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A newly published global review, led by a BC3, highlights the importance of relationships with scientists, relevant research, and organisational resources in shaping how scientific evidence informs conservation decisions.

Over the past 20 years, there has been a major push to promote the use of scientific evidence in informing decision-making for biodiversity conservation. The idea is that using scientific evidence to guide nature management leads to better outcomes. However, the application of scientific research by conservation practitioners and policymakers remains limited.

While a substantial body of research investigates the factors influencing whether scientific evidence effectively informs conservation, these studies have mostly focused on context-specific case studies.

To address this challenge, an international team of 28 researchers from 25 institutions, led by BC3 researcher Philip Martin, conducted the largest analysis to date on the topic. The team summarized findings from 169 studies in which policymakers and practitioners were surveyed on how they use scientific evidence and the factors that influence its uptake.

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Ecology, brings together research from different countries and contexts to provide a comprehensive overview.  It examines the factors influencing evidence uptake, as well as the geographical scope and key target groups of previous research.

“Our global-scale review shows that making research available is only part of the task,” says Martin. “Practitioners and policymakers also need evidence that addresses the questions they face, opportunities to discuss it with scientists, and the time and resources to put it into use”, highlights the researcher. 

The findings point to practical ways to strengthen connections between science and conservation, thereby bridging the gap between science and action. These include involving scientists early in decision-making, creating opportunities for dialogue and support in interpreting evidence, and helping practitioners and policymakers communicate their research priorities.

For the authors, the review highlights the value of  building sustained relationships with practitioners and policymakers. These relationships can help align research questions with policy and management needs and ensure that findings are communicated in a clear, useful way.

The research was supported by funding from the Basque Government through an Ikerbasque fellowship under the ForestBridge project, as well as the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through a Ramón y Cajal fellowship.