What works in conservation? Using expert assessment of summarised evidence to identify practices that enhance natural pest control in agriculture

Dicks, Lynn V.; Wright, Hugh L.; Ashpole, Joscelyne E.; Hutchison, J.B.; McCormack, Caitlin G.; Livoreil, Barbara; Zulka, Klaus Peter; Sutherland, William J.

doi:10.1007/s10531-016-1133-7

Cited by 29 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The NoK provided an interface where knowledge holders were identified and invited to synthesize the available knowledge on given topics identified in a request-driven, sciencepolicy knowledge exchange process . The functioning and operationalization of the NoK was tested within the KNEU project, by examining different casestudies and evaluating results, challenges and main achievements from a range of methodological approaches (Schindler et al 2014;Dicks et al 2016;Pullin et al 2016;Schindler et al 2016). Within this framework the question: ''What is the current status of kelp forests in Europe and what is the evidence that temporal trends in distribution will affect kelp ecosystems' biodiversity and the provision of ecosystem services?''…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status, trends and drivers of kelp forests in Europe: an expert assessment

Araújo

Assis

Aguillar³

et al. 2016

Biodivers Conserv

116

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A comprehensive expert consultation was conducted in order to assess the status, trends and the most important drivers of change in the abundance and geographical distribution of kelp forests in European waters. This consultation included an on-line questionnaire, results from a workshop and data provided by a selected group of experts working on kelp forest mapping and eco-evolutionary research. Differences in status and trends according to geographical areas, species identity and small-scale variations within the same habitat where shown by assembling and mapping kelp distribution and trend data. Significant data gaps for some geographical regions, like the Mediterranean and the southern Iberian Peninsula, were also identified. The data used for this study confirmed a general trend with decreasing abundance of some native kelp species at their southern distributional range limits and increasing abundance in other parts of their distribution (Saccharina latissima and Saccorhiza polyschides). The expansion of the introduced species Undaria pinnatifida was also registered. Drivers of observed changes in kelp forests distribution and abundance were assessed using experts' opinions. Multiple possible drivers were identified, including global warming, sea urchin grazing, harvesting, pollution and fishing pressure, and their impact varied between geographical areas. Overall, the results highlight major threats for these ecosystems but also opportunities for conservation. Major requirements to ensure adequate protection of coastal kelp ecosystems along European coastlines are discussed, based on the local to regional gaps detected in the study.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status, trends and drivers of kelp forests in Europe: an expert assessment

Araújo

Assis

Aguillar³

et al. 2016

Biodivers Conserv

116

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“…1 Relevant literature was further transferred to Conservation Evidence at Cambridge University (see Dicks et al 2016) and integrated in a synopsis of evidence on the same topic (Wright et al 2013). Further, a workshop was conducted to exchange with stakeholders and allowed to conduct a prioritisation exercise on the different management practices identified in the literature (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many studies dealt with biodiversity of flower strips, relationships between flower strips and predators and, to a lesser extent, relationships between flower strips and pests (solid lines). Few studies dealt with relationships between predators and pests and relationships between predators and agricultural yield (dashed arrows); b Nineteen top interventions (out of 86) as prioritized for interest and/or feasibility by stakeholders during the Paris workshop (Dicks et al 2016) …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We found that the knowledge synthesis process works in general for the implementation of assessments. In collaboration with requesters and knowledge holders, a number of relevant assessments were produced (Araújo et al 2013Schindler et al 2013aSchindler et al , b, 2014Bertocci et al 2015;Dicks et al 2016). The process is user friendly and flexible, though the methods to be applied are subjected to the constraints of financial resources and time frame .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The network BiodiversityKnowledge in practice: insights from three trial assessments

et al. 2016

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In order to develop BiodiversityKnowledge, a Network of Knowledge working at the European science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services, we conducted three trial assessments. Their purpose was to test structure and processes of the knowledge synthesis function and to produce knowledge syntheses. The trial assessments covered conservation and management of kelp ecosystems, biological control of agricultural pests, and conservation and multifunctional management of floodplains. Following the BiodiversityKnowledge processes, we set up expert consultations, systematic reviews, and collaborative adaptive management procedures in collaboration with requesters, policy and decision-makers, stakeholders, and knowledge holders. Outputs included expert consultations, systematic review protocols, a group model and a policy brief. Important lessons learned were firstly that the scoping process, in which requesters and experts iteratively -016-1128-4 negotiate the scope, scale and synthesis methodology, is of paramount importance to maximize the scientific credibility and policy relevance of the output. Secondly, selection of a broad array of experts with diverse and complementary skills (including multidisciplinary background and a broad geographical coverage) and participation of all relevant stakeholders is crucial to ensure an adequate breath of expertise, better methodological choices, and maximal uptake of outcomes: Thirdly, as the most important challenge was expert and stakeholder engagement, a high visibility and reputation of BiodiversityKnowledge, supported by an incentive system for participation, will be crucial to ensure such engagement. We conclude that BiodiversityKnowledge has potential for a good performance in delivering assessments, but it requires adequate funding, trust-building among knowledge holders and stakeholders, and a proactive and robust interface with the policy and decision making community.

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“…Araújo et al (2016) report on a marine assessment which addresses status, trends and drivers of kelp forest in Europe, a keystone ecosystem for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services that is often neglected by European conservation policies. The third trial assessment addresses the effectiveness of different farm practise at enhancing natural pest regulation in agriculture, using a combination of different assessment methods (Dicks et al 2016).…”

Section: Challenges and Solutions For Networking Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2016

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How to effectively inform decision-making on biodiversity and ecosystem services has been under continuous debate in Europe and globally since the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted in 1992. On the global level the Intergovernmental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services was installed in 2012 to address this need. Yet, biodiversity and ecosystem services management have to be addressed on multiple levels, across biophysical as well as administrative scales. Also, the knowledge needed to address them has to be brought together from science, management practices and other knowledge domains to become relevant and it must be delivered in ways relevant for policies beyond the environmental sector. This Special Issue brings together papers that analyse the challenges arising from this context. Most of them are based on the EU-funded project KNEU that aimed at developing a new, integrative approach to activate knowledge holders and bring them together for targeted knowledge synthesis activities. The papers address the potential functions, structures and processes of such activities in a joint framework, the Network of Knowledge. Practical aspects are addressed via a number of trial assessments carried out in the project. All in all, they 123Biodivers Conserv (2016) 25:1207-1214 DOI 10.1007/s10531-016-1124 showcase new ways of knowledge synthesis that have the potential to complement and strengthen existing ones across scales and sectors, thus supporting an improved management of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

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What works in conservation? Using expert assessment of summarised evidence to identify practices that enhance natural pest control in agriculture

Cited by 29 publications

References 38 publications

Status, trends and drivers of kelp forests in Europe: an expert assessment

Status, trends and drivers of kelp forests in Europe: an expert assessment

The network BiodiversityKnowledge in practice: insights from three trial assessments

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

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