Coproduction In Conservation Paleobiology: Lessons Learned from the Historical Oyster Body Size Project

Abstract

Over the past decade, many conservation biology researchers and practitioners have turned to knowledge co-production, which prioritizes collaboration between academic and non-academic partners, to increase the impact of science in conservation practice and policy. Co-production promises to produce context-specific knowledge that better aligns with conservation practitioners’ needs and concerns. Here, we argue that the conservation paleobiology community could similarly build collective capacity to engage more effectively in shared “learning spaces” where actionable knowledge is produced. We draw from our experiences with the Historical Oyster Body Size project and lessons learned from other fields to identify key attributes of actionable geohistorical knowledge and the meaningful co-production processes that produced it. Familiarity with these concepts will benefit conservation paleobiologists who aspire to help develop longer lasting, fairer, and more equitable solutions to complex conservation problems presented by a changing world.