A groundbreaking article published in the renowned journal BioScience casts a sharp light on the often overlooked yet critical role that Indigenous Peoples and other place-based knowledge holders play in biodiversity conservation. The study reveals a systemic underrepresentation of traditional stewardship practices in both academic research and international conservation policies, highlighting a significant gap that, if addressed, could substantially enhance global biodiversity governance. This research calls for a fundamental paradigm shift, advocating for the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems as central to conservation strategies worldwide.
Led by researchers Giulia Mattalia and Irene Teixidor-Toneu, the article unites a collaborative team of 19 experts across five continents to develop a comprehensive framework for understanding ecological stewardship. Their approach categorizes stewardship practices into distinct biophysical actions performed at three ecological levels: target species, species assemblages, and entire ecosystems. This structure is meticulously informed by an extensive literature review focusing on cultural keystone species (CKS)—species whose significance goes beyond ecology to shape cultural identity through diet, materials, medicine, and spiritual practices.
In their detailed survey covering 242 scientific articles, the authors report a staggering 343 instances of stewardship directed specifically at nearly 1,000 different cultural keystone species globally. Additionally, they uncover 1,652 citations describing nature’s contributions to human communities. However, the findings expose a stark imbalance: only about half the articles documenting the benefits nature provides to people also record the reciprocal responsibilities and actions humans undertake to maintain or enhance these species. This asymmetry underscores a dominant Eurocentric scientific narrative that tends to render Indigenous and local management practices invisible or undervalued.
The research symposium ranges across diverse geographical landscapes, from the Amazonian rainforests of Ecuador to the Alpine regions of Switzerland, from Nepal’s mountainous ecosystems to the boreal forests of Canada. These varied contexts illuminate the range of stewardship techniques utilized, such as controlled burning, species translocation, targeted selective harvesting, and habitat modifications. Each practice functions as a vital ecological lever, sustaining culturally significant species while triggering cascading effects throughout social-ecological systems. Notably, controlled burning in North America constitutes about 30% of documented stewardship practices in the dataset, emphasizing its critical role in maintaining ecosystem resilience.
Beyond ecological implications, the article addresses the pressing policy failures that fail to fully recognize Indigenous stewardship in global biodiversity frameworks. The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, despite its aspirations to harmonize conservation objectives globally, inadequately acknowledges these traditional practices. The authors argue that enhancing the visibility and valuation of Indigenous and local stewardship within global policy apparatus would facilitate more inclusive, effective conservation outcomes that align with social justice imperatives.
Central to the article’s contribution is its proposal of a shared scientific language that bridges disciplinary divides and incorporates diverse knowledge systems to classify and analyze stewardship actions. This classification enables improved documentation, appreciation, and integration of the vital roles of biodiversity stewards alongside biodiversity itself. Such an interdisciplinary lingua franca can foster collaboration between ecologists, conservation biologists, policymakers, and Indigenous knowledge holders, facilitating co-created conservation pathways that are both ecologically sound and culturally respectful.
The article also critically dissects historical biases underpinning conservation science, spotlighting the colonial legacies that have marginalized Indigenous worldviews and management traditions. By foregrounding cultural keystone species as a focal point for understanding human-nature relationships, it revitalizes acknowledgment of the reciprocal dependency between people and ecosystems. This approach challenges conservationists to rethink stewardship beyond preservationist paradigms that often exclude active human agency in maintaining biodiversity.
Intriguingly, the article’s extensive synthesis reinforces that stewardship practices frequently generate ecological benefits that extend well beyond the immediate species or habitats targeted. For instance, selective harvesting practices can support genetic diversity and ecosystem function, while habitat modifications might enhance resilience against climate change. Such findings emphasize that Indigenous and local stewardship embodies sophisticated ecological knowledge evolved over generations, underscoring its potency in contemporary conservation amidst unprecedented environmental crises.
This study’s literature-based methodology underscores the critical need for improved data collection efforts that consciously incorporate Indigenous knowledge platforms and languages, thus addressing existing asymmetries between scientific and local knowledge systems. Moreover, the authors call for conservation science to adopt more equitable research practices that respect Indigenous sovereignty and intellectual property rights linked to traditional ecological knowledge.
In synthesizing these diverse elements, the article charts a hopeful trajectory for biodiversity governance. It envisions conservation paradigms that no longer operate solely within Eurocentric scientific frameworks but instead embrace pluralism, inclusivity, and co-management. The authors envision a future where stewardship is not an ancillary concern but a core component of biodiversity research, policy, and practice, ultimately leading to more robust and just ecological outcomes.
This pioneering work heralds a call to action for the global scientific community, policymakers, and conservation practitioners alike. By recognizing and integrating Indigenous and place-based stewardship in measurable, scientifically rigorous ways, the world moves closer to achieving sustainable coexistence with nature. The framework presented offers practical tools for embedding these insights into policy dialogues, fostering biodiversity governance that truly reflects the interconnected realities of ecosystems and human cultures.
Such thought-provoking scholarship urges a reevaluation of the metrics and narratives that promote conservation success. As humanity contends with biodiversity loss at unprecedented rates, embracing the stewardship legacies of Indigenous Peoples may be one of the most potent, equitable strategies to safeguard the planet’s ecological heritage for future generations.
The article “Stewardship practices enhance nature’s contributions to people” exemplifies cutting-edge interdisciplinary research that leverages historical wisdom and modern science. Published on May 19, 2026, in BioScience, this work stands poised to influence conservation biology, policy development, and ecological governance for decades, ensuring that biodiversity stewardship is recognized not merely as conservation’s backdrop but as its very foundation.
Subject of Research: Not applicable
Article Title: Stewardship practices enhance nature’s contributions to people
News Publication Date: 19-May-2026
Web References: DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biag047
Keywords: Biodiversity conservation, Indigenous peoples, Conservation biology, Conservation ecology, Conservation policies, Ecosystem services, Natural resources management, Wildlife management
