Key knowledge gaps to achieve global sustainability goals

Matías E. Mastrángelo (), Natalia Pérez-Harguindeguy, Lucas Enrico, Elena Bennett, Sandra Lavorel, Graeme S. Cumming, Dilini Abeygunawardane, Leonardo D. Amarilla, Benjamin Burkhard, Benis N. Egoh, Luke Frishkoff, Leonardo Galetto, Sibyl Huber, Daniel S. Karp, Alison Ke, Esteban Kowaljow, Angela Kronenburg-García, Bruno Locatelli, Berta Martín-López, Patrick Meyfroidt, Tuyeni H. Mwampamba, Jeanne Nel, Kimberly A. Nicholas, Charles Nicholson, Elisa Oteros-Rozas, Sebataolo J. Rahlao, Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne, Taylor Ricketts, Uttam B. Shrestha, Carolina Torres, Klara J. Winkler and Kim Zoeller
Additional contact information
Matías E. Mastrángelo: Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata
Natalia Pérez-Harguindeguy: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Lucas Enrico: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Elena Bennett: McGill University
Sandra Lavorel: CNRS—Université Grenoble Alpes
Graeme S. Cumming: James Cook University
Dilini Abeygunawardane: UCLouvain
Leonardo D. Amarilla: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Benjamin Burkhard: Leibniz Universität Hannover
Benis N. Egoh: University of California Irvine
Luke Frishkoff: University of Texas at Arlington
Leonardo Galetto: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Sibyl Huber: Flury & Giuliani agricultural and regional economic consulting
Daniel S. Karp: University of California
Alison Ke: University of California
Esteban Kowaljow: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Angela Kronenburg-García: UCLouvain
Bruno Locatelli: University of Montpellier
Berta Martín-López: Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Faculty of Sustainability, Institute for Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
Patrick Meyfroidt: UCLouvain
Tuyeni H. Mwampamba: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Jeanne Nel: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
Kimberly A. Nicholas: Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies
Charles Nicholson: University of Vermont
Elisa Oteros-Rozas: University of Vic
Sebataolo J. Rahlao: Kirstenbosch Research Centre
Ciara Raudsepp-Hearne: Wildlife Conservation Society Canada
Taylor Ricketts: University of Vermont
Uttam B. Shrestha: University of Southern Queensland
Carolina Torres: Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Klara J. Winkler: McGill University
Kim Zoeller: James Cook University

Nature Sustainability, 2019, vol. 2, issue 12, 1115-1121

Abstract: Abstract Regional and global assessments periodically update what we know, and highlight what remains to be known, about the linkages between people and nature that both define and depend upon the state of the environment. To guide research that better informs policy and practice, we systematically synthesize knowledge gaps from recent assessments of four regions of the globe and three key themes by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. We assess their relevance to global sustainability goals and trace their evolution relative to those identified in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. We found that global sustainability goals cannot be achieved without improved knowledge on feedbacks between social and ecological systems, effectiveness of governance systems and the influence of institutions on the social distribution of ecosystem services. These top research priorities have persisted for the 14 years since the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Our analysis also reveals limited understanding of the role of indigenous and local knowledge in sustaining nature’s benefits to people. Our findings contribute to a policy-relevant and solution-oriented agenda for global, long-term social-ecological research.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-019-0412-1

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