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A practical conservation tool to combine diverse types of evidence for transparent evidence-based decision-making

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Change log

Authors

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pMaking the reasoning and evidence behind conservation management decisions clear and transparent is a key challenge for the conservation community. Similarly, combining evidence from diverse sources (e.g., scientific and local knowledge) into decision‐making is also difficult. Our group of conservation researchers and practitioners has co‐produced an intuitive tool and template (Evidence‐to‐Decision [E2D] tool: <jats:ext-link xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xlink:href="http://www.evidence2decisiontool.com">www.evidence2decisiontool.com</jats:ext-link>) to guide practitioners through a structured process to transparently document and report the evidence and reasoning behind decisions. The tool has three major steps: (1). Define the Decision Context; (2). Gather Evidence; and (3). Make an Evidence‐Based Decision. In each step, practitioners enter information (e.g., from the scientific literature, practitioner knowledge and experience, and costs) to inform their decision‐making and document their reasoning. The tool packages this information into a customized downloadable report (or is documented if using the offline template), which we hope can stimulate the exchange of information on decisions within and between organizations. By enabling practitioners to revisit how and why past decisions were made, and integrate diverse forms of evidence, we believe our open‐access tool's template can help increase the transparency and quality of decision‐making in conservation.</jats:p>

Description

Funder: Arcadia Fund; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100012088


Funder: MAVA Foundation; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100013324


Funder: The David and Claudia Harding Foundation


Funder: University of Cambridge, Department of Zoology; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000735

Keywords

conservation management, cost-effectiveness, decision support tools, decision-making, evidence-based, practitioner knowledge, transparency, values

Journal Title

Conservation Science and Practice

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2578-4854
2578-4854

Volume Title

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
NERC (NE/L002507/1)
William J. Sutherland and Harriet Downey were supported by Arcadia, The David and Claudia Harding Foundation, and MAVA. Alec P. Christie was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council as part of the Cambridge Earth System Science NERC DTP (NE/L002507/1) and The David and Claudia Harding Foundation. Thomas B. White was supported by the Balfour Studentship awarded by the Department of Zoology, Cambridge University.