A 13‐step framework for better integration of streamlined conservation research

The rise of integrated conservation research underscores its pivotal role in raising global environmental concerns, making it an attractive research subject from numerous perspectives. This general interest in integrated research is positive in that it provides an interdisciplinary approach with important innovations, encompassing a variety of fields, in opposition to considering conservation as an “afterthought” of ecological results. The current challenge is to organize research findings in a consistent, streamlined process that effectively supports and influences world biodiversity conservation. Disciplines once deemed unrelated to conservation science, such as social sciences, are now being incorporated into conservation research, and there is a pressing need to unify these diverse areas into a cohesive process to enhance the coverage of this growing field. It is also vital to acknowledge that each focal population unit (e.g., species, taxa, clade, etc.) may have specific requirements. Here, I propose a 13‐step framework that aims to integrate a comprehensive range of conservation research fields, from traditional ecology and behavior to inclusive mitigation plans, policy recommendations, and monitoring processes, ensuring that conservation research results are translated into tangible conservation actions. Integrating research‐based conservation results will facilitate the required coordinated effort from scientists, government agencies, the general public, and relevant sections of the private sector, thereby reinforcing the foundations to support conservation initiatives. This manuscript defines a procedure to address the conservation research requirements of specific focal population units (e.g., species, taxa, clade, population, etc.). It emphasizes the need for a consistent and streamlined process integrating all research fields, aiming to increase the breadth of knowledge essential for generating actionable conservation research results. The process supports clearly defined goal‐driven objectives that can be readily adopted by organizations interested in actionable conservation research results at varying levels. Nevertheless, conservation measures can be taken at any stage within the process, recognizing that achieving all research outcomes is a resource‐intensive optimum.

However, there is a need to organize research findings to support the conservation of biodiversity.Over the years, conservation research has included increasingly diverse disciplines, but now, all research fields need to be integrated into a streamlined process, recognizing that each population has specific needs.This summary presents a 13-step process that incorporates multiple conservation-related scientific disciplines, including ecology, behavior, mitigation plans, policy recommendations, and monitoring and aims to facilitate the translation of research results into actionable conservation measures.Furthermore, this process can guide organizations interested in conservation actions, providing well-defined objectives and promoting knowledge sharing.

| INTRODUCTION
Research on biodiversity received a major boost when "conservation biology" became a recognized discipline (Soulé, 1985), and conservation research (Wilson, 1988) was defined as the process of developing science-based data on the state of the world's biodiversity, generally including genes, species, and ecosystems (https://www.cbd.int).As conservation research has evolved, it has increasingly incorporated the human context, embracing interdisciplinary approaches (Campbell, 2005) and establishing itself as a prominent research topic (Ficetola, 2015).The field is now coupled with a broad range of subjects, such as behavioral ecology, phylogeography, landscape ecology, and climate change impact assessment, among others (Moon et al., 2014;Novičič et al., 2012).
The strength of this research body is the sheer abundance of ideas, thoughts, and quality control processes (Campbell, 2005) that have resulted in a more sustainable relationship between people and the biodiversity that is indispensable to our existence.Over the years, this research output has been harnessed by international conservation agencies such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Plants and Animals (CITES), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (i.e., Ramsar Convention).A key weakness of interdisciplinary research is that it presents a somewhat disconnected body of theoretical results that are difficult to translate into specific interventions for policymakers and practitioners.Research related to the impacts of climate change on species conservation demonstrates this point.Though studies investigate the detrimental effects on species phenology and habitat suitability, they only rarely translate into any specific actions aimed at stopping or mitigating the impacts of climate change.For example, this is illustrated on the platform Conservation Evidence (www.conservationevidence.com;accessed September 29, 2023) by the comparatively low number of conservation actions linked to climate change (101 out of 3689 across all taxa), with only 15 actions listed as having a positive impact on species.
The challenge now is to clarify how the various elements of conservation research can be combined into an integrated and streamlined process.This process should support clearly defined and goal-driven objectives that can be readily adopted by organizations interested in actionable conservation research results, such as practitioners and policymakers.Beyond the traditional interest in conservation from individuals and research institutions, this integration of fields includes lines of research related to population viability analyses, conservation and mitigation plans, sciencebased policy recommendations, and assessments of the values of ecosystem services, among others.Such insights not only serve conservationists but are also of interest to environmentally conscious development agencies, such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and regional development banks.
Integrated conservation research, as defined here, involves consolidating all conservation research needs for a particular focal population unit (e.g., species,  , 2019).This approach creates a consistent, streamlined process that integrates various research fields to increase our breadth of knowledge.The outcome is actionable conservation research results with clear, goal-driven objectives that can be readily adopted by organizations seeking effective conservation measures at varying levels.However, despite the evident conservation benefits of working within such a framework, integrated conservation research is infrequently pursued with clearly defined and goal-driven objectives.(Merckx, 2015).Here, a 13-step approach demonstrates how to transform biodiversity conservation requirements into actionable integrated conservation research, moving away from theoretical exercises to address the real-world needs of conservation agencies (Figure 1).While this integrated approach is inclusive of all conservation research results, it does not need to be complete for conservation action to be implemented.

