Stakeholder and rightsholder engagement in environmental research: Lessons from Canadian scholars engaging diverse groups

Abstract To promote inclusivity, relevance and actionability of environmental research, scholars are engaging with rightsholders and stakeholders (Indigenous groups, governments and individuals) to co‐produce research. These transdisciplinary approaches represent diverse forms of ‘engaged’ research (e.g. community‐engaged research, braiding Indigenous science and knowledge and Western science‐based knowledge, workshops with decision‐makers). Acknowledging the diversity in aims and approaches to transdisciplinary research, this study surveyed a broad group of Canadian environmental researchers ( n = 61) to understand: their motivations and objectives for engagement, how they manage engagement processes, how they assess the success of engagement, and the insights they would highlight for others interested in engaging in various forms of knowledge co‐production. We used qualitative methods to identify key themes and supported our findings with quantitative measures (i.e. frequency and proportion of participants who gave particular responses). We found that the motivations, geographic context, and practical experiences of researchers were diverse. A strong theme was the value of reciprocity. Recurring advice included the importance of understanding the research context and actor landscape prior to contacting collaborators, conducting iterative discussions with research collaborators to scope and plan the project, and being sure to locate the individuals or entities that may hold key knowledge or the ability to grant permissions. We note the importance of paying close attention to power asymmetries during the research process. Dialogue with stakeholders, rightsholders and communities is time‐consuming. Devoting adequate time for building and maintaining relationships to achieve a requisite level of trust is essential, but can be challenging for all parties. We conclude that there is no substitute for one‐on‐one mentoring for learning and understanding how to lead ethical and effective knowledge co‐production processes. Researchers setting out to collaborate with stakeholders, rightsholders, and communities must learn the norms, rules, and social dynamics of a given context and culture—and they should seek out experienced counsel for preparation and coaching before engaging in collaborations. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.