A standardized definition of Rapid Evidence Assessment for environmental applications

James, Webb, Schofield, Kate, Carly, Cook, Fisher, Jonathan, Cheng, Samantha, Christie, Alec, Cooke, Steven, Dubois, Natalie, Frampton, Geoff, Macura, Biljana, Nichols, Susan, Richards, Rob, Aicher, Rebecca, Mason, Sara, Anderson, Erik, Betley, Erin, Borsuk, Mark, Busch, Jonah, Carlson, Sara, Dubois, Jean-Jacques, Eales, Jacqualyn, Game, Edward, Irvine, Robyn, Muir, Matthew, Olander, Lydia, Pollard, Amina, Porzecanski, Ana, Radke, Elizabeth, Randall, Nicola, Riley, Trevor, Ritchie, Stephanie, Salafsky, Nick, Sigouin, Amanda, Stevens, Kara and Ridley, Caroline (2025) A standardized definition of Rapid Evidence Assessment for environmental applications. Conservation Letters. (doi:10.31219/osf.io/u7z2g). (In Press)

Abstract

Evidence assessment—identifying, evaluating, and synthesizing data and
findings from previous studies—is important to inform environmental
decision-making but can be slow and resource intensive. Users seeking
efficiency have developed multiple definitions and methods for Rapid
Evidence Assessment (REA), raising concerns about consistency and
rigor. To improve consistency and confidence in REA, we convened an
international group of evidence users and researchers to define REA for
environmental applications. Through a consensus-driven and iterative
approach, we define REA as: a structured review process that aims to
maximize rigor and objectivity given assessment needs and resource
constraints; is transparent about trade-offs, risks and biases; and can
integrate multiple types of evidence. Our standardized definition of REA
will improve transparency and facilitate decisions about the appropriate
levels of rigor required for those who commission, conduct, and use REAs
for environmental decision making.

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Contributors

Author: Geoff Frampton

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