An overwhelming amount of research calls for governments to take urgent action to secure and foster nature’s benefits for the planet and for human livelihoods and wellbeing at local, national and international levels. Too often this evidence is ignored, but when decisions do carefully draw on research, it is more likely the right action will be taken.
Drawing on literature and 11 real-life cases, the study examines the basic principles behind how to improve the use of research in governments’ decisions for better impacts on nature. It highlights the practical constraints for putting these principles into practice and five potential tactics to overcome those constraints.