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Deforestation of the Amazon: researchers and policymakers need to talk about priorities, says Nature

IRD/B. Osès

In 1992, world leaders pledged to slow the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. But as the deadline approaches, many believe it is unlikely that conservation measures will achieve this goal.

This editorial in Nature highlights a wide gap between scientists monitoring global biodiversity and policymakers trying to prevent its loss. The author points to two crucial reasons why they should work in tandem.

Policymakers wield the political and economic power essential for tackling biodiversity loss. If they understood scientific evidence better (such as research quantifying the financial benefits that ecosystems can provide), they could formulate conservation policies that work at large scales.

Improved communication between the two groups would also help researchers understand and provide the type of information policymakers need to create effective policies.

The editorial adds that national, international, and third-party organisations can all help forge these alliances.

Link to full article in Nature