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A clearly-articulated paradigm is described that guides much current research-based conservation effort. This paradigm, which uses a reductionist approach, provides a method for unambiguously identifying threats to biodiversity, such as causes of species' declines, and a method for distinguishing optimal management solutions. In contrast, it is argued that community-based conservation is not guided by any evident paradigm; actions can be grouped instead into different themes that have been labelled here as reactive, interactive, proactive and opportunistic. Because research can address only some conservation problems and community efforts usually are broad but diffuse, conservation of biodiversity would be best served if the two approaches were integrated. To achieve this objective, scientists must become more involved in activities at the community level, whereas community groups must ensure that their ‘on-ground’ actions are rigorous and defensible. Some examples of successful collaborations are provided in the paper.

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