science Matters
Effective conservation requires understanding and incorporating people’s values, knowledge, livelihoods, relationships, and the decisions that shape how natural resources are managed. Conservation social science helps us understand these human dimensions. It explores questions such as: What motivates people to participate in conservation? Who benefits from conservation decisions, and who bears the costs? How can different perspectives and knowledge systems contribute to more effective and equitable outcomes?
By bringing human dimensions into focus, conservation social science helps organizations develop conservation approaches that are grounded in evidence, responsive to local contexts, and attentive to the people whose lives are connected to conservation initiatives.
Applied Research, Monitoring & Evaluation
From developing research questions to designing surveys, conducting interviews, and assessing outcomes, ReConnect helps organizations better understand the human dimensions of conservation and strengthen the evidence informing their decisions.
What ReConnect Does
Engagement & Collaborative Processes
Meaningful engagement can bring new perspectives, knowledge, and opportunities into conservation. ReConnect designs and supports collaborative research and engagement processes that recognize diverse interests, experiences, and ways of knowing.
Knowledge Synthesis, Strategy & Communication
Environmental challenges require clear thinking and communication. ReConnect brings together evidence from diverse sources, identifies important insights, and translates research into accessible reports, practical guidance, and recommendations.
Ways to Work Together
Every organization has different priorities, capacities, and needs. ReConnect offers two flexible ways to access conservation social science expertise.
Project-Based Consulting
Have a specific project or research question in mind? ReConnect works with clients on defined assignments, from focused literature reviews and technical assessments to larger collaborative research initiatives, evaluations, and strategies.
Ongoing Research & Advisory Support
Not every organization needs a full-time social scientist, but many benefit from having access to specialist expertise when questions or challenges arise. ReConnect's Support Packages provide flexible access to research capacity, strategic thinking, technical advice, and practical guidance over time. These partnerships can help strengthen existing projects, build organizational capacity, and provide continuity across multiple initiatives.
“ReConnect proved to be incredibly valuable with their thoughtful approach to engagement and consultation. Mark and Joy were able to pull cohesive narratives backed by stakeholder input obtained from surveys, interviews and workshops. Thanks to ReConnect we came away with insights that were key to our coalition of organizations working on strategic conservation planning in southern Ontario. I would highly recommend working with ReConnect if you are looking for community engagement and consultation on conservation projects.”
— Jackie Hamilton (Senior Research and Policy Advisor, Greenbelt Foundation)