Biodiversity mainstreaming addresses this gap in global conservation practice by “incorporating biodiversity considerations into the policies, strategies and practices of key public and private actors that affect or depend on biodiversity, so that they are managed both locally and globally conserved and used sustainably”. Biodiversity mainstreaming aims to change the policies and practices that affect land use outside of protected areas, as well as change development and economic decision-making by demonstrating the importance of conserving biodiversity to achieve results. The practice of mainstreaming is tied to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and is practiced with billions of dollars of investment by development agencies, national government agencies and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its implementing agencies, as well as other donors. It is essential for the long-term survival of biodiversity inside and outside protected areas. However, it is virtually unknown in the mainstream field of conservation science. These needs to change to allow for the careful documentation, analysis, monitoring, publication and improvement of practices that conservation science should provide as a partner for biodiversity mainstreaming practitioners. The situation is ripe for sound coordination and consolidation and the creation of a science-driven biodiversity mainstreaming domain.
