Thriving ecosystem with diverse endangered species and researchers studying a key species.

Conservation's Unsung Heroes: Discovering What Makes Some Projects Thrive

Reese Marlowe in Climate & Environment August 2025 • 5 min read.

"Unlocking the secrets of exceptional responders in conservation can transform our approach to saving endangered species."

In the face of escalating species extinction, conservationists are relentlessly seeking solutions. However, the complexity of ecosystems and the limitations of our knowledge often hinder our ability to implement universally effective strategies. While widespread international agreements acknowledge the severity of the biodiversity crisis, truly transformative conservation outcomes remain elusive. A promising approach, borrowed from medicine and the social sciences, focuses on understanding the 'positive outliers'—those conservation projects that significantly exceed expectations. By examining these 'exceptional responders', we can uncover valuable insights often missed by traditional methods.

Imagine a scenario where a particular conservation intervention consistently delivers outstanding results in specific locations, while similar efforts elsewhere yield only marginal improvements. Identifying and analyzing these success stories allows us to delve deeper into the underlying factors that contribute to their exceptional performance. This approach, known as 'exceptional responder' analysis, moves beyond simply measuring average treatment effects and instead seeks to understand the nuances of context and implementation that drive remarkable outcomes.

This article will explore the application of the exceptional responder concept in conservation. Drawing inspiration from its successful use in oncology and social science, we present a framework for identifying, analyzing, and learning from conservation's unsung heroes. By understanding the commonalities among these exceptional responders, we can unlock valuable knowledge to improve conservation strategies and ultimately save biodiversity.

What Are Exceptional Responders? Lessons from Medicine and Social Sciences

Thriving ecosystem with diverse endangered species and researchers studying a key species.

The concept of exceptional responders isn't new. It has been successfully applied in other fields, most notably in oncology and social science. In oncology, it addresses the challenge of variable treatment responses. Some cancer patients experience remarkable recoveries from drugs that show little or no effect in most others. These exceptional responders offer invaluable clues for developing more effective, targeted therapies.

For example, the US National Cancer Institute's Exceptional Responders Initiative (ERI) focuses on classifying these patients and evaluating what sets them apart. One notable instance involved a patient with metastatic bladder cancer who experienced a near-complete response to everolimus, a drug that failed to meet its primary endpoint in a broader trial. Further investigation revealed a mutation in the TSC1 gene. When everolimus was tested on additional patients with the same mutation, all benefited significantly.

Oncology: Identifies patients who show unexpectedly positive responses to cancer treatments, leading to discoveries of specific genetic markers or other factors that contribute to treatment success.
Social Science: Focuses on 'positive deviants' - individuals or groups who achieve exceptional outcomes despite facing similar challenges. This approach helps identify uncommon but effective strategies that can be scaled up to improve community-wide performance.

In social science, this approach is often referred to as 'positive deviance'. It focuses on identifying individuals or groups who consistently outperform others facing similar challenges. These 'positive deviants' often possess unique strategies or behaviors that contribute to their success. For example, in Vietnam, researchers reduced childhood malnutrition by 74% by studying children with better nutritional status and discovering that their mothers were supplementing their diets with locally sourced foods. This knowledge was then used to improve the nutritional status of the entire community.

Unlocking Conservation Success: A Call for Broader Application

In conclusion, the exceptional responder approach holds significant potential for transforming conservation efforts. By shifting our focus from average outcomes to understanding the drivers of exceptional success, we can unlock valuable knowledge, develop more targeted strategies, and ultimately enhance our ability to protect biodiversity. This approach complements traditional methods, offering a powerful tool for navigating the complex challenges of conservation in a rapidly changing world. The insights gained from studying conservation's unsung heroes may hold the key to a more sustainable future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1111/cobi.13006, Alternate LINK

Title: Exceptional Responders In Conservation

Subject: Nature and Landscape Conservation

Journal: Conservation Biology

Publisher: Wiley

Authors: Gerald Post, Jonas Geldmann

Published: 2018-01-16

Everything You Need To Know

What are 'exceptional responders' in the context of conservation, and why are they important?

In conservation, 'exceptional responders' refer to projects or interventions that significantly outperform expectations in achieving conservation goals. They are crucial because analyzing these success stories allows conservationists to uncover valuable insights and innovative strategies that might be missed by traditional methods focusing on average outcomes. This approach complements traditional conservation methods, offering a powerful tool for navigating the complex challenges of conservation. Understanding the factors that drive their success can lead to more targeted and effective strategies for protecting biodiversity.

How does the 'exceptional responder' approach used in conservation compare to its application in oncology and social science?

The 'exceptional responder' approach is adapted from both oncology and social science. In oncology, the focus is on patients who exhibit unexpectedly positive responses to cancer treatments, leading to the discovery of genetic markers or other factors contributing to treatment success, such as the US National Cancer Institute's Exceptional Responders Initiative (ERI). In social science, the approach, often referred to as 'positive deviance', identifies individuals or groups who achieve exceptional outcomes despite facing similar challenges. Conservation applies a similar methodology, identifying projects or interventions that significantly exceed expectations to understand the factors driving their success, drawing parallels to identifying 'positive deviants'. All three fields use this approach to move beyond averages and understand the specific nuances that drive remarkable outcomes.

Can you provide an example of how the 'positive deviance' approach in social science has led to tangible improvements, and how might this inspire similar strategies in conservation?

In Vietnam, researchers used the 'positive deviance' approach to reduce childhood malnutrition by 74%. They studied children with better nutritional status and discovered that their mothers were supplementing their diets with locally sourced foods. This knowledge was then used to improve the nutritional status of the entire community. This example demonstrates the power of identifying and scaling up successful, locally driven strategies. In conservation, this inspires a focus on identifying communities or projects that have achieved remarkable conservation outcomes despite facing significant challenges. By understanding their unique strategies and behaviors, conservationists can adapt and apply these approaches to other contexts, leading to broader conservation success.

What are the potential limitations or challenges in applying the 'exceptional responder' approach to conservation, and how can these be addressed?

While the 'exceptional responder' approach offers significant potential, there are challenges. Identifying true 'exceptional responders' requires rigorous data collection and analysis to ensure that observed successes are not due to chance or confounding factors. Contextual factors also play a crucial role, and what works in one location may not be directly transferable to another. Additionally, the approach requires a shift in mindset from focusing on average outcomes to understanding the nuances of success. To address these challenges, conservationists can use robust statistical methods to identify exceptional responders, carefully analyze contextual factors, and adopt an adaptive management approach that allows for continuous learning and adjustment of strategies. Further, integrating traditional ecological knowledge can provide valuable insights into local contexts.

What are the implications of using the 'exceptional responder' approach for the future of conservation efforts, and how might it reshape current strategies?

The 'exceptional responder' approach has the potential to transform conservation efforts by shifting the focus from simply measuring average treatment effects to understanding the specific factors that drive remarkable outcomes. This can lead to the development of more targeted and effective conservation strategies tailored to specific contexts. By identifying and learning from conservation's unsung heroes, conservationists can unlock valuable knowledge and enhance their ability to protect biodiversity in a rapidly changing world. This approach complements traditional conservation methods, offering a powerful tool for navigating the complex challenges of conservation and paving the way for a more sustainable future. It encourages a more nuanced and adaptive approach to conservation, fostering innovation and collaboration.