COMMUNICATING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FINANCE: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND POLICY ADVOCACY STRATEGIES IN NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA

This study examined the communicating wildlife conservation finance: public engagement and policy advocacy strategies in Niger Delta, Nigeria. The stakeholder theory of PR was anchored in this study. This study adopted a qualitative research approach, utilizing the documentary research method. The study population study comprised government policies, reports from international conservation organizations, academic literature, media publications, and NGO documents related to conservation finance and communication strategies. Since documentary research does not require a direct sample of individuals, the study's sample size consisted of a carefully selected collection of relevant documents, reports, and scholarly articles that provide insights into conservation finance and its communication in the Niger Delta. Purposive sampling ensures that only documents with significant relevance to the research objectives are analyzed. The analysis involved categorizing data based on key themes, such as public engagement strategies, policy advocacy efforts, and financial mobilization mechanisms. The findings revealed that strategic communication significantly enhances public engagement in Niger Delta’s wildlife conservation finance by increasing awareness, fostering local participation, and aligning conservation messages with local communities’ socio-economic interests. Tailored communication strategies that use various media platforms, including community radio and social media, can effectively inform the public about the benefits of conservation finance, thereby encouraging support for sustainable conservation efforts. The study concluded that strategic communication plays a crucial role in engaging the public in wildlife conservation finance in the Niger Delta, with targeted media campaigns and culturally relevant messaging being essential for building awareness and encouraging active participation in conservation efforts. The study recommended that conservation organizations should develop targeted communication strategies that use both traditional and digital media to effectively engage local communities effectively and foster a deeper understanding of the finance of wildlife conservation