SEERAD Biodiversity Research and Policy

Helen M. Jones, Research Co-ordinator

Joanna Drewitt, Senior Ecological Adviser

Key questions (1)

• To what extent can/should ERAD rely on other funders for the evidence needed?

ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH FUNDERS FORUM (ERFF)

• Established in 2002 by those organisations that fund or use environmental research or trained scientists

• ‘maximising the coherence and effectiveness of UK environmental sciences funding’.

• Future training, skills, research, knowledge transfer, monitoring and infrastructure needs within environmental science and technology in the UK.

• By end of 2006:– An analysis of members’ research - the first complete picture of

how environmental priorities are being addressed – A review of how we monitor the UK environment.

• Joint activities to support better policy-making leading to improved well-being of the UK population through more sustainable services and economic growth.

Key questions (1)

• To what extent can/should ERAD rely on other funders for the evidence needed?

• Are there particular areas where this is the most efficient way of acquiring information?

• More strategic research on urban and marine biodiversity? 

• Synergies from a holistic/strategic research approach across different ecosystems?

Key questions (2)

Key questions (3)

• Are there areas of biodiversity research absent from the current research programmes that should be developed in the programmes from 2010?

Key questions (4)

• Are there areas of biodiversity research included in the current research programmes that should be dropped from the next round of programmes starting in 2011?

Key questions (5)

• Are there research priorities that needed to be picked up and developed now, prior to the next round of programmes?

Future Biodiversity Research?• Scottish Biodiversity Strategy 2005 to 2030 - first 3-year report due 2007/08• CBD targets for halting biodiversity loss by 2010 • Conservation site condition targets 2008 & 2010• Programme completes 2010-11• UK BAP species and habitats targets post-2010

Other general issues :• Changes in Scottish demographics• Future CAP/agricultural change • Climate change• Energy generation and 2010 targets for renewables• Sustainable development agenda• Trends – need for monitoring change and evaluation of effectiveness of

policy measures• Use of protected areas vs. wider countryside• Novel threats from pollution and/or new technologies

Current biodiversity research

• SEERAD Programmes• SEERAD Contract research• DCS• SEPA• SNH• NERC• BBSRC• Defra• Others

Current Biodiversity Policy• Biodiversity indicators (ecological and social indicators)• Invasive non-native species • Climate change impacts• Economic and social value of biodiversity• Connectivity of species and habitats• Scale – landscape and ecosystem scales• Engaging more people • Bringing biodiversity into mainstream decision–making• UK BAP - actions and review• Land and marine management• Protection of soil biodiversity• Impacts of recreational access