Mapping a conservation research network to the Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global blueprint to end extreme poverty, reduce inequality, and protect the planet. Progress toward these goals is falling short. Achieving the SDGs requires coordination among government, private industry, and nongovernmental organizations to align the actions of multiple sectors with SDG targets. Adapting an approach used by industry sectors, we mapped the Smithsonian Institution Working Land and Seascapes network to the SDGs. The network of programs aims to foster healthy and productive ecosystems through collaborations with diverse stakeholders. Across the network, we identified clear and measurable contributions to 16 of the 17 SDGs and specifically mapped past and current activities to 76 of the 169 targets, thereby demonstrating how conservation actions can contribute to achieving the SDGs, beyond SDGs 14 and 15. We also identified the need for clear results chain and greater capacity to achieve the SDGs and then provide examples of how different sectors can increase complementarity of their actions. By mapping activities to the SDGs, different sectors can increase alignment and strengthen collective contributions towards common global goals.

Interplay of management and environmental drivers shifts size structure of reef fish communities

“…A clear focus on conservation outcomes is essential for protecting natural resources and sustaining the livelihoods of those who depend on them. To ensure that both biodiversity and social benefits are achieved, political will to meet global MPA area targets, such as 30% by 2030, must be informed by the needs and expectations of coastal communities and the ecological conditions required to create effective, equitable, well‐connected MPAs (Bennett et al., 2022; Canty, Nowakowski, et al., 2022). Focusing only on achieving area‐based objectives may lead to unintended and adverse consequences (Barnes et al., 2018), if they are located in areas that have low potential for restoring and sustaining adult or juvenile fish or their habitat.…”

Social science for conservation in working landscapes and seascapes

“…The WLS mission is to foster healthy, resilient and productive land and seascapes for the benefit of people and nature. The initiative seeks to achieve this mandate through the application of science, as well as broader engagements with and capacity development of partners to provide insights from science to inform and improve conservation policy and practice (Canty et al, 2022). Partners include individuals and organizations in communities, governments, non-governmental organizations, universities, and the private sector.…”

“…The long-term goal of WLS is to ensure that proposed conservation initiatives are supported by a holistic understanding of the human-nature dynamic to increase efficacy, equity and durability of interventions. The WLS initiative currently supports 14 projects that span 13 countries (Figure 2, see https://wls.si.edu and (Canty et al, 2022) for more information on projects). In each location, WLS conducts research and works with partners to mitigate human impacts and protect or restore species and ecosystems ranging from coral reefs to grasslands to tropical forests.…”