Finding Common Ground between Adaptive Management and Evidence-Based Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation

Area of Science:

• Conservation science
• Ecology
• Environmental management

Background:

• Adaptive management (AM) and evidence-based conservation (EBC) are key frameworks for conservation decision-making.
• AM addresses complexity and local context under environmental and social change.
• EBC aims for generalizable best practices from empirical data.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore common ground between AM and EBC.
• To propose a framework for identifying conservation problems suitable for EBC.
• To suggest methods for integrating AM principles into EBC.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and conceptual synthesis.
• Development of a framework based on uncertainty, complexity, and social agreement.
• Identification of strategies for combining evidence and fostering co-learning.

Main Results:

• A framework is proposed to differentiate conservation problems amenable to EBC.
• Specific conditions (levels of uncertainty, complexity, social agreement) determine EBC suitability.
• Methods for enhancing EBC with iterative learning and evidence synthesis are suggested.

Conclusions:

• AM and EBC can be complementary, not mutually exclusive.
• A structured approach can help determine when EBC is most effective.
• Integrating AM's adaptive principles can strengthen EBC practices for conservation.