Digitalising biodiversity: Exploring perceptions on risks and opportunities

Digitalisation is transforming biodiversity conservation, offering new opportunities for research, governance and public engagement. Herbarium digitisation, for example, enables large‐scale access to plant data, supporting conservation, restoration and sustainable use. However, digitalisation raises concerns about equity, data ownership and benefit‐sharing, particularly for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. This study analyses biodiversity reports, surveys and interviews with experts and participants at the international biodiversity negotiations. It explores diverse perspectives on biodiversity digitalisation worldwide to inform more inclusive and transparent governance, supporting democratic decision‐making, equitable data access and fair benefits distribution across global biodiversity actors.

This study examines biodiversity actors' perspectives on the opportunities and risks of biodiversity digitalisation, with a particular focus on views about herbaria digitisation. Understanding herbaria digitisation in the broader context of governance and digital transformation is crucial as societies become increasingly digitalised and biodiversity actors expand their roles. Ultimately, this study is grounded in the assumption that fostering a deeper understanding of perspectives is essential for enhancing the inclusivity, legitimacy and effectiveness of digital tools in biodiversity action.

Our mixed‐methods approach combined (1) semantic analysis of 103 national reports submitted to the Convention on Biological Diversity, (2) an on‐site survey of 510 COP16 participants and an online survey with 61 biodiversity experts and (3) 29 in‐depth interviews with participants at COP16. Statistical and qualitative analyses identified patterns in perceptions and experiences.

Findings reveal broad support for biodiversity digitalisation across all country and income groups, particularly for enhancing monitoring, accessibility and decision‐making. The primary risk identified was the potential exclusion of Indigenous Peoples' knowledge. Concerns also emerged about data ownership, data exploitation and biodiversity commodification, necessitating inclusive governance frameworks for equitable digitalisation.

While digitalisation presents unprecedented opportunities for biodiversity worldwide, it also raises concerns about deepening inequalities and reinforcing culturally hegemonic knowledge systems. Findings underscore the need for inclusive governance, responsible innovation, digital literacy and equitable benefit‐sharing to enhance the benefits of digitised herbaria and ensure biodiversity digitalisation contributes to global conservation goals without marginalising stakeholders.