There is a need to examine how assumptions and advocacy shape scientific interpretation in conservation biology, suggesting a gap in understanding the epistemological foundations of conservation pract

The gap

Consensus across the literature

Supporting evidence — 3 representative gaps

• On nonepistemic values in conservation biology (2017) · doi

  Conservation biology lacks explicit protocols for identifying and documenting how non-epistemic values inform the selection of biodiversity measures, methods, and endpoints, requiring development of systematic frameworks to transparently analyze value influences on methodological choices comparable to how scientists currently identify observation bias and variable interactions.

  Keywords: non-epistemic values biodiversity measures conservation biology methodological choice documentation
• Michael Soulé (1936–2020) on spirituality, ethics, and conservation biology (2020) · doi

  Soulé's critique of conservation critics for privileging human interests at the expense of wild nature and promoting extinctions requires systematic documentation of specific policy proposals, conservation strategies, or organizational practices from these critics that exemplify this bias. Comparative analysis of outcome differences between human-centered and ecocentric conservation approaches in defined ecosystems is lacking.

  Keywords: conservation ethics human-centered ecocentric wildlands protection extinction prevention policy analysis
• Toward a participatory and adaptive ecology of biodiversity conservation (2026) · doi

  There is a need to examine how assumptions and advocacy shape scientific interpretation in conservation biology, suggesting a gap in understanding the epistemological foundations of conservation practice.

  Keywords: conservation there need examine assumptions advocacy shape scientific interpretation biology suggesting understanding epistemological foundations practice