Improving evidence-based decision-making around transportation infrastructure impacts on biodiversity: cultural perspectives, stakeholder values, and biases
File(s)
Author(s)
Yu, Yurong
Type
Thesis or dissertation
Abstract
This thesis investigates whether methods can be developed that are practical, impartial, and comprehensive enough to synthesise scientific conservation evidence while also being flexible enough to incorporate local stakeholders' values across different conservation contexts.
The initial hypothesis suggested that cultural context affects the accessibility and interpretation of evidence. In Chapter 4, I conducted a comparative analysis of the environmental impacts of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, using both English and Chinese literature. The disparities highlighted the influence of geographic and linguistic biases on research, emphasising the importance of reflexivity in scientific inquiry.
Recognising researchers' positionality is essential for transparency, as biases and cultural contexts shape how evidence is interpreted. The second hypothesis examined the interaction between scientific evidence and stakeholders' value hierarchies, especially in biodiversity decision-making. A case study in Hainan, China, illustrated the importance of involving local stakeholders in early-stage conceptual modelling to mitigate biases in conservation decisions.
In Chapter 5, I found that early stakeholder involvement enhanced the depth and inclusiveness of conservation conceptual models. Additionally, I proposed a value-based stakeholder mapping approach to minimise sampling bias. Through interviews and group discussions, I uncovered variations in stakeholder value hierarchies, which inform more comprehensive conservation strategies.
Finally, In Chapter 6, I employed the methodologies of the Personal Values Dictionary and manual extraction of values, to process qualitative data and extract values from diverse sources, including interviews, group discussions, and government documents. Informed by the Schwartz Value theories, these methods provided a robust framework for analysing human values and uncovering the underlying drivers of stakeholders' decision-making processes. These methods provided a feasible avenue to uncover the hidden values driving stakeholders' decision-making processes.
Overall, my research demonstrates the significance of integrating cultural and value-based considerations in conservation, offering empirical support for these methods and providing guidance for policymakers and conservationists.
The initial hypothesis suggested that cultural context affects the accessibility and interpretation of evidence. In Chapter 4, I conducted a comparative analysis of the environmental impacts of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, using both English and Chinese literature. The disparities highlighted the influence of geographic and linguistic biases on research, emphasising the importance of reflexivity in scientific inquiry.
Recognising researchers' positionality is essential for transparency, as biases and cultural contexts shape how evidence is interpreted. The second hypothesis examined the interaction between scientific evidence and stakeholders' value hierarchies, especially in biodiversity decision-making. A case study in Hainan, China, illustrated the importance of involving local stakeholders in early-stage conceptual modelling to mitigate biases in conservation decisions.
In Chapter 5, I found that early stakeholder involvement enhanced the depth and inclusiveness of conservation conceptual models. Additionally, I proposed a value-based stakeholder mapping approach to minimise sampling bias. Through interviews and group discussions, I uncovered variations in stakeholder value hierarchies, which inform more comprehensive conservation strategies.
Finally, In Chapter 6, I employed the methodologies of the Personal Values Dictionary and manual extraction of values, to process qualitative data and extract values from diverse sources, including interviews, group discussions, and government documents. Informed by the Schwartz Value theories, these methods provided a robust framework for analysing human values and uncovering the underlying drivers of stakeholders' decision-making processes. These methods provided a feasible avenue to uncover the hidden values driving stakeholders' decision-making processes.
Overall, my research demonstrates the significance of integrating cultural and value-based considerations in conservation, offering empirical support for these methods and providing guidance for policymakers and conservationists.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2023-08-26
Date Awarded
2024-10-01
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
License URL
Advisor
Burgman, Mark
Howe, Caroline
Publisher Department
Centre for Environmental Policy
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)