Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures

Abstract Environmental big data and analytical models are increasingly informing conservation efforts to address global climate and biodiversity crises. Yet, the growing reliance on data‐driven approaches raises concerns regarding biases, uncertainties, and injustices in environmental decision‐makin...

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Main Authors: Danilo Urzedo, Nikki P. Dumbrell, Catherine J. Robinson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:People and Nature
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10766
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author Danilo Urzedo
Nikki P. Dumbrell
Catherine J. Robinson
author_facet Danilo Urzedo
Nikki P. Dumbrell
Catherine J. Robinson
author_sort Danilo Urzedo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Environmental big data and analytical models are increasingly informing conservation efforts to address global climate and biodiversity crises. Yet, the growing reliance on data‐driven approaches raises concerns regarding biases, uncertainties, and injustices in environmental decision‐making processes. This article presents ‘conservation data infrastructures’ as socio‐technical processes of conceiving, producing, and distributing conservation data that affect multifaceted decisions and practices. Drawing on major carbon conservation programs in Australia and Brazil, we assess how data‐driven investment planning and project assessments set what is valued, how it is measured, and whose interests are accounted for. Both case studies reveal how technological innovations expand carbon accounting methods by integrating ecological and social data with advanced analytical models to encompass a wide range of place‐based impacts. However, data‐driven solutions alone may not lead to transformative changes that fully address existing disparities in environmental priorities and benefit distribution across scales. We conclude that the proposed notion of data infrastructures not only reveals socio‐technical limitations but also elevates multiple perspectives and local realities to reimagine and rework conservation measures. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
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spelling doaj-art-7290d3c62e89443bb82438c4d2ba47642025-01-23T04:04:08ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142025-01-017126527710.1002/pan3.10766Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measuresDanilo Urzedo0Nikki P. Dumbrell1Catherine J. Robinson2CSIRO Environment Research Unit Ecosciences Precinct Brisbane Queensland AustraliaCSIRO Agriculture and Food Research Unit Canberra Australian Capital Territory AustraliaCSIRO Environment Research Unit Ecosciences Precinct Brisbane Queensland AustraliaAbstract Environmental big data and analytical models are increasingly informing conservation efforts to address global climate and biodiversity crises. Yet, the growing reliance on data‐driven approaches raises concerns regarding biases, uncertainties, and injustices in environmental decision‐making processes. This article presents ‘conservation data infrastructures’ as socio‐technical processes of conceiving, producing, and distributing conservation data that affect multifaceted decisions and practices. Drawing on major carbon conservation programs in Australia and Brazil, we assess how data‐driven investment planning and project assessments set what is valued, how it is measured, and whose interests are accounted for. Both case studies reveal how technological innovations expand carbon accounting methods by integrating ecological and social data with advanced analytical models to encompass a wide range of place‐based impacts. However, data‐driven solutions alone may not lead to transformative changes that fully address existing disparities in environmental priorities and benefit distribution across scales. We conclude that the proposed notion of data infrastructures not only reveals socio‐technical limitations but also elevates multiple perspectives and local realities to reimagine and rework conservation measures. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10766biodiversity metricsdata justiceethical conservationsocial benefits
spellingShingle Danilo Urzedo
Nikki P. Dumbrell
Catherine J. Robinson
Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures
People and Nature
biodiversity metrics
data justice
ethical conservation
social benefits
title Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures
title_full Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures
title_fullStr Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures
title_full_unstemmed Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures
title_short Conservation data infrastructures: From carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures
title_sort conservation data infrastructures from carbon accounting to multiple biodiversity and social measures
topic biodiversity metrics
data justice
ethical conservation
social benefits
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10766
work_keys_str_mv AT danilourzedo conservationdatainfrastructuresfromcarbonaccountingtomultiplebiodiversityandsocialmeasures
AT nikkipdumbrell conservationdatainfrastructuresfromcarbonaccountingtomultiplebiodiversityandsocialmeasures
AT catherinejrobinson conservationdatainfrastructuresfromcarbonaccountingtomultiplebiodiversityandsocialmeasures