Interactive radio drama can be used to gain public participation in policy planning, for example towards biodiversity conservation. Its huge advantage is that radio breaks the barrier of literacy, and is heard even in remote areas where there is little electricity. This format was developed for a 14-episode series of weekly radio programmes to encourage public participation in preparing a biodiversity action plan for the state of Karnataka, India. The Centre for Ecological Sciences and All India Radio jointly developed the tool. The objectives were to: ~• Obtain information from the general public to use in planning. ~• Raise awareness of biodiversity and the importance of documenting and saving it.
Guest-editor: Sonja Vermeulen. This special issue of PLA comes from the Power Tools initiative which aimed to develop, test and circulate existing and new tools to bridge key gaps in policy processes and content. These policy tools – tips, tactics and approaches – provide practical help to people working to improve the policies and institutions that govern access to and use of natural resources.
Participatory Learning and Action (PLA, formerly PLA Notes) is the world's leading series on participatory learning and action approaches and methods. PLA publishes articles on participation aimed at practitioners, researchers, academics and activists. All articles are peer-reviewed by an international editorial board.
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Available at https://www.iied.org/g02977