TY - JOUR

T1 - Reviewing the science on 50 years of conservation

T2 - Knowledge production biases and lessons for practice

AU - Dawson, Neil M.

AU - Coolsaet, Brendan

AU - Bhardwaj, Aditi

AU - Brown, David

AU - Lliso, Bosco

AU - Loos, Jacqueline

AU - Mannocci, Laura

AU - Martin, Adrian

AU - Oliva, Malena

AU - Pascual, Unai

AU - Sherpa, Pasang

AU - Worsdell, Thomas

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.

PY - 2024/10

Y1 - 2024/10

N2 - Drawing on 662 studies from 102 countries, we present a systematic review of published empirical studies about site-level biodiversity conservation initiated between 1970 and 2019. Within this sample, we find that knowledge production about the Global South is largely produced by researchers in the Global North, implying a neocolonial power dynamic. We also find evidence of bias in reported ecological outcomes linked to lack of independence in scientific studies, serving to uphold narratives about who should lead conservation. We explore relationships in the sample studies between conservation initiative types, the extent of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ influence in governance, and reported social and ecological outcomes. Findings reveal positive ecological and social outcomes are strongly associated with higher levels of influence of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and their institutions, implying equity in conservation practice should be advanced not only for moral reasons, but because it can enhance conservation effectiveness.

AB - Drawing on 662 studies from 102 countries, we present a systematic review of published empirical studies about site-level biodiversity conservation initiated between 1970 and 2019. Within this sample, we find that knowledge production about the Global South is largely produced by researchers in the Global North, implying a neocolonial power dynamic. We also find evidence of bias in reported ecological outcomes linked to lack of independence in scientific studies, serving to uphold narratives about who should lead conservation. We explore relationships in the sample studies between conservation initiative types, the extent of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ influence in governance, and reported social and ecological outcomes. Findings reveal positive ecological and social outcomes are strongly associated with higher levels of influence of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and their institutions, implying equity in conservation practice should be advanced not only for moral reasons, but because it can enhance conservation effectiveness.

KW - Conservation effectiveness

KW - Conservation science

KW - Equitable governance

KW - Indigenous Peoples and local communities

KW - Participation

KW - Rights-based conservation

KW - Biology

KW - Ecosystems Research

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85198917726&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/e381bb36-d0cb-358d-99ac-94e7cda14cda/

U2 - 10.1007/s13280-024-02049-w

DO - 10.1007/s13280-024-02049-w

M3 - Scientific review articles

C2 - 39023682

AN - SCOPUS:85198917726

VL - 53

SP - 1395

EP - 1413

JO - Ambio

JF - Ambio

SN - 0044-7447

IS - 10

ER -