Leveraging Biodiversity Action From Plural Values: Transformations of Governance Systems

Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

Authors

In this paper, we argue that leveraging plural values into action for biodiversity requires a focus on transforming the biodiversity governance system. We draw on Donella Meadows’ concept of Leverage Points, which outlines the “depth” of intervention in order to shift a system toward sustainability. Engaging with deep leverage points (system intent and goals) is argued to lead to greater transformation than engaging with shallow leverage points (system design and materials). We outline how embracing plural values of biodiversity requires changes at deeper systems properties within governance systems to create space to reflect diversity in values and knowledge systems, and move away from a focus on commodification of nature’s contributions to people. We point toward political and policy sciences to highlight frameworks and concepts for understanding governance system transformation. We conclude with a call for meaningful engagement with such sciences in ongoing research.

Original languageEnglish
Article number609853
JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution
Volume9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 04.06.2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Berta Martin-Lopez for her early contribution to launching the ideas that finally evolved into this manuscript. The authors also acknowledge and thank all project members for their ideas and input in the early stages of this work, even where they are not listed as authors. Full details of project members and their research are available at https://leveragepoints.org A-IH-M acknowledges EU funding through the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant number 840207. Funding. This research was funded by the Volkswagen Stiftung and the Niedersächsisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kultur (Grant No. A112269). A-IH-M acknowledges European Union?s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme through the Marie Sklodowska?Curie grant number 840207.

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Leventon, Duşe and Horcea-Milcu.

    Research areas

  • biodiversity, leverage points, natures contribution to people, political science, sustainability transformations, systems thinking
  • Ecosystems Research

Documents

DOI

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Sprechwerkstatt in der Schule
  2. Determinants and Consequences of Executive Compensation-Related Shareholder Activism and Say-on-Pay Votes
  3. Linking Prefunding Venture Structure and Venture Capital Exit Performance
  4. Be smart, play dumb? A transactional perspective on day-specific knowledge hiding, interpersonal conflict, and psychological strain
  5. The efficiency of German public theaters: a stochastic frontier analysis approach
  6. Konzeptionsentwicklung – eine Einführung
  7. ‘I can show you; here’s the video’–video-supported student-led debates in game-based approaches
  8. Software der Zukunft
  9. Introduction: Modeling the Pacific Ocean
  10. AAL-Onto
  11. Automatic or controlled: How does disbelief in free will influence cognitive functioning?
  12. Effectiveness of an online recovery training for employees exposed to blurred boundaries between work and non-work
  13. Gespannt überwacht - sicheres Innengewinden
  14. Qu'est-ce que la "stakeholder value"?
  15. Es geht auch anders!
  16. Effect of filler materials on the tensile properties and fracture toughness of laser beam welded AA2198 joints under different ageing conditions
  17. Identifying business opportunities for sustainable development
  18. Are Si–C bonds formed in the environment and/or in technical microbiological systems?
  19. Decolonizing RFMOs
  20. The Invisualities of Capture in Amazon’s Logistical Operations
  21. Values-based barriers and good practices in sustainability-oriented innovation management
  22. A transdisciplinary framework for university-industry collaboration in establishing a social business model
  23. Anmerkung zu EuGH Rs. C-555/07 (Kücükdeveci)
  24. Digitale Geschäftsmodellinnovationen implementieren
  25. Network access charges, vertical integration, and property rights structure-experiences from the German electricity markets
  26. Did Descriptive and Prescriptive Norms About Gender Equality at Home Change During the COVID-19 Pandemic? A Cross-National Investigation
  27. Constructing the European Union's Budget
  28. Reinventing the Politics of Knowledge Production in Migration Studies
  29. Determinants and consequences of Corporate Social Responsibility Assurance:
  30. The effects of hybrid order processing strategies on economic and logistic objectives
  31. Aktionsforschung