"Blind" conservation efforts lack evidence-based strategies, which undermines resource efficiency and widens the gap between research and practical application. Despite that the topic has been highlighted repeatedly over the last two decades, a large portion of conservation projects are still not grounded in scientific data, a deficiency perpetuated by skill and resource gaps in organisations. While educational initiatives have aimed to address these issues, challenges persist, including with open-access publishing's financial barriers for some researchers and applied conservation managers. To bolster conservation outcomes, I advocate for enhanced monitoring, improved data sharing and closer integration of research results into practical management, emphasising the need for evidence-backed conservation to ensure effective biodiversity conservation.