A systematic review of equity perceptions and outcomes in marine conservation

Both social and ecological dimensions of conservation success are thought to depend, at least in part, on stakeholders perceiving conservation as equitable. However, the evidence base supporting this assumption remains unclear. To this end, we conducted a systematic review of studies examining equity perceptions in marine conservation, including identifying those that examined the relationship between equity perceptions and social and ecological outcomes. We identified 38 peer-reviewed studies that examined equity perceptions in marine conservation, of which 26 examined how those perceptions were related to outcomes. Our review revealed four key findings: 1) Research originating from the Global North dominates; 2) people perceived inequity much more frequently than equity; 3) equity perceptions are significantly related to the research method employed, and the conservation intervention's location, governance, and management arrangements; and 4) most studies examining relationships between equity perceptions and outcomes found a relationship, with inequity leading to negative outcomes, and equity leading to positive outcomes. The predominance of perceptions of inequity and their association with negative social and ecological outcomes revealed in our review emphasises the critical need for greater attention to equity perceptions in conservation practice. Further, our review highlights important avenues for further research, particularly the examination of equity perceptions to elicit what is considered fair by different groups and determine the mechanisms linking equity perceptions to conservation outcomes.