According to PhysOrg, a scientific publication, scientific knowledge used in international studies is predominantly sourced from English-language documents, as it is assumed that all scientific knowledge is available in English. However, according to research scrutinizing over 400,000 peer-reviewed papers in 326 journals, published in 16 languages, scientific papers written in languages other than English may hold untapped information crucial to the conservation of global biodiversity.
These findings have important implications for global efforts tackling the biodiversity crisis, where lack of evidence is an issue commonly faced when trying to implement evidence-based conservation. The authors demonstrate that incorporating non-English-language studies can expand the availability of scientific evidence on species and ecosystems into 12%–25% more areas and 5%–32% more species.
This research also sheds light on how diverse scientific communities can maximize the contribution of science to addressing urgent global challenges. Amano, who is a native Japanese speaker, said, "[The research] showcases why it is important to nurture culturally diverse scientific communities. Global challenges call for contributions from diverse communities from every corner of the globe."