Biodiversity is the foundation for our economy and wellbeing.
Our work includes biodiversity and public health, business practices and economic development, policy and governance, climate change and adaptation, food systems, social and behavioral change and risk assessment.
We produce insights that transform the way the world values, manages and thinks about biodiversity. By bringing together producers of knowledge with consumers of knowledge, we enable research leading to use-inspired solutions.
We continuously evaluate and adapt ourselves to improve the efficacy and application of our actionable science model, serving as a scalable model that other organizations can tailor and implement around the world. We adopt a strategic and nimble approach to co-produce our research agenda, based on knowledge demands from our partners.
Strategic priorities
Our research priorities are interconnected and synergistic. We work to center the conservation of biodiversity in individual, social, and institutional decisions, as the persistence of biodiversity is vital to planetary prosperity and essential to helping communities adapt to a changing environment. Our work pursues solutions that governments, communities, and the private sector can use to make informed, science-based decisions that balance environmental and social goals. We embrace multi-disciplinary approaches that assess how decisions impact biodiversity and how investment in and action toward conservation can support biodiversity goals. Our work empowers stakeholders to engage in informed action, based on the knowledge that shared challenges are best solved when communities work together.
Center biodiversity in the world’s decision making
Achieved by transforming conservation investment, risk assessment, and sustainable practices into effective and transparent processes.
Establish a replicable model for effective conservation action
Achieved by working with diverse stakeholders to understand the strategies and organizational structures that best translate to actionable science and successful biodiversity outcomes in many contexts.
Train the new biodiversity generation
Achieved by training diverse and underrepresented students, facilitating experiential career advancement opportunities, and identifying and closing gaps in the curriculum – specifically in strategic leadership and environmental communication.
How we work
Our structured decision making approach
We continually consider how our research approach works to achieve our goals. First, we work with partners to identify conservation decision needs and possible solutions. Then, we use data and evidence to identify the possible outcomes of alternative solutions. Finally, we work with partners to study how implementing solutions affects outcomes, and in doing so build our knowledge base about what works in conservation.
We pursue projects to improve the link between data and decisions in conservation science and practice. We collaborate with decision-makers to understand their data needs and support them in harnessing relevant data. Our approach embraces key elements of structured decision-making.
1. Objective
We access the biodiversity goals a project aims to achieve.
2. Alternatives
We draw on knowledge of partnerships to identify potential solutions.
3. Evidence
We use evidence synthesis to identify how solutions support objectives.
4. Solutions
We use decision tools to identify the best solution.
5. Consequences
We study outcomes of implemented solutions in relation to objectives.
6. Update
We update the approach as we learn.
How our approach achieves outcomes in biodiversity conservation.
Approach
- Evidence, metrics, and monitoring.
- Decision science and data tools.
- Knowledge partnerships.
Outputs
- Easy and intuitive access to needed information.
- Increased knowledge sharing and scoping.
- More effective decisions.
- Improved trust and collaboration.
Outcomes
- Decreased endangered species listings.
- Increased biodiversity considerations in the private sector.
- Increased evidence use for conservation decision making.
