Removing the abyss between conservation science and policy decisions in Brazil

• Published in: Biodiversity and conservation Vol. 26; no. 7; pp. 1745 - 1752
• Main Authors: Azevedo-Santos, Valter M., Fearnside, Philip M., Oliveira, Caroline S., Padial, André A., Pelicice, Fernando M., Lima, Dilermando P., Simberloff, Daniel, Lovejoy, Thomas E., Magalhães, André L. B., Orsi, Mario L., Agostinho, Angelo A., Esteves, Francisco A., Pompeu, Paulo S., Laurance, William F., Petrere, Miguel, Mormul, Roger P., Vitule, Jean R. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.06.2017; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abyssal environment; Biodiversity; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Climate Change/Climate Change Impacts; Commentary; Conservation; Conservation Biology/Ecology; Decision making; Ecology; Ecosystems; Life Sciences; Policies; Science; Strategic management; Sustainability; Sustainable development; Brazil; Biodiversity, Translational scientists, Environmental impacts, Neotropical biodiversity; Forest Code; Environmental laws; Scientific advice
• ISSN: 0960-3115; 1572-9710
• DOI: 10.1007/s10531-017-1316-x

The executive and legislative branches of Brazilian government have either proposed or taken a variety of initiatives that threaten biodiversity and ecosystems. Opposition by the scientific community has largely been ignored by decision-makers. In this short essay, we present recent examples of harmful policies that have great potential to erode biodiversity, and we suggest ways to communicate scientific knowledge to decision- makers. If the current gap between conservation science and policies is not filled, the country will threaten the maintenance of its natural capital and, consequently, the sustainability of essential societal activities in the long term.