Amid the calls of gibbons and the whir of drones scanning forest canopies, a quieter crisis is unfolding within the ranks of those trying to save nature. Conservationists, often seen as tireless stewards of the planet’s dwindling biodiversity, are burning out. In some cases, they are breaking down. And with disturbing regularity, social media feeds are peppered with tragic news of conservation professionals who have taken their own lives. Yet data on suicide within the field is scarce, both due to stigma and the sector’s fragmented structure.
A study published in Conservation Biology surveyed more than 2,300 conservation professionals across 122 countries, offering one of the first comprehensive glimpses into the sector’s mental health. Over a quarter of respondents scored in the moderate-to-severe range for psychological distress. Women, early-career professionals, those with poor physical health, and those lacking social support were particularly at risk. The study’s authors, led by Thomas Pienkowski of Imperial College London and Oxford University, emphasize that psychological distress does not equate to mental illness, but high levels can signal serious wellbeing concerns.
Conservation work blends passion with precarity. Many are drawn to the field by a sense of duty or love of nature, but underfunding, job insecurity, and poor institutional support often greet them. The vocational allure of saving the planet is sometimes exploited through long hours, unpaid labor, or unsafe working conditions, particularly in field roles where rangers may be enforcing laws in the same communities where they live.
The study found that job-related factors—like organizational instability, lack of resources, and constant time pressure—were strongly associated with distress. Conversely, feeling that one’s work makes a meaningful contribution to conservation was one of the strongest protective factors. A sense of impact, it turns out, may be more important than hope that humanity will solve the biodiversity crisis.
Other sectors have long recognized the importance of workplace mental health. Conservation, say the authors, must do the same.
Recommendations include:
- Develop and routinely update workplace well-being plans tailored to conservation contexts.
- Promote healthy work-life balance through flexible schedules and limits on work hours.
- Train managers to support mental health and recognize signs of distress.
- Celebrate contributions to conservation to counter feelings of futility.
- Ensure job security and equitable compensation, particularly for early-career staff and women.
- Require funders to support mental health as part of grant conditions.
Protecting those who protect nature, it seems, is long overdue.
Pienkowski T … Milner-Gulland EJ (2023). Supporting conservationists’ mental health through better working conditions. Conservation Biology. doi: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37042093/