| STEP-BY-STEP APPROACH
To optimize conservation outcomes for specific populations, integrated conservation research should encompass both conceptual and applied facets of conservation.Streamlining these elements into a F I G U R E 1 Streamlined 13-point approach for integrated conservation research.This includes all main fields of conservation research, but also results in science-based conservation plans, policy recommendations, ecosystem services, and monitoring for the conservation of species.
cohesive, integrative process will be beneficial for this field.The following 13-step research framework provides a comprehensive foundation for delivering specific conservation research outcomes and actionable elements for populations, following the IUCN definition (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee, 2019) of the smallest taxonomic unit within a population, here named clade.This framework can accommodate all kingdoms of life for which data can be collected.However, it does not cater to other levels of biodiversity, such as genes and ecosystems.The benefit of this integrated approach is in the strength of the results and their versatility, the ease of access by individuals, organizations and institutions, and the protection of populations, followed by long-term monitoring and periodic reassessment as a final step.

| Occurrence surveys
Some of the earliest research efforts on species were surveys to discover where animals could be found (Wallace, 1876), and new species continue to be discovered.Before initiating research on an organism, it is necessary to ascertain its presence in a certain area.Doing so brings conservation attention to the clade (Wang et al., 2021) and helps clarify relationships among various species.However, many species' distribution and threat levels are still unknown, and comprehensive surveys are needed to provide information on the distribution and population of these taxa.Occurrences can be determined through field surveys, automated monitoring, surveys via citizen science, literature reviews (Fletcher et al., 2019), and digitization of existing resources in some groups, such as plants (Corlett, 2022).However, it is only when the presence of a population is determined that the cycle of conservation research can start (Figure 1[1.]).For example, the detailed reports from the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN SSC; https://www.iucnredlist.org/) provide data that are often the catalysts for the initiation of conservation actions.

| Phylogeographic analyses
Understanding the interrelationships among clades and the genetic aspects of biodiversity, including hybridization and reticulation, is required to determine ecologically relevant geographic assemblages, or operational taxonomic units, as well as the boundaries between conservation units (defined as a population of organisms considered distinct from a conservation standpoint).
An adequate tool to resolve such patterns is phylogeography, which can be conducted through traditional molecular techniques, as well as nextgeneration sequencing and genomics, contingent upon available data and funds (Schneider, 2023;Stinchcombe & Hoekstra, 2008 ; Figure 1[2.]).The resulting taxonomic units are often a source of conflict between taxonomists, but these can be resolved through the use of conservation units, independent of (sub-)species levels, or other taxonomic ranking of populations.

| Population dynamics
Understanding the dynamics within a clade is crucial for understanding whether a population is shrinking, determining if this decline stems from external threats or natural fluctuations, and assessing the risk of the clade facing extinction.The effective population size of a clade can be ascertained using conventional methods like recurrent field surveys combined with statistical analyses, or through molecular tools such as Bayesian modeling (Tallmon et al., 2008).Evaluating past population dynamics to infer natural population trajectories (e.g., Bayesian Skyline plots), and determining the populations of origin (e.g., S-DIVA), can also help understand the current dynamics and the conservation efforts required (Ju et al., 2021;Figure 1[3.]).

