Capacity Development in Nature Conservation: New approaches to strengthen individual professionals

Nature conservation is a challenging profession. Professionals may face many obstacles before reaching their goals. Conservation work has been described as cognitively challenging, emotionally demanding, and physically straining and, at times, open to dangerous encounters caused by wildlife and people. Furthermore, the field of conservation is ever-changing, both by advances in its or associated disciplines and by rapid changes at a global political, social, and ecological level. Therefore, this doctoral research had as central research question: which role can capacity development have in optimising the work performance of conservation professionals? This study's results, arising from a mixed methods investigation, show that job resources, especially those provided by the organisation, are crucial for professional development and resilience building processes, and for optimising work performance. By thematically analysing the data of 22 interviews and 2 focus groups, organisational resources that were found to be linked to positive psychological states (e.g. experiences of energy, work engagement) were recognition and appreciation, and opportunities for growth and development. Results concerning work resources that were associated with positive psychological states were related to autonomy (i.e. freedom in work) and task significance (i.e. meaningful work). The strengths of these relationships were tested on a dataset obtained through 561 questionnaire respondents and by means of structural equation modelling. Quantitative data results confirmed the central role of job resources in reducing stress and burnout and increasing work engagement, which, in turn, positively influenced work performance. Overall, the results have highlighted the importance of considering both job demands and job resources when optimising work design and work environment for conservationists to maintain energy and perform their jobs well. Furthermore, individual processes of professional learning and resilience building can enhance thriving in the workplace in uncertain and rapidly changing environments.