Supporting conservationists' mental health through better working conditions.

Biodiversity conservation work can be challenging but rewarding, and both aspects have potential consequences for conservationists' mental health. Yet, little is known about patterns of mental health among conservationists and its associated workplace protective and risk factors. A better understanding might help improve working conditions, supporting conservationists' job satisfaction, productivity, and engagement, while reducing costs from staff turnover, absenteeism, and presenteeism. We surveyed 2311 conservation professionals working in 122 countries through an internet survey shared via mailing lists, social media, and other channels. We asked them about experiences of psychological distress, working conditions, and personal characteristics. Over half were from and worked in Europe and North America, and most had a university-level education, were in desk-based academic and practitioner roles, and responded in English. Heavy workload, job demands, and organizational instability were linked to higher distress, but job stability and satisfaction with one's contributions to conservation were associated with lower distress. Respondents with low dispositional and conservation-specific optimism, poor physical health, and limited social support, women, and early-career professionals were most at risk of distress in our sample. Our results flag important risk factors that employers could consider, although further research is needed among groups underrepresented in our sample. Drawing on evidence-based occupational health interventions, we suggest measures that could promote better working conditions and thus may improve conservationists' mental health and abilities to protect nature.

Mejores condiciones de trabajo para apoyar la salud mental de los conservacionistas Resumen La conservación de la biodiversidad puede ser difícil pero gratificante y ambos aspectos pueden tener consecuencias en la salud mental de los conservacionistas. Sin embargo, sabemos poco sobre la salud mental de los conservacionistas, sus patrones y los factores de protección y riesgo asociados al lugar de trabajo. Un mayor conocimiento ayudaría a mejorar las condiciones de trabajo, pues impulsaría la satisfacción laboral, la productividad y el compromiso de los conservacionistas, mientras se reducen los costos derivados de la rotación de personal, el ausentismo y el presentismo. Encuestamos a 2,311 profesionales de la conservación de 122 países con una encuesta virtual compartida por listas de correo, redes sociales y otros medios. Les preguntamos a los profesionales sobre sus experiencias de estrés psicológico, condiciones de trabajo y características personales. Más de la mitad trabajaban y procedían de Europa y Norteamérica; la mayoría respondió en inglés, contaba con estudios universitarios y actualmente desempeña funciones académicas y profesionales. La carga de trabajo excesiva, las exigencias laborales y la inestabilidad organizacional se relacionaron con un mayor estrés, mientras la estabilidad laboral y la satisfacción con la contribución propia a la conservación se asociaron con un menor estrés. En nuestra muestra, los encuestados con baja disposición y un optimismo específico hacia la conservación, mala salud física, apoyo social limitado, las mujeres y los profesionales que inician su carrera son los que corren un mayor riesgo de sufrir estrés. Nuestros resultados señalan importantes factores de riesgo que los empresarios podrían considerar, aunque es necesario seguir investigando entre los grupos menos representados en nuestra muestra. Con base en las intervenciones de salud laboral respaldadas con pruebas, sugerimos medidas que podrían promover mejores condiciones de trabajo y, así mejorar la salud mental de los conservacionistas y su capacidad para proteger la naturaleza.

From bathymetry to bioshields: a review of post-tsunami ecological research in India and its implications for policy.

More than half a decade has passed since the December 26th 2004 tsunami hit the Indian coast leaving a trail of ecological, economic and human destruction in its wake. We reviewed the coastal ecological research carried out in India in the light of the tsunami. In addition, we also briefly reviewed the ecological research in other tsunami affected countries in Asia namely Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives in order to provide a broader perspective of ecological research after tsunami. A basic search in ISI Web of Knowledge using keywords "tsunami" and "India" resulted in 127 peer reviewed journal articles, of which 39 articles were pertaining to ecological sciences. In comparison, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Maldives had, respectively, eight, four, 21 and two articles pertaining to ecology. In India, bioshields received the major share of scientific interest (14 out of 39) while only one study (each) was dedicated to corals, seagrasses, seaweeds and meiofauna, pointing to the paucity of research attention dedicated to these critical ecosystems. We noted that very few interdisciplinary studies looked at linkages between pure/applied sciences and the social sciences in India. In addition, there appears to be little correlation between the limited research that was done and its influence on policy in India. This review points to gap areas in ecological research in India and highlights the lessons learnt from research in other tsunami-affected countries. It also provides guidance on the links between science and policy that are required for effective coastal zone management.