Biodiversity knowledge synthesis at the European scale: actors and steps

Abstract

International audienceTo respond to the need for a strengthened biodiversity science-policy-society interface at the European level, this paper presents the relevant actors and steps of a knowledge synthesis process relying on a Network of Knowledge. This process aims to maximize active involvement and contribution (including holders of traditional and local knowledge), transparency, credibility, relevance and legitimacy (among other values defined during several workshops held). The presented process allows for the implementation of several synthesis methodologies, depending on the availability of resources, quantity and quality of knowledge and decided according to the expectations of the requesters and users. We put this approach in parallel with other knowledge-based recommendations and negotiation processes such as CBD and IPBES and highlight the need to encompass the diversity of approaches, values, and challenges at the European scale, while the process simultaneously has to be highly flexible, yet simple and robust. Although the presented process still holds several challenges, it offers a step forward in the development and reflections on science-policy-society interfaces, based on consultations with a significant number of the actors from the European policy-science community

Challenges and solutions for networking knowledge holders and better informing decision-making on biodiversity and ecosystem services

“…These functions include building the network and ensuring capacity building on interface activities for its members, a process to discuss and identify research needs and strategies, and as major element a process to address needs from decision-making. The latter is presented in detail by Livoreil et al (2016). The process for addressing decisionmaking needs relies on synthesizing existing knowledge (scientific, technical and expert knowledge).…”

“…The knowledge synthesis process developed in Livoreil et al (2016) was tested in the KNEU project on practical examples from the areas of marine biodiversity, agricultural biodiversity and floodplain biodiversity (Fig. 1).…”

Selecting appropriate methods of knowledge synthesis to inform biodiversity policy

“…The challenge is to provide up-to-date synthesis for decision makers, both directly concerned with biodiversity and ecosystem services as well as from other sectors that might affect or enter into conflict with biodiversity conservation or with ensuring ecosystem services. The synthesis should be precisely tailored to the request (see Livoreil et al 2016), in accordance with the policy agenda (which often requires limited time windows and budgets), ensuring its legitimacy from both policymaker and wider stakeholder perspectives. An important challenge is to ensure that concerns from different sectors are adequately taken into account and an agreement on a common knowledge base is reached to avoid having stakeholders with opposing interests presenting opposing evidence or knowledge.…”

The network BiodiversityKnowledge in practice: insights from three trial assessments

“…At the European scale, a recent effort to foster knowledge synthesis was undertaken by the European Network of Knowledge for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (NoK, hereafter also named BiodiversityKnowledge) that developed a knowledge synthesis process of a European SPI for Biodiversity issues aimed at providing a transparent structure to receive and answer requests from policy-makers and stakeholders (KNEU Team 2014;Livoreil et al 2016;Nesshöver et al 2016). The knowledge synthesis process explains the roles of the several actors involved and the various steps to be implemented, and it was initially developed around three methodological frameworks: expert consultation, evidence-based approaches, and collaborative adaptive management .…”