Reflections on the Use of a Participatory Action Research Methodology to Investigate the Development of a Global Knowledge Product

This paper reflects upon the use of a participatory action research approach to investigate a global knowledge production process. The process was convened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to inform the development of the Key Biodiversity Area Standard (KBA Standard). This research explores the role of participatory action research in studying the complex interplay that exists between research, policy, and practice in the field of biodiversity conservation. The primary aim of this research was to work with the IUCN to understand and evaluate the purpose, process, outputs, and outcomes of the knowledge production process towards improved reflection, learning, and ultimately practice. This involved working closely with practitioner partners from the IUCN by collaboratively defining the research problems, designing and implementing the research methods, and evaluating the process. This paper reflects upon the benefits and challenges of using of a participatory action research methodology in this context and provides recommendations for how this could be adapted and used in future global knowledge production processes.