Filling knowledge gaps, investing in scientific communication to support decision-making, and developing new financial tools are some of the pathways highlighted by experts to boost biodiversity preservation
By Paula Drummond
The integration of science, public policies, and the private sector emerges as an essential pathway to drive biodiversity conservation. Experts emphasize the need to address knowledge gaps, invest in scientific communication, and create innovative financial tools to ensure the protection of species and ecosystems. During the São Paulo School of Advanced Science, held in São Pedro (SP), researchers and managers from 22 countries discussed strategies to align science and decision-making, focusing on vulnerable populations and the role of the private sector in environmental preservation.
Conservation on the fringes of policy
Cristina Leite-Banks, a researcher at Imperial College London (UK), highlighted the importance of populations of species living close to the range edges of their geographic distribution, known as peripheral species. These populations, although potentially crucial for the long-term persistence of a species, are particularly sensitive to threats such as deforestation and climate change.
According to the researcher, range-edge populations face more extreme environmental conditions and exhibit lower genetic diversity, making them more vulnerable. Using data on birds in the Americas, Cristina demonstrated that biotic factors, such as competition and predation, have a greater influence on the sensitivity of these populations than abiotic factors, such as temperature. Despite their ecological relevance, these populations are often overlooked in research and public policies. Cristina emphasized the need for further studies to guide conservation strategies that address the unique challenges faced by these species.
Science and policy: an essential partnership
Carlos Scaramuzza, from the International Institute for Sustainability (IIS), highlighted the crucial role of science in shaping public conservation policies. He criticized the reactive nature of science, which is often consulted only during crises, resulting in missed opportunities for implementing more effective policies.
To change this scenario, Scaramuzza advocated for the proactive engagement of scientists in political debates from the outset, as well as the creation of spaces for dialogue and collaboration between researchers and decision-makers. He stressed the importance of scientific communication as a bridge between these two worlds, translating complex knowledge into clear and accessible information. Another recommendation was the strengthening of technical teams within government agencies, ensuring a solid foundation for sustainable and well-informed decisions.
The Role of the Private Sector
In the private sector, innovative financial instruments are seen as essential tools to stimulate environmental protection. One example is Biodiversity Credits, a mechanism that assesses the positive and negative impacts on biodiversity generated by different land uses. To obtain this certification, specific criteria must be met to ensure environmental benefits.
“Although discussions are still in their early stages, I believe in the potential of Biodiversity Credits as a powerful tool to restore and protect nature,” said Roberto Klabin, founder of the Caiman Ecological Refuge, located in the Pantanal. The property combines activities such as extensive cattle ranching, ecotourism, research, and environmental preservation. Klabin, however, highlighted the need for greater clarity on metrics and pricing to enable the large-scale adoption of this mechanism.
About the São Paulo School of Advanced Science “Co-designing Biodiversity Assessments”
Organized by Unicamp’s Graduate Program in Ecology, with support from Fapesp, the São Paulo School of Advanced Science “Co-creating Biodiversity Assessments” brought together 57 participants from 22 countries on four continents, including graduate students, early career researchers, environmental managers and technicians. The participants spent 14 days in São Pedro (SP) discussing ways to integrate academic and practical knowledge on biodiversity to support decision-making.