Integrative conservation science: Conservation knowledge must be used to guide policies

Abstract

Biodiversity is declining at a record rate. Unfortunately, attitudes favoring nonadvocacy remain prevalent in conservation science. Despite our detailed knowledge of biodiversity losses, we, the conservation science community as a whole, are failing to reverse species declines, transforming us into mere accountants of extinction. Conservation scientists frequently miss the opportunity to utilize scientific knowledge for helping reverse species’ declines by not comprehensively or effectively engaging policymakers with conservation-related recommendations. The lack of translation of conservation science into policies therefore represents a detrimental blind spot of conservation biologists. Perhaps older generations had an excuse to practice conservation science without advocating for specific conservation policies, but the urgency of ongoing drastic biodiversity losses make unengaged approaches unacceptable for modern conservation biologists and tantamount to an implicit acceptance of anthropogenic mass extinction.