| Behavioral ecology
Populations interact with each other, resulting in competition, microhabitat segregation, ecological character displacements, and numerous other ecological relationships (Begon et al., 2006).These interactions lead to nutrient flows across all kingdoms of life (Nakaoka, 2005).However, not all of these relations are natural, and changes in the landscape and climate as a result of athropogenic activities have resulted in altered or skewed interactions, which need to be studied and understood to determine whether remediation is needed.To answer these questions and understand the relationships between species and their environments, behavioral observation and manipulative experiments are required.For instance, species rely on distinct microhabitats, resulting in variable dynamics which lead to differences in development.
Consequently, these variations give rise to species-specific dynamics and macroevolutionary patterns (Sherratt et al., 2017).Understanding the behavioral ecology of populations is essential to comprehend species interactions and threats (Figure 1[4.]).It is evident that not all species can be manipulated through behavioral experiments; in some instances, such knowledge is out of reach, or accessible only through proxy species with a similar behavioral ecology.

| Ecological requirements
All ecosystems, and the discrete populations they include, have specific ecological requirements, although these are often poorly understood.For instance, even closely related species can still experience different pressures concerning landscape use in anthropogenic settings (Purvis et al., 2000).Additionally, geographically isolated populations of a given species rely on different breeding habitats to complete their life cycles.Determining these requirements through research-driven ecological observations and measurements, and understanding if they are met, will provide the essential insights that can lead to the success or failure of conservation interventions.The difference between populations comes from the fact that some clades can only rely on undisturbed habitats for population connectivity or breeding, while others can take advantage of human settlements throughout their life cycle.Therefore, understanding the ecological requirements of each population is crucial to its conservation.Safeguarding certain habitats, even those used briefly, can be critical to the survival of a species (Rosauer et al., 2017; Figure 1[5.]).

| Landscape modeling
The use of ecological models, either correlative or mechanistic, under specific standards, enables the identification of suitable habitats for specific species (Araújo et al., 2019).This aids in assessing the likelihood of a species' presence in relation to other biotic and abiotic variables, and the potential need for habitat protection.In addition, past and future population ranges can be modeled in relation to paleo-variations and climate change predictions to assess risks (Macaluso et al., 2021;Figure 1[6.]).
Landscape modeling is therefore important in identifying habitats that must be protected to meet the requirements of a specific population and in predicting how these habitats might change in the future.

| Extinction risks
The survival of a population depends on its ability to adapt to a set of naturally occurring variables that can affect its genetic diversity and the ecosystems in which it lives.Over the past few centuries, these variables have diminished as human influence has become increasingly dominant.All variables can now be integrated into a range of models to predict future population dynamics (Lacy, 2019).
For instance, population viability analyses, conducted in Vortex or other algorithms (Morris et al., 1999), can integrate all known variables for a given population or species and estimate the risk of extinction within a specified time frame.This type of analysis provides precise predictions of extinction risks, even for data-poor species, by comparing population dynamics while controlling specific variables.Similarly, this predictive approach can be used to determine the effectiveness of (new) protected areas or conservation measures on a population (Nagendra, 2008;Figure 1[7.]).

| Conservation plans
Enabling a species or population to adapt to changing conditions can depend on the preparation of an effective and practical conservation action plan, even for relatively common species (Watson & Venter, 2017).A sound conservation action plan generally includes the full range of actions needed for the conservation of the focal population, relying on scientifically sound data, processes, and decisions (CPSG, 2020).In addition, IUCN Species Specialist Groups can also prepare scientifically informed conservation plans for focal species, determining, among others, the habitats that need to be protected for the survival of populations, the percentage of the relevant ecosystems to be protected, the impacts of the local human population, and the various conservation actions that need to be addressed (e.g., the global Amphibian Conservation Action Plan by the IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group, 2023).This research process can culminate in calling attention to the highest-priority needs, such as research in trade, invasive species, infectious diseases, biobanking, economic dimensions, and the establishment of more effective management for protected areas (Figure 1[8.]).

