Aligning the logics of inquiry and action to address the biodiversity crisis.

Despite an abundance of research reaffirming biodiversity's importance to the health of our planet and our society, species continue to go extinct at an alarming rate. Why has continued research on the value of biodiversity not had the intended effect, and what can be done about it? Here, we describe biodiversity loss as a public value failure and the result of a misalignment between the logic of inquiry (which guides scientists) and the logic of action (which guides practitioners). We draw lessons from our own research to propose the creation of a 'National Biodiversity Strategy,' designed to link the logic of inquiry with the logic of action and coordinate the production of both actionable conservation science and informed conservation action. Article Impact Statement: The logic of inquiry can be linked with the logic of action to bring actionable science to informed conservation action. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.