Blog | What can we learn from reviewing over 1,000 biodiversity case studies?

We’ve read over 1,000 case studies related to biodiversity. Here’s what we’ve learnt so far. 

In the BIONEXT project, we’ve collected a critical mass of case studies from around the globe, all indicating transformative change. Transformative change is needed to address the major challenges to nature and humankind, such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and social injustices. Transformative change means that we move beyond just fixing problems and instead fundamentally shift how we interact with the natural world. Generating such fundamental shifts in our mindsets, policies, and practices demands action from all, from citizens to policymakers. A change is only transformative if it shakes up ecological, technological, and socio-economic systems.

All the case studies we’ve collected relate to biodiversity and at least two other nexus elements, such as climate, water, transport, energy, health, or food. They centre around an effort to intervene in ecosystems, within habitats, or specifically with species. Examples of these case studies range from NAREI’s implementation of Mangrove restoration in Guyana to Interreg’s restoration of peatlands in Die Weiden, Netherlands.

Working with my colleague Jemma at Oppla, we’ve reviewed over 1,000 case studies from several databases, including Oppla, Climate Adapt, Panorama, BISE and UNA. This process started with the identification of 500 core case studies, which have now had their content inputted into a standardised template. This process has resulted in eight lessons and insights that Jemma and I wanted to share. We hope you’ll find them interesting!

1. Firstly, case studies that address three or more nexus elements, appear more likely to achieve transformative change. This means that by addressing biodiversity, in combination with other nexus elements (climate, water, transport, energy, health or food), you may be more likely to succeed with transformative change.

2. Secondly, creating impact through other dimensions, such as social, political, and economic change, is always a strong indication of the transformative potential of case studies.

3. Projects that ensure cooperation between communities, civic, business, and public bodies are also more likely to be long-term successes in achieving transformative change. Shared governance and cross-collaboration between public, private and community bodies has also similarly emerged as important factor.

4. It’s true, transformative change remains difficult to identify and define! Transformative change often isn’t mentioned in the case studies and there is no universally agreed criteria for “what is a transformative change case study”.

5. Most case studies that have created transformative change set out to ensure that the impacts of their change were viable for the long-term. Long term planning is essential if you want to achieve transformative change.

6. There is also limited focus on transport and energy within case studies: these are nexus elements that would benefit from further research.

7. We have also found that case studies that address water issues, nearly always also have benefits for biodiversity and climate change.

8. Finally, nobody else has done this analysis before! There are lots of fantastic case studies out there, but nobody has previously systematically analysed them in this way. The next stage in the BIONEXT project is to analyse all these case studies to identify trends and archetypes of transformative change!

We’ve now handed the case studies over to the CzechGlobe team for the next stage in analysis in which they will undertake archetype analysis of the case studies. This will determine which case studies are stand out examples of transformative change… Stay tuned, our more detailed and scientific insights are yet to come!

Tash Jacob is an environmental consultant at Oppla, undertaking case-study collection and aiding in the creation of a BIONEXT app.