| Mitigation plans
Mitigation seeks to reduce the impact of one entity's actions on the activities of another.Given that most threats to populations today come directly or indirectly from human activities, urgent mitigation plans aimed at the most egregious human activities are now essential (Thorne et al., 2009).Examples of existing mitigation plans include schemes to decrease the impact of poaching or vehicle-related wildlife collisions.However, for these plans to succeed, they must adopt a bilateral approach, not only protecting animals but also identifying and mitigating any damages that species may be causing to the human populations that occupy the habitat, thereby preventing any potential retaliatory actions against them.This includes the mitigation of wild predators preying on domestic animals and herbivores feeding on cultivated fields.Mitigation plans can address both scenarios, for example by developing conservation corridors (Epps et al., 2007).However, the detrimental effects of human activities on animal populations are generally worse, often exacerbating the vulnerabilities of already threatened species.To counteract these effects, the urgent development and implementation of mitigation plans are paramount (Mumby & Plotnik, 2018).On a positive note, the development of such plans provides encouraging evidence that integrated conservation research can lead to immediate and impactful action (Figure 1[9.]).

| Field-tested conservation
Conservation initiatives have occasionally fallen short of their desired impact, often due to insufficient knowledge of a specific population or the lack of preliminary testing of conservation measures (Game et al., 2013).Conservation must be approached similarly to other sciences, with hypotheses based on solid data, trials, and errors.A major challenge is that an intervention on a threatened species could inadvertently eradicate a population.This problem is made worse when time is of the essence, especially when a species may be on the verge of extinction, calling for urgent action.
Several options exist, including, among others, individual-based modeling (Andersen et al., 2021) and using proxy-clades to test conservation interventions (e.g., translocations).This allows for an assessment of potential success rates before conservation actions on the targeted species.The use of proxy species does, however, require researchers to understand the ecological requirements of both the threatened and the proxy clade, or at least the ecological requirements of interest, so that the ecology of the two species is sufficiently similar for the chances of success to be high when the threatened species is translocated (Figure 1[10.]).

| Policy recommendations
Most species conservation action plans are based on policy recommendations, which are most likely to be effective when closely linked to local, regional, national, or international regulations (Pullin et al., 2009).Integrated conservation research has the foundations and strength required to provide solid, science-based, effective conservation plans.To ensure the successful translation of research into actionable policy, these recommendations need to be presented in documents accessible to the relevant governing organizations.This will facilitate the legislative body's capacity to assimilate and enact the findings into appropriate guidelines, regulations, and legislation.It also helps to link these recommendations to the national implementation of international conservation-oriented conventions, such as the CBD, CITES, and the Ramsar Convention.Similarly, support from the relevant government agencies can facilitate the implementation of conservation plans.
Publishing science-based policy recommendations in national or international scientific journals, supported by popular books-successfully illustrated by the example of the Giant Panda (Schaller et al., 1985)can expedite the implementation of these recommendations.Popular local magazines can also provide essential boosts to the chance of successful implementation.Therefore, publishing sciencebased policy recommendations is one of the many requisites of conservation research (Borzée & Button, 2023;Figure 1[11.]).This type of recommendation can be overarching, such as regulating the illegal trade of species, or very specific, such as determining the minimum height at which vegetation should be cut to provide shelter to species.

| Benefits and ecosystem services
For a species to be protected, it first needs to be well-documented and understood (e.g., insects; Wang et al., 2021).Changes are more readily embraced once the benefits a species can offer are better understood (i.e., ecosystem, services).Thus, when the general population learns about the benefits of the presence of a species, that species becomes better understood, and targeted conservation actions can be initiated.The multiple values of conservation are now very well adressed by the concept of "ecosystem services, " which refers to the benefits humans derive from preserving natural ecosystems and the species they host.These include major social benefits such as mitigation of the impacts of climate change, provision of genetic resources to modern agricultural technology, protection against natural hazards, natural pest control, waste regulation, provision of fresh water and food resources, provision of natural medicines, definition of cultural identity, and support of nature-based tourism (Mcneely et al., 2009).Thus, defining the importance of a species through research is a key step in the protection of that species.For instance, the recent definition of the link between amphibian presence in agricultural landscapes, pests (Teng et al., 2016), and malaria occurrence (Springborn et al., 2022) will help develop amphibian-friendly agricultural practices and crop production (Figure 1[12.]).Greater awareness and concern from the general population not only acknowledges the existence of a problem but also increases the likelihood of obtaining research grants to solve the issue (Yin et al., 2022).

