The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Human Dimensions (HD) Committee has developed this go-to resource for WAFWA agencies (and beyond) to facilitate access to and demystify the world of HD. The purpose of this resource is threefold. First, we outline at a high level the human dimensions of fish and wildlife management for natural resource professionals and decision-makers and define HD and conservation social sciences (CSS). Second, we describe how to prepare for HD work and work with HD specialists (Part 2). In closing, we describe HD researchers’ and practitioners’ varied methods and approaches and how HD can help answer critical conservation questions and pressing 21st-century challenges.

Authored by members of the WAFWA Human Dimensions Committee