Conservation strategies for biodiversity require the engagement of citizens, governments, local communities, and scientists, according to speakers at the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Co-creating Biodiversity Assessments.
By Paula Drummond and Érica Speglich
Although biodiversity is essential for ecological assessment and conservation, its practical measurements sometimes fail to capture the essence of how natural systems function and are inadequate for effectively guiding decision-making. It is crucial to expand the scope of data collection and analysis to meet demands, refine concepts, and, above all, bring knowledge production and demand closer together.
This assessment was made by Thomas Lewinsohn at the opening of the São Paulo School of Advanced Science on “Co-creating Biodiversity Assessments,” organized by the Postgraduate Program in Ecology at Unicamp, with support from FAPESP. The event brought together 57 participants from 22 countries across four continents, including postgraduate students, early-career researchers, managers, and environmental professionals. Participants spent 14 days in São Pedro (SP) discussing ways to integrate academic and practical knowledge on biodiversity to support decision-making. Additionally, working groups were organized to develop potential solutions for real-world challenges identified by the participants in their respective fields.
“There is a disconnect between knowledge production and its practical use. One of the School’s central goals is to promote this integration, improving the alignment between the creation and practical application of information,” said Thomas Lewinsohn, the event’s coordinator. To achieve this, the School sought to create a collaborative environment where participants could freely exchange ideas and work together, aiming to apply insights to real-world problems, share experiences, and form new partnerships. “For the final outputs produced by participants, we hope the knowledge generated will be organized in practical language and formats that facilitate its use and understanding by all stakeholders, such as Technical Notes, Guides, and articles aimed at non-academic audiences,” added Simone Vieira, the School’s vice-coordinator.
Bridging academic knowledge with practical conservation needs has inspired several research initiatives in Brazil. One example is the Biota/FAPESP Program, which has supported various public policy instruments over its 25 years of existence, and Biota Synthesis, which promotes collaboration among researchers, managers, and civil society to inform public policies for sustainability in urban and rural areas of São Paulo State. “Since 2022, Biota Synthesis has produced three Technical Notes: on carbon biomass in the state, financial arrangements for funding ecosystem restoration, and strategies for implementing the State Climate Action Plan,” said Mariana Cabral from the University of São Paulo and Manager of the Biological Sciences area at FAPESP.
Another example, from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), is the Center for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (SinBiose). Created in response to demands identified by the Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD), SinBiose aims to address complex and interconnected issues such as climate emergencies, biodiversity loss, food sovereignty, and neglected tropical diseases through knowledge co-production and evidence-based decision-making. “We have already produced eight policy briefs with the results of the projects,” explained Marisa Mamede from CNPq.
Co-production as a Pathway
One strategy that has garnered growing interest among those seeking to align science with user needs is the co-production of knowledge. This approach involves the joint construction of knowledge among all stakeholders, collaboratively and without hierarchies. This process requires engagement in intense discussions and, most importantly, the creation of shared outputs or actions, whether technical or scientific. “Often, the term has been used synonymously with participatory processes, but co-production implies a transformation in the knowledge of all involved,” clarified Maria Carmen Lemos from the University of Michigan (USA).
“Knowledge generated through co-production processes needs to be adapted to support decision-making,” said Lemos. “To achieve something suitable, flexibility and negotiation are necessary, in a game of interactions where respect for each other’s knowledge and decisions is fundamental. In this process, scientific knowledge also transforms. If you haven’t changed the science, there has been no co-production,” concluded the researcher.
Inspiring Experiences
The path to building science that is engaged with the demands of other stakeholders in biodiversity conservation requires dedication, time, and, above all, a willingness to listen. “We need to interact to change our perspective,” said Joice Ferreira from Embrapa Amazônia Oriental. The researcher is one of the leaders of the Sustainable Amazon Network (RAS), which has been conducting research in the Amazon for over 20 years. “Our research initially was very academic-focused; today, we do nothing without interaction with local communities,” explained Joice Ferreira, who participated in one of the five roundtables held during the School.
Camila Ritter, from the Juruá Institute and INPA, presented cases of community-based monitoring in the Volta Grande do Xingu and Médio Juruá regions, where riverside and indigenous communities lead effective methods for monitoring and conserving natural resources. “Researchers need to be on the ground, living and listening; otherwise, we are reproducing a European white science,” warned Camila Ritter.
The Local Development Plan for Araçá Bay in Ubatuba (SP) was developed in 2016 following discussions about the impacts of a potential expansion of the Port of São Sebastião. The document resulted from a collective effort by members of the Araçá Bay community, the population of São Sebastião, research institutions, private initiatives, and public agencies. This experience was shared by Alexander Turra from the Oceanographic Institute at USP and one of the lead researchers of the Biota-Araçá project, which spearheaded the initiative that led to the Plan.
Catarina Jakovac from the Federal University of Santa Catarina highlighted advances in producing indicators of natural regeneration in the Amazon as an effective strategy for decision-making in forest restoration. The project, part of SinBiose, launched a Policy Brief, technical notes, and a glossary on natural regeneration to integrate this restoration strategy into public policies for the Amazon. “So far, we have informed how and where natural regeneration can serve as a strategy for ecosystem restoration. We have yet to see the indicators widely applied, and we know they can still be improved. But a blurry lens is better than no lens,” compared Catarina Jakovac.
Guilherme Longo from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte presented a successful case of citizen science mediated by social media. #DeOlhonosCorais has been active on Instagram since 2018, inviting divers to post photos of corals and their locations using the project’s hashtag. “At first, it was a challenging experience, a different language, but we learned how the rules [of Instagram] work and played the game. We achieved impressive results.” It was through a photo from a citizen scientist that Rio Grande do Norte recorded its first sighting of the “sun coral,” a globally invasive species now threatening Brazil’s coral biodiversity. “With this information, the state environmental agency [IDEMA] initiated a program to control the invasive species along the coast,” added Guilherme Longo.
On the other side of the Atlantic, Rui Pedrosa from the University of Leiria in Portugal shared the experience of interaction between his laboratory and local industry and commerce, which inspired technological innovations based on biodiversity and the valorization of unconventional marine products. The initiative resulted in the launch of products such as bread, pasta, and olive oil with seaweed, as well as a gin with seaweed extract. “Large companies often have their own technological development, but for small and medium-sized enterprises, partnerships with universities are essential,” emphasized Rui Pedrosa. “The best way to build knowledge is with people; they are the ones who ensure that technological development remains within companies.”
Interactions with the private sector were presented by Roberto Klabin from the Caiman Ecological Refuge, a mixed-use property in Miranda (MS) that combines extensive cattle ranching, ecotourism, research, and environmental preservation areas. Recently, the property underwent a certification process to offer Biodiversity Credits. “The certifier evaluated all the negative and positive impacts on biodiversity generated by the different uses on the property, and this analysis confirmed that we have more positive than negative effects, resulting in Biodiversity Credits,” explained Roberto Klabin, who participated in the recent COP Biodiversity meeting in Cali, Colombia. “Discussions about Biodiversity Credits are still in their early stages and need further development,” reflected Roberto Klabin. “There are many ideas on how to measure them, but there is still much confusion, and there is basically no pricing. Despite this, I believe in this idea and think it is an excellent financial instrument to restore and protect nature.”
The School also featured the participation of globally recognized researchers such as Robin Chazdon (University of Connecticut, USA), Matías Enrique Mastrangelo (University of Mar del Plata, Argentina), George Brown (Embrapa), and Rodolfo Dirzo (Stanford University, USA).