| Assessments and monitoring
Once conservation research has provided relevant knowledge and conservation activities have been implemented, it is important to ensure the efficiency of said activities.This last step may be done through the assessment of policies' implementation, scientifically documenting their effects, and providing feedback for the improvement and adaptation of policies to the changing environment.In addition to the implementation of policies, it is imperative to constantly monitor the status and trends of populations that benefit from conservation activities.A population that has recovered may not need the same level of activity, and resources may be redirected toward other threatened populations.On the other hand, populations may still be declining, and policies may need to be adjusted.Additional knowledge is always needed for the protection of populations, and readers can refer back to 1. Occurrence surveys to ensure the best conservation research is conducted, and further improved (Figure 1[13.]).

| TAXONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
Altough taxonomic considerations are the foundation for understanding species, they do not require an additional 14th section, as conservation efforts can be conducted at several taxonomic levels, regardless of taxonomic resolution.For instance, despite fungal biodiversity not being as well delineated as animal biodiversity, fungi are threatened (Heilmann-Clausen et al., 2015) and should be protected before taxonomic resolution (i.e., species description).Rather, fungal biodiversity must be protected ahead of its taxonomic resolution as resources invested in taxonomy are not adequate, and delaying conservation measures until after clade description would increase the risk of extinction.In addition, the best scale for conservation is not the species level but the conservation unit (Wood & Gross, 2008), although this unit is rarely employed in conservation actions.For instance, even the authoritative IUCN Red List of Threatened Species refers to populations before conservation units or species (IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee, 2019).However, with the availability of advanced technologies and new methods, the taxonomic status of populations often needs updating, and integrative research following this 13-point method is most likely to provide the data needed for the refinement of the taxonomic status of focal populations.Once the taxonomy is settled, specific clades within a population may become highlighted, potentially resulting in a better understanding of conservation units and their use for conservation actions (for instance, some subspecies may be more threatened than others).In cases where the taxonomy is not settled, species and subspecies may need to be described, and in this case, the whole process, starting from Step 1, may need to be initiated again.

| DISCUSSION
The 13 points described here provide a streamlined process for integrated conservation research that supports and enables clear conservation actions for biodiversity conservation.In the midst of the sixth mass extinction, traditional conservation research methods, although valuable, may no longer suffice on their own (Ceballos et al., 2005) This streamlined conservation process neither diminishes nor overlooks the importance of theoretical or "in-lab" conservation projects.Instead, it highlights the interconnectedness of various knowledge domains and emphasizes the links with communities, especially those local populations that often reside among the most biodiverse ecosystems.In addition, not all 13 steps must be conducted for a population to be protected, and specific applications may require some adjustments based on kingdoms, systems, biomes, and specific threats.For example, landscape modeling can be conducted before surveys to inform decisions on where effort should be prioritized (Mizsei et al., 2016).Phylogeographic studies can also be incorporated into models to better address climate change (Scoble & Lowe, 2010).Similarly, research through citizen science projects can help pinpoint optimal locations for long-term recording arrays, thus enhancing our understanding of a species' breeding phenology.
While the streamlined research flow provided here includes all general requirements for the successful conservation of populations, researchbased conservation also provides the data necessary to support policy decisions at the landscape level, implement international conventions, build broad public support, and design national legislation to sustainably manage natural resources.
The streamlined flow of conservation research aligns with the objectives of international agreements, such as the CBD.Specifically, it can bolster efforts toward achieving the first goal of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: "Halting human-induced extinction of threatened species." This approach can also guide the adoption of other conservation-oriented legislation at national and international levels, and inform agencies how they can effectively incorporate conservation research into their projects.It is useful to keep in mind that conservation research should be conducted within the framework of SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic, and Time-bound), here quantified through the conservation actions resulting from the application of this streamlined approach.This aligns with funding agencies that mandate the inclusion of the conservation action plan, as prepared by the IUCN Species Specialist Groups, in proposals submitted for funding.Academic institutions may find it valuable to adopt integrated and applied research to provide the foundation for further conservation research, and garner the interest of researchers and the ultimate consumers of conservation research: government conservation agencies, the private sector, and the nongovernmental conservation organizations that are working to build public support for conservation.Finally, following this step-by-step approach can help conservationists assess the importance of their actions, and distinguish between pure thought exercises and applied conservation practices for the conservation of biodiversity.