Innovative Research
Existing research around the values of nature does not adequately account for the value of wildlife within natural systems and to human wellbeing. OneNature, partnering with conservationists in the field and leading academics and researchers, is undertaking studies and research projects aimed at better demonstrating the importance of wildlife and biodiversity.
Recent Research Projects
OneNature was delighted to work with the Columbia University Sustainability Management Capstone project over the Fall 2022 semester. The team analyzed existing research and conducted interviews with experts in the field to create a summary of what we know about nature, health, equity, and economic valuation in the United States and presented the findings. They created a story map that beautifully conveyed the project and the recommendations.
We were incredibly impressed by the work! Some of the initial recommendations were included in our comments to the U.S. Government on including nature in U.S. accounts. And the final results will be included in our continued outreach to the U.S. for the valuing nature initiative and the well-being and equity initiative.
To date, OneNature staff has researched and co-authored academic papers on the use of a wellbeing lens to assess community conservation projects (Allgood et al., 2019) and the development of a wellbeing wildlife survey for communities living with wildlife (Musikanski et al., 2021).
Our staff has also recently collaborated with academic and conservation partners to conduct research and co-author a series of peer-reviewed academic papers and perspectives articles. These papers, written for community professionals and scholars, demonstrate the link between natural and cultural capital and community well-being by embracing Indigenous wisdom around wildlife conservation and building on scientific momentum for new well-being measures. Our research offers insights to help communities and conservation partners integrate community culture and wildlife conservation.
Our comprehensive report “Advancing Well-Being for All Beings” details three key trends: the reorientation of policy priorities away from a short-term economic frame toward measures of well-being, the deepening understanding of the holistic value of wildlife to ecosystems and human communities, and the growing role that community conservation plays in the conservation movement today. We have identified specific ways these movements can be enhanced and connected in order to improve both well-being and species conservation.
Current and Future Research Projects
OneNature recently finalized (submitted for publication) a collaborative research project with academic experts and conservation practitioners in communities around the world to document and assess the importance of spiritual and cultural connections to wildlife in community-based conservation projects. Together, this collaborative group will develop recommendations for conservation policy and practice based on common factors and lessons learned and will share those recommendations with decision-makers.
Upcoming studies from OneNature include a partnership with Gallup to design and implement a wildlife module in their World Happiness Poll. We are partnering with Universities to evaluate the long-term holistic return on investment from protecting wild animals and habitats, based on a comparison of outcomes among pairs of similar communities.
By using these and other innovative approaches, OneNature aims to better understand the value of wildlife to the well-being of individuals and communities and to provide insights into the consequences of biodiversity loss to human well-being. We will use this data to contribute to an informed discussion of how such values can be better included in policy and decision-making frameworks.