Training future generations to deliver evidence‐based conservation and ecosystem management
Authors: Downey Harriet , Amano Tatsuya , Cadotte Marc , Cook Carly N. , Cooke Steven J. , Haddaway Neal R. , Jones Julia P. G. , Littlewood Nick , Walsh Jessica C. , Abrahams Mark I. , Adum Gilbert , Akasaka Munemitsu , Alves Jose A. , Antwis Rachael E. , Arellano Eduardo C. , Axmacher Jan , Barclay Holly , Batty Lesley , Benítez‐López Ana , Bennett Joseph R. , Berg Maureen J. , Bertolino Sandro , Biggs Duan , Bolam Friederike C. , Bray Tim , Brook Barry W. , Bull Joseph W. , Burivalova Zuzana , Cabeza Mar , Chauvenet Alienor L. M. , Christie Alec P. , Cole Lorna , Cotton Alison J. , Cotton Sam , Cousins Sara A. O. , Craven Dylan , Cresswell Will , Cusack Jeremy J. , Dalrymple Sarah E. , Davies Zoe G. , Diaz Anita , Dodd Jennifer A. , Felton Adam , Fleishman Erica , Gardner Charlie J. , Garside Ruth , Ghoddousi Arash , Gilroy James J. , Gill David A. , Gill Jennifer A. , Glew Louise , Grainger Matthew J. , Grass Amelia A. , Greshon Stephanie , Gundry Jamie , Hart Tom , Hopkins Charlotte R. , Howe Caroline , Johnson Arlyne , Jones Kelly W. , Jordan Neil R. , Kadoya Taku , Kerhoas Daphne , Koricheva Julia , Lee Tien Ming , Lengyel Szabolcs , Livingstone Stuart W. , Lyons Ashley , McCabe Gráinne , Millett Jonathan , Strevens Chloë Montes , Moolna Adam , Mossman Hannah L. , Mukherjee Nibedita , Muñoz‐Sáez Andrés , Negrões Nuno , Norfolk Olivia , Osawa Takeshi , Papworth Sarah , Park Kirsty J. , Pellet Jérôme , Phillott Andrea D. , Plotnik Joshua M. , Priatna Dolly , Ramos Alejandra G. , Randall Nicola , Richards Rob M. , Ritchie Euan G. , Roberts David L. , Rocha Ricardo , Rodríguez Jon Paul , Sanderson Roy , Sasaki Takehiro , Savilaakso Sini , Sayer Carl , Sekercioglu Cagan , Senzaki Masayuki , Smith Grania , Smith Robert J. , Soga Masashi , Soulsbury Carl D. , Steer Mark D. , Stewart Gavin , Strange E. F. , Suggitt Andrew J. , Thompson Ralph R. J. , Thompson Stewart , Thornhill Ian , Trevelyan R. J. , Usieta Hope O. , Venter Oscar , Webber Amanda D. , White Rachel L. , Whittingham Mark J. , Wilby Andrew , Yarnell Richard W. , Zamora‐Gutierrez Veronica , Sutherland William J. 
Published: January 2021

1. To be effective, the next generation of conservation practitioners and managers need to be critical thinkers with a deep understanding of how to make evidence‐based decisions and of the value of evidence synthesis.

2. If, as educators, we do not make these priorities a core part of what we teach, we are failing to prepare our students to make an effective contribution to conservation practice.

3. To help overcome this problem we have created open access online teaching materials in multiple languages that are stored in Applied Ecology Resources. So far, 117 educators from 23 countries have acknowledged the importance of this and are already teaching or about to teach skills in appraising or using evidence in conservation decision‐making. This includes 145 undergraduate, postgraduate or professional development courses.

4. We call for wider teaching of the tools and skills that facilitate evidence‐based conservation and also suggest that providing online teaching materials in multiple languages could be beneficial for improving global understanding of other subject areas.