Raising hope for conservation – how can crowdfunding finance biodiversity protection?
Raising hope for conservation – how can crowdfunding finance biodiversity protection?
Crowdfunding is becoming an increasingly popular source of support for biodiversity conservation. A recent study reveals an expansive global crowdfunding network for conservation that brings much-needed support for research and species-focused projects. Researchers explored how this new fundraising mechanism might impact conservation, both financially and beyond.
Gallo‐Cajiao, E., C. Archibald, R. Friedman, R. Steven, R. A. Fuller, E. T. Game, T. H. Morrison, and E. G. Ritchie. “Crowdfunding biodiversity conservation.” Conservation Biology (2018)
A small pod of dolphins surfaced gracefully before disappearing into the ocean. The camera panned to show a heavily urbanized coastline. Even without watching the full video trailer, you are compelled to donate to the conservationists’ mission to save the threatened humpback dolphins. This is one of the many conservation projects across the world supported by crowdfunding, or the process of solving a problem by raising small amounts of money from many people over the internet. Biodiversity conservation has traditionally depended on institutional grants and philanthropy for sustained financial backing. The advent of the internet and the ubiquity of social media opens new dimensions for scientists to capitalize on public support. What sort of conservation can crowdfunding finance? Who are the fundraisers? Which projects are most prominent?
Research recently published in Conservation Biology seeks to answer these questions to examine the role crowdfunding plays in supporting biodiversity conservation. An Australian team from the University of Queensland, The Nature Conservancy, James Cook University, and Deakin University analyzed over 570 conservation-focused projects that successfully raised funds on 72 crowdfunding platforms. The team documented project themes, foci, activity types and locations.
Crowdfunded conservation projects began in the early 2000s and grew rapidly between 2005 and 2010. The majority were initiated by non-government organizations, universities, and freelance conservation advocates. Up to one-third of the projects were based in the United States; many others were from other high or upper-middle income countries. Proponents of crowdfunded initiatives were based in 38 countries, whereas actual projects were delivered across 80 countries. This pattern suggests a potential mechanism for international flows of capital, mirroring funding from international aid.
Which campaigns were most popular? Research projects were the most commonly financed, in particular studies focusing on species ecology, surveys, or threats to biodiversity. Nearly one-third of the projects were persuasion campaigns, such as campaigns aimed at raising awareness. Fewer centered on local action or capacity building.
Project targets focused disproportionately on species conservation, especially of mammals and birds, over ecosystem-focused conservation. Interestingly, the amount of projects focusing on species in the IUCN Red List designated as Least Concern versus species designed as Threatened was almost equal. Moreover, many more campaigns were directed towards conserving terrestrial ecosystems, particularly forests, as opposed to marine and freshwater ecosystems.
The expanse and diversity of crowdfunded conservation projects indicate their success as a novel funding mechanism. Although crowdfunding has a relatively small overall financial contribution compared to traditional sources, researchers see its potential to support biodiversity conservation. Crowdfunding can fill critical funding gaps and complement existing fundraising mechanisms. It can also help organizations generate seed capital to leverage larger funding sources. For conservation organizations with limited fundraising capacity, crowdfunding can provide a crucial alternative to mobilize capital across geographic borders, overcome bureaucratic challenges, and expedite actions.
The researchers also draw attention to the non-financial benefits of crowdfunding. For one, crowdfunding encourages innovative conservation ideas by giving projects more flexibility and fewer constraints than those supported by traditional funding agencies. Fundraisers can also engage with public donors more directly and regularly on social media platforms to promote conservation awareness and ongoing support.
Biodiversity conservation is increasingly important to the public interest and, through the rise of new platforms, becoming more accessible to everybody. By unveiling the patterns behind conservation crowdfunding, researchers, environmental advocates and policy makers alike can better harness the potential of this financing model to turn our care for dolphins, birds, forests and local communities into action.
You might like these articles that share the same topics
Recent studies at one of the BP-Deepwater Horizon oil spill sites has revealed that, preceding engineering activities diminished the resilience of the salt water marshes.
The Great Lakes – our largest global reserve of freshwater – are under attack from invasive species, and a new study provides an estimate of what this will cost us.
In Kansas, researchers are finding easy ways to minimize the negative impacts of wind energy while greatly surpassing the U.S. Department of Energy's 2030 goals.
The invasive Burmese python has been linked to mammal declines Florida's Everglades National park. Researchers fear that some of the endangered species of the region may be in danger.