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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Ambio

The roles of actors in nature-positive transformations

  • Jennifer Yarnold1
  • Josie Carwardine1
  • Sandra Oliver1
  • Yuwan Malakar1
  • James D. Langston2
  • Ilisapeci Lyons3
  • Anthony O’Grady4
  • Michael Dunlop2
  • Piers Dunstan5
  • Sam Nicol1
5 affiliations
  1. 1The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), GPO Box 2583, Brisbane, Qld 4001 Australia
  2. 2The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601 Australia
  3. 3The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), PO Box 12139, Earlville BC Cairns, QLD 4870 Australia
  4. 4The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Private Bag 12, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
  5. 5The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), GPO Box 1538, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
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Abstract

Nature positive is gaining momentum as a global goal to halt and reverse nature loss. Yet the scale and pace of action are inadequate to curb accelerating biodiversity decline, threatening the foundations of economies and society. Applying sustainability transitions frameworks, we map key system actors to conceptualise their drivers, barriers, interactions and roles they can play to overcome institutional constraints and advance six nature transformation strategies. Our analysis proposes four ideal-type roles for transformative change: (1) direct impactors adopt solutions to directly halt or reverse nature’s decline; (2) rule changers act to reshape institutional structures and societal values to drive change, (3) enablers provide critical supports; and (4) transformers challenge regimes through new ideas and solutions. We contend that individuals, organisations and coalitions can fulfil each and even multiple roles depending on actual and perceived agency and that coordinated, multi-actor coalitions across diverse knowledge systems can accelerate nature-positive futures.

Graphical abstract:

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{yarnold2026roles,
  title = {{The roles of actors in nature-positive transformations}},
  author = {Jennifer Yarnold and Josie Carwardine and Sandra Oliver and Yuwan Malakar and James D. Langston and Ilisapeci Lyons and Anthony O’Grady and Michael Dunlop and Piers Dunstan and Sam Nicol},
  journal = {Ambio},
  year = {2026},
  month = jun,
  doi = {10.1007/s13280-026-02420-z},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02420-z},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The roles of actors in nature-positive transformations
AU  - Jennifer Yarnold
AU  - Josie Carwardine
AU  - Sandra Oliver
AU  - Yuwan Malakar
AU  - James D. Langston
AU  - Ilisapeci Lyons
AU  - Anthony O’Grady
AU  - Michael Dunlop
AU  - Piers Dunstan
AU  - Sam Nicol
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/06/10
JO  - Ambio
DO  - 10.1007/s13280-026-02420-z
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02420-z
AB  - Nature positive is gaining momentum as a global goal to halt and reverse nature loss. Yet the scale and pace of action are inadequate to curb accelerating biodiversity decline, threatening the foundations of economies and society. Applying sustainability transitions frameworks, we map key system actors to conceptualise their drivers, barriers, interactions and roles they can play to overcome institutional constraints and advance six nature transformation strategies. Our analysis proposes four ideal-type roles for transformative change: (1) direct impactors adopt solutions to directly halt or reverse nature’s decline; (2) rule changers act to reshape institutional structures and societal values to drive change, (3) enablers provide critical supports; and (4) transformers challenge regimes through new ideas and solutions. We contend that individuals, organisations and coalitions can fulfil each and even multiple roles depending on actual and perceived agency and that coordinated, multi-actor coalitions across diverse knowledge systems can accelerate nature-positive futures.  Graphical abstract:
SN  - 0044-7447
SN  - 1654-7209
ER  -