Proactive approaches aimed to anticipate the long-term effects of current and future conservation threats could increase the effectiveness and efficiency of nature conservation interventions. However, these processes can be obstructed by a lack of knowledge on habitat requirements for wildlife. In order to aggregate and assess the suitability of current information available on habitat requirements for proactive conservation, we used a research weaving approach, and conducted a systematic literature review on peer reviewed literature on elephant and rhino habitat requirements. We synthesized data by combining a vote counting assessment with bibliometric and term maps, and contextualized this with a narrative review. We mapped out the current methodologies, results, terminology and collaborations of 693 studies. Our results indicated that the gathering of habitat suitability knowledge and the ability for proactive conservation interventions to succeed will further increase by embracing two types of inclusiveness. First, since habitat requirements can be This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.3 classified as both ecological and anthropogenic, we call for the integration of these two dimensions into holistic habitat suitability and carrying capacity estimates, when planning conservation interventions like habitat restoration and (re-) introductions. Secondly, the active creation of collaborations within and across networks of researchers focusing on different species, as well as across regional and continental borders, and science-policy realms is necessary to avoid a waste of limited resources. These arguments are supported by previous research findings; yet, our literature case-study regarding elephant and rhino habitat requirements shows that there is still substantial room for improvement. We end with recommendations on how to engage with the challenge of utilizing this potential, learning from insights from the field of human-wildlife coexistence.