Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interface

Abstract The notion of reciprocity between humans and the rest of the living world is receiving increasing attention in the environmental sciences and science–policy international bodies. Here we first discuss different meanings of reciprocity, then we discuss this notion in relation to the conceptu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sandra Díaz, Unai Pascual
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:People and Nature
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70033
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849422186068049920
author Sandra Díaz
Unai Pascual
author_facet Sandra Díaz
Unai Pascual
author_sort Sandra Díaz
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The notion of reciprocity between humans and the rest of the living world is receiving increasing attention in the environmental sciences and science–policy international bodies. Here we first discuss different meanings of reciprocity, then we discuss this notion in relation to the conceptual framework of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), to date the most prominent international mechanism informing the science–policy interface on living nature. We show that the notion of human–nature reciprocity is recognized and is explicitly included in the IPBES conceptual framework. However, to date, it has received comparatively little attention. To overcome this, we argue that, rather than creating new separate ad‐hoc categories that risk compromising the internal consistency and pluralism of the IPBES conceptual framework, co‐created across different disciplines, worldviews and policy frames, a more fruitful path would be to interpret all its components in a reciprocity light, with stronger emphasis on the human shaping of, and practices of care towards the rest of the living world. Such attention to reciprocity should contribute to the evolution of IPBES and related science–policy initiatives, by incorporating a plurality of perspectives, while still maintaining the framework operational by the continued engagement of multiple disciplines and stakeholders. In terms of policy and action, this would involve more attention to pre‐existing practices of care for nature—of which we provide a few illustrative examples—and new practices inspired by them or created afresh. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
format Article
id doaj-art-03e6948fc1cb4cfeac0e62d4276ad6e6
institution Kabale University
issn 2575-8314
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series People and Nature
spelling doaj-art-03e6948fc1cb4cfeac0e62d4276ad6e62025-08-20T03:31:11ZengWileyPeople and Nature2575-83142025-05-01751129113810.1002/pan3.70033Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interfaceSandra Díaz0Unai Pascual1Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV) Córdoba ArgentinaBasque Centre for Climate Change (BC3) Leioa SpainAbstract The notion of reciprocity between humans and the rest of the living world is receiving increasing attention in the environmental sciences and science–policy international bodies. Here we first discuss different meanings of reciprocity, then we discuss this notion in relation to the conceptual framework of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), to date the most prominent international mechanism informing the science–policy interface on living nature. We show that the notion of human–nature reciprocity is recognized and is explicitly included in the IPBES conceptual framework. However, to date, it has received comparatively little attention. To overcome this, we argue that, rather than creating new separate ad‐hoc categories that risk compromising the internal consistency and pluralism of the IPBES conceptual framework, co‐created across different disciplines, worldviews and policy frames, a more fruitful path would be to interpret all its components in a reciprocity light, with stronger emphasis on the human shaping of, and practices of care towards the rest of the living world. Such attention to reciprocity should contribute to the evolution of IPBES and related science–policy initiatives, by incorporating a plurality of perspectives, while still maintaining the framework operational by the continued engagement of multiple disciplines and stakeholders. In terms of policy and action, this would involve more attention to pre‐existing practices of care for nature—of which we provide a few illustrative examples—and new practices inspired by them or created afresh. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70033biodiversity conservationIPBESnature's contributions to peoplepeople‐nature relationshipspeople's contributions to naturepractices of care
spellingShingle Sandra Díaz
Unai Pascual
Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interface
People and Nature
biodiversity conservation
IPBES
nature's contributions to people
people‐nature relationships
people's contributions to nature
practices of care
title Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interface
title_full Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interface
title_fullStr Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interface
title_full_unstemmed Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interface
title_short Reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science–policy interface
title_sort reciprocity towards nature in the biodiversity science policy interface
topic biodiversity conservation
IPBES
nature's contributions to people
people‐nature relationships
people's contributions to nature
practices of care
url https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.70033
work_keys_str_mv AT sandradiaz reciprocitytowardsnatureinthebiodiversitysciencepolicyinterface
AT unaipascual reciprocitytowardsnatureinthebiodiversitysciencepolicyinterface