Conservation science must engender hope to succeed

Conservation biology has an explicit political objective: the conservation of biodiversity. Thus, conservation biologists must not only do good science, but also present that science in a way that furthers that objective. Much excellent research has emphasised the severity of threats facing biodiversity. However, relentless communication of an impending mass extinction is, self evidently, having insufficient impact on politicians, policy makers and the public, and could eventually even be counterproductive for improved conservation.