Capacity Development Priorities for Enduring Biodiversity Conservation: A New Methodology with Evidence from Peru - Dataset

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 priorities identified by conservation professionals in Peru. Using Q methodology and open-ended surveys, we identified three distinct perspectives on capacity development priorities among 27 conservation professionals working in Peru: strengthening legal enforcement and financing, empowering 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 responds to global calls for greater inclusion of local perspectives and offers a replicable approach for grounding conservation policy in the lived experience of practitioners. 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.