Domenica Landin

Towards Multispecies Competencies in Collaborations Beyond the Human

Multispecies literacy is becoming increasingly essential as nations commit to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). 

Target 21 highlights the need for accessible knowledge to guide biodiversity action, ensuring that decision-makers, practitioners, and the public are equipped to facilitate effective and equitable governance. However, the framework lacks consideration of non-human knowledge, revealing a significant epistemological gap that must be addressed. 

The UN defines competencies as a combination of skills, attributes, and behaviours directly linked to one's performance (UN, 2009). Consequently, multispecies competencies are crucial for achieving biodiversity goals and transitioning to regenerative value systems. 

This research employs research through design (RtD) methodologies to (a) develop non-human epistemologies and (b) identify multispecies competencies in human/non-human relationships. 

Ultimately, it seeks to establish a conceptual and operational framework for multispecies competencies, with the aim of informing biodiversity strategies and action plans.

Supervisor team: Professor Natasha Lushetich and Dr Undine Sellbach