Globally, two-thirds (59%) of the earth's terrestrial habitats comprises non-tree-covered forests and open natural ecosystems (ONEs). Studies indicate that ONEs are often overlooked in conservation science, policy and practice due to biome awareness disparity (BAD). In this context a review study was conducted to explore the existence of other potential areas of awareness disparity within research studies related to ONEs. Adopting a systematic bibliometric analysis twenty-six articles published in peer-reviewed journals were reviewed to gain new insights. Our review notices that research studies on ONEs are heavily skewed towards biodiversity and biophysical aspects of ONEs and the socio-cultural studies were found to be minimal. In addition to BAD, the review indicates that ONEs research may also show signs of social awareness disparity (SAD) and cultural awareness disparity (CAD). However, a much larger study covering research on the different types of ONEs, including hot & cold deserts, tundra, flooded/saline plains, rock outcrops, boulder and rubble fields, wetlands, peatlands, heathlands, grasslands, savannah ecosystems and mangroves have to be studied to ascertain our observations about SAD and CAD. Our review opens the doors for further research and discussion as the existing literature may not provide sufficient information on the social and cultural heritage factors related to ONEs around the world.

Conservation faces a legitimacy crisis–inadequately protecting nature while marginalising the very people and societies shown to be most successful at conserving nature. Scholars and the global community are increasingly recognising that respecting, protecting, and elevating Indigenous land and water governance contributes to greater outcomes for people and nature. In the face of the dual climate and biodiversity crises, the challenge and the opportunity are great. True transformational change in the conservation sector will require sustained commitment, collaborative effort, humility, courage, and accountability within complex systems with many actors and interests. In this paper, and in the context of scholarly debates reconciliation and resurgence, we examine the efforts of the Conservation through Reconciliation Partnership (CRP)–an Indigenous-led, large-scale, multi-sectoral decolonial conservation partnership in Canada created to help elevate Indigenous-led conservation and support the transformation of the conservation sector. Drawing on our own experiences, public-facing materials the partnership has created, and the results of a mid-term evaluation, we assess the challenges and benefits of the CRP and offer key lessons for others wishing to create decolonial conservation partnerships.

Over the last decade, the conservation community has begun to recognize the often-devastating impacts of traditional parks and planning processes on Indigenous Peoples. In so doing, it has been moving away from the conventional notion that parks are best managed by bureaucrats and scientists and toward acknowledging the harmful impacts of colonial conservation policies and practices on Indigenous Peoples while recognizing the key role that community-led conservation, guided by Indigenous Peoples’ worldviews, rights and responsibilities, and knowledge and governance systems, plays in global conservation policy. In this context, two central concepts that have emerged from the worldviews of Indigenous Peoples are the notions of “territories of life” and “biocultural stewardship.” Indigenous territories are described as territories of life because their stewardship protects not only biodiversity but also elements of cultural diversity that are just as important to Indigenous Peoples.