Calling for a new agenda for conservation science to create evidence-informed policy. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rose, David Christian; Amano, Tatsuya; González-Varo, Juan P.; Mukherjee, Nibedita; Robertson, Rebecca J.; Simmons, Benno I.; Wauchope, Hannah S.; Sutherland, William J.
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 238(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: Coproduction -- Evidence-based policy -- Evidence-informed policy -- Science communication -- Science-policy; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108222
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: Improving the use of scientific evidence in conservation policy has been a long-standing focus of the conservation community. A plethora of studies have examined conservation science-policy interfaces, including a recent global survey of scientists, policy-makers, and practitioners. This identified a list of top barriers and solutions to evidence use, which have considerable overlap with those identified by other studies conducted over the last few decades. The three top barriers – (i) that conservation is not a political priority, (ii) that there is poor engagement between scientists and decision-makers, and (iii) that conservation problems are complex and uncertain – have often been highlighted in the literature as significant constraints on the use of scientific evidence in conservation policy. There is also repeated identification of the solutions to these barriers. In this perspective, we consider three reasons for this: (1) the barriers are insurmountable, (2) the frequently-proposed solutions are poor, (3) there are implementation challenges to putting solutions into practice. We argue that implementation challenges are most likely to be preventing the solutions being put into practice and that the research agenda for conservation science-policy interfaces needs to move away from identifying barriers and solutions, and towards a detailed investigation of how to overcome these implementation challenges. Highlights: There is existing knowledge on barriers and solutions to evidence-informed policy. Studies still routinely focus on identifying known barriers and solutions. Implementation challenges preventing progress should be the priority. We argue for an associated shift in focus of conservation science-policy research.