This paper explores and accounts for the value and role of listening in conservation research and practice; what it does, why it is necessary, how it builds over time, and the spaces and contexts which enable ‘deep’ listening, leading to reciprocal conversations and meaningful relationships. To that end, we discuss both the value of listening—i.e., why it is important for conservation—as well as the need to listen for values—i.e., the role of listening to understand human-nature relationships and values.