Representation in conservation publishing.

Abstract

There is a persistent underrepresentation of marginalized voices in academic literature, including that for ecology and conservation. Such exclusion hampers career progression, perpetuating disadvantages for historically marginalized groups in the field, with implications for the direction of conservation research. Diverse perspectives foster novel thinking, strengthen innovation, and ensure research reflects the full spectrum of challenges faced by communities. To assess this underrepresentation, we analyzed self-reported demographic data for authors of scientific articles to explore demographic trends and how they shifted between 2010 and 2020. The journals chosen were listed as conservation-related by three or more of the five major journal indices. We used the same dimensions of diversity to assess editor demographics in 2021. In total, 2152 authors and 241 editors completed the survey (response rate: 21.5% authors; 29.5% editors). We found that overall author diversity across multiple traits (Rao's Q) increased between 2010 and 2020. Most notably, the representation of women increased from 29.5% to 35.6% of authors. However, women from lower-middle- or low-income countries still represented <1% of authors, and most dimensions of diversity saw little change over a decade. In 2020-2021, 80% of authors and 76% of editors self-identified as White; over three-quarters of respondents across years lived in high-income countries; and nationals of three countries (the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia) represented 34% of authors and 49% of editors (5% of the global population). Our study findings highlight the importance of considering intersectionality, as respondents spanning multiple marginalized identities were disproportionately underrepresented. Overall, our work highlights how a lack of representation continues to characterize academic publishing in conservation and ecology but shows signs of positive change. There is evidence that gender-based initiatives are having a positive effect, yet more work is needed to enhance representation across other dimensions of diversity.