Research to impact: a generalisable process for designing and testing incentive-based interventions for marine biodiversity and people

Achieving a Nature- and People-positive future requires transformative social change, yet many conservation programs fail due to insufficient consideration of socio-psychological and structural factors influencing human behaviour. This paper discusses the role of incentive-based interventions in driving behavioural and structural change, and outlines a general process, research instruments, and customizable intervention options for co-designing locally-appropriate incentive-based interventions that deliver positive outcomes for biodiversity and people. I present interdisciplinary research methods for each step, illustrated through a marine conservation example—chosen to leverage personal expertise and address a literature gap, though the principles apply broadly to any behaviourally-mediated threat to biodiversity. The paper emphasizes people-centred, evidence-based research and practice to guide ex-ante predictions of intervention success and robust ex-post impact evaluation within a culture of continuous learning. By offering a customizable pathway from research to action with supporting materials, I aim to guide conservation scientists and practitioners in designing effective, feasible interventions.