Capacity Development Priorities for Enduring Biodiversity Conservation: A New Methodology and Evidence from Peru

Authors

• Katia Nakamura, University of Notre Dame
• Jennifer Zavaleta Cheek, South Dakota State UniversityFollow
• Johanna Eklund, University of Helsinki
• Jenny Brooks, The Ohio State University
• Daniel C. Miller, University of Notre Dame

Document Type

Article

Publication Version

Version of Record

Publication Date

9-2026

Abstract

Capacity development is essential for long-term biodiversity conservation. Yet knowledge of conservation capacity development needs and priorities remains limited, particularly in low- and middle-income countries with high biodiversity and limited institutional capacity. This study addresses this gap by identifying and analyzing the priorities highlighted by conservation professionals in Peru. Using Q-methodology and open-ended surveys, we found three distinct perspectives from 27 conservation professionals working in Peru: strengthening legal enforcement and financing, shifting power to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and embedding conservation values in public norms. These perspectives reflect fundamentally different theories of change, yet converge in their call for system-level interventions—addressing governance structures, unequal power dynamics, and cultural norms. The findings emphasize that capacity development is inherently political and context-dependent, requiring attention to historical legacies, social values, and institutional barriers. This study aligns with global calls for greater inclusion of local perspectives and offers a replicable approach for grounding conservation policy in practitioner experience and expertise. As international funders and policymakers seek to align support with local realities to advance conservation goals, these findings underscore the need to move beyond one-size-fits-all capacity development toward more targeted approaches that simultaneously address the larger context in which conservation practice is embedded.

Publication Title

Biological Conservation

Volume

321

DOI of Published Version

10.1016/j.biocon.2026.112013

Publisher

Elsevier

Rights

Copyright © the Authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Nakamura, Katia; Zavaleta Cheek, Jennifer; Eklund, Johanna; Brooks, Jenny; and Miller, Daniel C., "Capacity Development Priorities for Enduring Biodiversity Conservation: A New Methodology and Evidence from Peru" (2026). Natural Resource Management Faculty Publications. 363.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/nrm_pubs/363