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.

能力建设对于生物多样性的长期保护至关重要。然而，目前学界对保护能力建设的需求与优先事项的认知仍较为有限，尤其是在生物多样性丰富但制度能力不足的低收入和中等收入国家。本研究针对这一研究空白，对秘鲁保护从业者所认定的保护能力建设优先事项展开识别与分析。本研究采用Q方法学（Q methodology）与开放式问卷调查法，对秘鲁境内27名保护从业者展开调研，最终识别出三类关于能力建设优先事项的截然不同的视角：强化法律执行与资金保障、赋能原住民（Indigenous Peoples）与当地社区（Local Communities），以及将保护价值观融入公共规范。这些视角虽体现出截然不同的变革理论，但均呼吁开展系统性干预——即针对治理结构、不平等权力动态与文化规范展开改进。研究结果表明，能力建设本质上具有政治性与情境依赖性，需要关注历史遗留问题、社会价值观与制度性障碍。本研究响应了全球范围内强化本土视角融入的呼吁，并提供了一种可复制的研究范式，将保护政策锚定至从业者的实际工作体验之中。鉴于国际资助方与政策制定者正寻求让资助与支持贴合当地实际，以推进保护目标的实现，本研究结果强调，有必要摒弃‘一刀切’式的能力建设模式，转而采用更具针对性的方法，同时兼顾保护实践所处的整体宏观语境。