Focus

The SPIRAL Handbook - Science-Policy Interfaces (SPIs) - what are they?

Science-Policy Interfaces: a definition | What types of SPI exist? | Some myths about science and policy | Key features of SPIs  

 

The SPIRAL Handbook - Why do we need SPIs?

Allowing for a broader and more salient range of knowledges to be produced, exchanged and taken into account in decision-making processes | Changing awareness and behaviour  

 

The SPIRAL Handbook - Credibility, relevance, legitimacy and iterativity - why do they matter to SPIs?

 General features that support successful SPIs | Achieving credibility | Ehancing relevance | Building and maintaining legitimacy | Iteration and evolution

 

The SPIRAL Handbook - Possible pitfalls of SPIs

 Unclear or poorly thought-through SPIs | Power influence | The media | The role of key individuals | Lack of resources

 
 
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    • RT @EKLIPSE_project: Is missing knowledge hampering the effectiveness of approaches that aim to restore biodiversity and ecosystem function…5 Jan - 11:26
 
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News

SPIRAL "UK National Ecosystem Assessment" paper publshed

A new paper has been published based on work carried for SPIRAL, authored by Kerry Waylen and Juliette Young. This paper focuses on the first phase of the UK National Ecosystem Assessment.

 

 
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About SPIRAL

Biodiversity is threatened today more than ever before, as species become endangered in ever greater numbers, and entire ecosystems are degraded or destroyed.

The sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity depends not only on individuals changing their attitudes and lifestyles but also on the actions of policy makers at all levels and in all sectors of government, and on behaviour of other actors whose decisions can have significant impact on biodiversity. It is clear that decision makers need access to the best available knowledge in order to make wise choices, and this is where the concept of the science-policy interface (SPI) comes into play. SPIs are a necessary (albeit not sufficient) ingredient of effective environmental governance and, moreover, they can contribute to reinforcing two other equally important factors: political will and public support.

SPIRAL is a FP7 funded project that studies these “Science Policy Interfaces” between biodiversity research and policy to draw lessons and improve the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.