Table 4 Sources searched and search methods according to source type

Publication database

Web of Science ™ Core Collection

https://webofknowledge.com

Searched on title, abstract and keywords using the publication database search string adapted for each database

All results extracted

SCOPUS

https://www.scopus.com

CAB Abstracts

https://www.cabi.org/publishing-products/online-information-resources/cab-abstracts/

Search engine

Google Scholar

https://scholar.google.co.uk

Searched on title only using the Google Scholar search string

A second search required ‘evaluation’ to also appear in the title

For both searches, the first 1000 results were retrieved using the software Harzing’s Publish or Perish [91].

Online repositories

Open grey

http://www.opengrey.eu/

Searched on title only, using the Google Scholar search string

PAIS international (ProQuest)

http://www.proquest.com/products-services/pais-set-c.html

Proceedings First (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.)

http://www.oclc.org

Papers First (OCLC Online Computer Library Center, Inc.)

http://www.oclc.org

Websites of specialist organisations and online databases

Campbell collaboration

http://www.campbellcollaboration.org/lib/

Where possible, organisational databases and websites were searched on all text using the Google Scholar search string with Boolean operators

Where within-website searches could not be conducted on the whole Google Scholar search string using Boolean operators, individual terms were searched, and the resultant search lists combined, and duplicates removed

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)—library

http://www.cifor.org/library/

Environmental evidence

http://www.environmentalevidence.org

Conservation evidence

http://www.conservationevidence.com

Coral triangle initiative

http://www.coraltriangleinitiative.org

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia

https://publications.csiro.au/

Evidence on demand

http://www.evidenceondemand.info/library.aspx

IUCN evaluations database

https://www.iucn.org/monitoring-and-evaluation/monitoring-our-work/evaluations-database

IUCN Library System

https://portals.iucn.org/library/dir/publications-list

Natureserve

http://www.natureserve.org/biodiversity-science/publications

Poverty and Conservation Learning Group—Bibliographic database

https://www.povertyandconservation.info/en/bibliographies

Poverty and Conservation Learning Group—Biodiversity-poverty evidence database

https://www.povertyandconservation.info/biodiversity-poverty-evidence

Poverty and Conservation Learning Group—PCLG publications

https://www.povertyandconservation.info/en/pclg-publications

Protected Planet

http://www.protectedplanet.net

SANBI Planning database, South Africa

http://www.sanbi.org/information/documents

The Digital Observatory for Protected Areas (Europe)

http://dopa.jrc.ec.europa.eu/en/documentation

United Nations Environment Programme—World Conservation Monitoring Centre

https://www.unep-wcmc.org/resources-and-data

Biodiversity Heritage Library

http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/

USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse (Evaluations)

https://dec.usaid.gov/dec/content/evaluations.aspx

USAID Biodiversity Conservation Gateway

https://rmportal.net/biodiversityconservation-gateway

World Wildlife Fund for Nature International

https://wwf.panda.org

Opportunistic

Four academic conferences

Subject experts

General calls were made during presentations and on Twitter

Requests were made via email