Embrace complexity to improve conservation decision making

Evans, Megan C.; Davila, Federico; Toomey, Anne; Wyborn, Carina

doi:10.1038/s41559-017-0345-x

Cited by 57 publications

(54 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…However, it is important to remember that simply increasing access to, and supply of, information to policymakers will not automatically lead to "better" decisions (Cash et al, 2003;Evans et al, 2017;Sturgis and Allum, 2004;van Kerkhoff and Lebel, 2006).…”

Section: Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, there is no single science-policy interface, but rather a series of spaces in which science may interact with diverse ideas, values, norms, and policy actors (Evans et al, 2017;Head, 2008;Newman et al, 2016;Toomey et al, 2016). Unfortunately, it can be difficult to see how these concepts connect to reality without a practical understanding of how policy works in a particular context.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The accumulation of scientific evidence alone, however, will not suffice. Rather, our ability to successfully navigate contemporary issues and steer society towards a positive future is dependent on the ways in which scientific knowledge is applied in policy and practice (Cairney, 2016;Caplan, 1979;Evans et al, 2017;Shonkoff, 2000;Sutherland et al, 2004;Weiss, 1979). As a result scientists have come under greater societal and political pressure to more actively engage with decision-makers to facilitate knowledge exchange and the uptake of scientific knowledge into decision-making processes (Boswell and Smith, 2017;Lubchenco, 1998;Sivertsen, 2017;Stein, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Scientific evidence, even when it is accessible, robust, and compelling, will not always influence policy as much as some would like. This does not mean that policymakers are "complacent" or deliberately ignore science (Sutherland and Wordley, 2017) but rather that science is necessarily only one input into policy processes; which must consider multiple forms of evidence and knowledge, such as traditional and local knowledge (Cash et al, 2003;Evans et al, 2017;Head, 2008;Sturgis and Allum, 2004;van Kerkhoff and Lebel, 2006). Second, most impacts (even those achieved by experienced academics) take time, commitment, a lot of 'invisible' work, and usually have been achieved in the face of multiple challenges, mishaps and failures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An introduction to achieving policy impact for early career researchers

Evans

Cvitanovic

2018

Palgrave Commun

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Scientists are increasingly required to demonstrate the real world tangible impacts arising from their research. Despite significant advances in scholarship dedicated to understanding and improving the relationships between science, policy and practice, much of the existing literature remains high level, theoretical, and not immediately accessible to early career researchers (ECRs) who work outside of the policy sciences. In this paper, we draw on the literature and our own experiences working in the environmental sciences to provide an accessible resource for ECRs seeking to achieve policy impact in their chosen field. First, we describe key concepts in public policy to provide sufficient background for the non-expert. Next, we articulate a number of practical steps and tools that can help ECRs to identify and enhance the policy relevance of their research, better understand the policy world in practice and identify a range of pathways to achieving impact. Finally, we draw on our personal experiences to highlight some of the key individual characteristics and values that are needed to operate more effectively at the interface of science, policy and practice. Our hope is that the information and tools provided here can help to empower ECRs to create their own pathways to impact that best suit their individual goals, circumstances, interests and strengths.

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Section: Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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An introduction to achieving policy impact for early career researchers

Evans

Cvitanovic

2018

Palgrave Commun

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“…While the term complexity-awareness has not yet been widely adopted in marine megafauna conservation or the natural resource community, calls to increase and maintain complexity in ecological research and conservation efforts are growing (Crowder and Norse, 2008;Anand et al, 2010;Stirling, 2010;Parrott and Meyer, 2012;Howarth et al, 2013;Evans et al, 2017;Johnson and Lidstrom, 2018). Much of FIGURE 1 | The three dimensional complexity landscape represented by three axes: (a) data availability (x-axis), (b) conceptual complexity (y-axis), (c) analytical complexity (z-axis), where circle size denotes analytical complexity (larger circles represent higher analytical complexity).…”

Section: What Are Complex Systems Analyses?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Embracing Complexity and Complexity-Awareness in Marine Megafauna Conservation and Research

Lewison¹,

Johnson²,

Verutes³

2018

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Conservation of marine megafauna is nested within an intricate tapestry of multiple ocean resource uses which are, in turn, embedded in a dynamic and complex ecological ocean system that varies and shifts across a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Marine megafauna conservation is often further complicated by contemporaneous, and sometimes competing, social, economic, and ecological factors and related management objectives. Advances in emerging technologies and applications, such as remotely-sensed oceanographic data, animal-based telemetry, novel computational analyses, innovations in structured decision making, and stakeholder engagement and policy are supporting complex systems and complexity-aware approaches to megafauna conservation and research. Here we discuss several applications that focus on megafauna fisheries bycatch and exemplify how complex systems and complexity-aware approaches that inherently acknowledge and account for the complexity of ocean systems can advance megafauna conservation and research. Emerging technologies, applications and approaches that embrace, rather than ignore, complexity can drive innovation and success in megafauna conservation and research.

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Evidence shortfalls in the recommendations and guidance underpinning ecological mitigation for infrastructure developments

Hunter

Ermgassen

Downey

et al. 2021

Ecol Sol and Evidence

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1. In the United Kingdom and European Union, legal protection of species from the impacts of infrastructure development depends upon a number of ecological mitigation and compensation (EMC) measures to moderate the conflict between development and conservation. However, the scientific evidence supporting their effectiveness has not yet been comprehensively assessed.2. This study compiled the measures used in practice, identified and explored the guidance that informed them and, using the Conservation Evidence database, evaluated the empirical evidence for their effectiveness.3. In a sample of 50 U.K. housing applications, we identified the recommendation of 446 measures in total, comprising 65 different mitigation measures relating to eight taxa. Although most (56%) measures were justified by citing published guidance, exploration of the literature underpinning this guidance revealed that empirical evaluations of EMC measure effectiveness accounted for less than 10% of referenced texts. Citation network analysis also identified circular referencing across bat, amphibian and reptile EMC guidance. Comparison with Conservation Evidence synopses showed that over half of measures recommended in ecological reports had not been empirically evaluated, with only 13 measures assessed as beneficial.4. As such, most EMC measures recommended in practice are not evidence based.The limited reference to empirical evidence in published guidance, as well as the circular referencing, suggests potential 'evidence complacency' , in which evidence is not sought to inform recommendations. In addition, limited evidence availability indicates a thematic gap between conservation research and mitigation practice.More broadly, absence of evidence on the effectiveness of EMC measures calls into question the ability of current practice to compensate for the impact of development on protected species, thus highlighting the need to strengthen requirements for impact avoidance. Given the recent political drive to invest in infrastructureThis is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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Embrace complexity to improve conservation decision making

Cited by 57 publications

References 10 publications

An introduction to achieving policy impact for early career researchers

An introduction to achieving policy impact for early career researchers

Embracing Complexity and Complexity-Awareness in Marine Megafauna Conservation and Research

Evidence shortfalls in the recommendations and guidance underpinning ecological mitigation for infrastructure developments

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