Think regionally, act locally: Perspectives on co‐design of spatial conservation prioritization tools and why end‐user engagement altered our approach

Abstract

Abstract Coproduction represents an inclusive approach for developing decision‐support resources because it seeks to integrate scientific knowledge and end‐user needs. Unfortunately, spatial decision support systems (SDSS) coproduction has sometimes resulted in limited utility for end‐users, partially due to scarce SDSS coproduction guidance. To initiate coproduction, we held a series of workshops to co‐design a spatial conservation prioritization tool for sagebrush ecosystems in the western United States. We share four themes derived from participant feedback and our reflections to guide future SDSS codesign efforts. We found end‐user confidence in data inputs and transparency regarding SDSS assumptions generated trust. Workshop participants noted our virtual format, with smaller break‐out groups, effectively facilitated discussions. Ultimately, end‐users appreciated the conservation context provided by regional‐scale SDSS but preferred local‐scale prioritization efforts for site‐level planning. Therefore, we are shifting ongoing co‐design efforts to consider local‐scale tool development, which can scale up to larger geographic extents.

Keywords

• actionable science
• coproduction
• research implementation gap
• stakeholder engagement
• systematic conservation planning