Parachute conservation: Investigating trends in international research

Abstract

Parachute science (inequity in research relationships between Global North and South scientists) has known detrimental impacts on Global South researchers in conservation. Using two international datasets of English and non-English-language studies testing conservation interventions, we compared the continents in which studies were conducted to those in which authors were affiliated. We found that a substantial proportion of English-language studies conducted in Global South continents were led by researchers affiliated to Global North institutions. Studies in the Global South had relatively few locally affiliated lead authors and a higher percentage of studies with no locally affiliated authors. There were similar but typically less pronounced patterns for non-English-language studies. We discuss the potential drivers of these problematic findings and future directions that could help avoid and eliminate unethical parachute conservation science.