SOCIAT Survey is a structured questionnaire designed to assess social outcomes of nature protection and restoration projects, while also considering aspects linked with local social capital, governance and public acceptance. The tool is part of the wider SOCIAT framework, including a variety of tools allowing practitioners to assess social outcomes of conservation projects through different techniques.
SOCIAT Survey was initially developed as a social impact assessment tool for Protected Areas with over 30 applications in Europe, check our reports at warwick.ac.uk/sociat. The tool has now been expanded to be applicable across different conservation projects and aims to assist decision-makers in balancing biodiversity conservation with the needs of nearby communities.
SOCIAT provides a structured approach to evaluate the social impacts of conservation projects, focusing on creating positive relationships between communities and nature while ensuring key conservation targets are met.
Development of the tool has been led by the University of Warwick in close collaboration with a number of partners including EUROPARC Federation, the largest network of protected areas in Europe.
Practitioners will benefit from our SOCIAT Survey because it addresses critical gaps in existing frameworks and offers a practical, inclusive approach to understanding and managing conservation policies and projects.
Unlike other tools, SOCIAT links key factors such as governance, social impacts, and social capital into a cohesive framework that helps practitioners understand the drivers behind social impacts and public support for conservation efforts. This holistic perspective is essential for reducing conflicts and improving cooperation between management authorities and local stakeholders.
SOCIAT emphasizes the value of local communities' views, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes. By providing evidence-based insights, it enables decision-makers to balance biodiversity conservation with community wellbeing, fostering trust and improving relationships between communities and nature. Importantly, SOCIAT is adaptable to all stages of project and policy development, from proposed actions to well-established ones, making it a versatile tool for practitioners.
In addition to its assessment capabilities, SOCIAT's primary aim is to improve the relationship between communities and nature, empowering practitioners to make informed decisions that protect and restore biodiversity, maximize community benefits, and ensure equitable governance. By prioritizing community engagement and understanding, SOCIAT helps create sustainable conservation outcomes rooted in local support and collaboration.