FAR‐sighted conservation

Conservation targets that reference historical expectations, such as maintaining specified areas of intact ecosystems, restoring degraded ones or the historic distributions species, may not be realistic in context ongoing environmental change, whereas aspire to accommodate complex realities human-altered and changing world tend too vague implement. Using first three recently proposed Convention on Biological Diversity post-2020 global biodiversity Action Targets context, we suggest a policy framework evaluates how might shift from an emphasis resisting sometimes inevitable change development positive directions for people biodiversity. Our Anthropocene approach builds fact all ecosystems have already been shaped by interactions with is inevitable. We outline Facilitate–Accept–Resist (FAR) levels conservation decision-making actions, ranging overall strategies (planning, setting targets, monitoring selecting indicators) places (sites, landscapes) provision ecosystem services human well-being. For each potential decision, whether, whom one facilitate, accept resist particular changes. highlight value inclusive engagement process ensure benefits are equitably shared. The CBD reflect tensions between states nature reality integrating accepting change. challenge operationalize inclusivity, integration elements whilst ‘abandoning’ locations many conservationists consider key wildlife. FAR represents way face this tension, so facilitation acceptance adopted at least frequently resisted.