Abstract
This study explores how knowledge was and is mobilized to advance the objectives of the Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve, located in Alberta, Canada. Established in 2016, a 12-year collaborative effort worked to establish the biosphere reserve and achieve formal UNESCO designation. Subsequent efforts to grow the newly established biosphere reserve have accelerated in recent years. Our study documented how different types of knowledge were accessed, created, curated, and shared between partners during these two time periods. Focus group interviews were conducted with 14 participants, who are affiliated with Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve partner organizations, and revealed the following findings: (1) not all knowledge is equally valued or understood; (2) partnerships are highly valued, and were essential to successful knowledge mobilization, but were stronger among individuals rather than organizations; (3) fear of the loss of autonomy and potential complications due to the establishment of a biosphere reserve slowed the exchange of information and engagement by some regional actors; and (4) knowledge mobilization is and was impeded by staff and agency capacity, finances, and time scarcity. This was further complicated by entrenched norms of practice, existing successful working relationships impeding the development of new partnerships, and embracing alternative forms of knowledge.
Highlights
Biosphere reserves, whose objectives include biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and capacity building in support of education, research and learning, provide a rich context in which to study knowledge mobilization.Centered on protected areas with strong preservationist and conservation goals, biosphere reserves lie within highly modified landscapes that host evolving and diverse livelihood activities and complex human–environment interactions.Typically, biosphere reserves are managed regionally, by park and other governmental agencies, environmental non-government organizations (ENGOs), research institutions and other partners.Biosphere designation recognizes the capacity to share and generate new understandings of the socio-economic and natural aspects of the landscape among these partners, to achieve regional, coordinated land management through collaboration
Rather than utilize the most appropriate, While many, if not all conservation agencies, including those who represent the Beaver Hills Biosphere (BHB), noted the holistic or robust knowledge, partners in the BHB still appear to turn to knowledge that they are most use of evidence-based decision-making practices, our findings reveal that evidence utilization is familiar with and avoid or undervalue other forms of knowledge
Rather than utilize the most with environmental planning in Strathcona [County] we don’t really focus on social science; we rely more on appropriate, holistic or robust knowledge, partners in the BHB still appear to turn to knowledge that natural science
Summary
Biosphere reserves, whose objectives include biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and capacity building in support of education, research and learning, provide a rich context in which to study knowledge mobilization. Biosphere designation recognizes the capacity to share and generate new understandings of the socio-economic and natural aspects of the landscape among these partners, to achieve regional, coordinated land management through collaboration. This complexity demands the application of different types of knowledge to achieve sustainability and ensure the continuity and celebration of the “sites of excellence” contained within these biosphere reserves.
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