Establishing a science-policy-society interface for biodiversity conservation and human well-being in the Amazon: the case of Madre de Dios, Peru

Abstract

Mathez-Stiefel, S-L., Mulanovich, A.J., Jaquet, S., Bieri, S., Lojas, J., Breu, T., Messerli, P. 2020. Establishing a science-policy-society interface for biodiversity conservation and human well-being in the Amazon: the case of Madre de Dios, Peru. Ecosistemas 29(1):1882. https://doi.org/10.7818/ECOS.1882

This transdisciplinary research aimed to establish the basis for a science-policy-society interface on behalf of environmental conservation and sustainable development in Madre de Dios, Peru by: (1) identifying and characterizing the stakeholders of biodiversity conservation and human well-being; (2) analyzing stakeholders' views on major development trends in the region; and (3) initiating a process of stakeholder engagement from academia, government, and civil society. The methods used included field visits, expert interviews, stakeholder mapping, stakeholder surveys, and a participatory multi-stakeholder workshop. Stakeholder mapping revealed 16 categories of key actors grouped among direct land-resource users, indirect land-resource users, the public sector, civil society, and research institutions. According to the actors surveyed, weak government institutions and corruption are key underlying causes of environmental and social problems in Madre de Dios – particularly in connection with gold mining and other illegal or informal extractive activities. The research also highlighted the innovative potential that exists in the region, which has been home to several successful initiatives for nature and people in recent decades.