Vacancy for Science to Policy Liaison Officer at QUEST

QUEST have a vacancy for a Science to Policy Liaison Officer at their headquarters in Bristol. This post is offered as a part time (two days per week) secondment until September 2010.

QUEST (Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System) is a multidisciplinary £23M programme of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). It brings together UK scientists working in a wide range of disciplines to answer policy relevant questions on the global environment. For example: How are atmospheric composition and climate naturally regulated? To stabilise climate, how much greenhouse gasses can be emitted and when? How much climate change is dangerous (risk analysis, vulnerability of ecosystem services)? What are the biological options for reducing climate change (avoided deforestation, forestry and bioenergy) and their sustainability?

The ideal candidate will be either:
- Policy person already working within a government agency, other policy institution or NGO (e.g. Defra, DECC, DfID, Environment Agency, WWF) with a science background or good scientific understanding.
- A post-doctoral researcher in the environment or climate change field with strong experience working on policy interface.

Level of experience: equivalent to 3 to 10 years post-doctoral or agency work, PhD not necessary, experience more important. The post will require mobility, familiarity with the workings of government and ideally good personal links across it, excellent written skills, excellent networking abilities, good organisational skills and the ability to work in a team.

For more information, and details of how to apply, see the QUEST website.

Voice of the Future: 10 March 2009

The Royal Society of Chemistry's annual Voice of the Future event is to take place at Portcullis House, Westminster on 10 March.

This is a free event, open to all those interested in science, and aged under 37.

Voice of the Future aims to strengthen links between the scientific community, parliament and Government. It provides a great chance for young scientists, and aspiring scientists, to question members of Parliament about the use of science in policy-making; and about support for science across Government more generally.

For more information, see the Royal Society of Chemistry website. Places are expected to disappear quickly so do register as soon as possible.

BES Parliamentary Shadowing Scheme Opens

Applications are now welcome for the 2009 BES Parliamentary Shadowing Scheme.

The scheme is now in its third year. Since 2007 our ecologists have had the opportunity to shadow two Parliamentary Under-Secretaries (Barry Gardiner MP and Joan Ruddock MP) at Defra, two MEPs (John Bowis MEP and Linda McAvan MP), plus officials from the devolved administrations. Those members of the BES who have taken part have commented on the value of this experience to them; gaining an unprecedented opportunity to gain first-hand experience of how science is used to inform policy-making. Ecologists spend one-two days with the parliamentarian, before spending another day or so with civil servants and policy-advisors.

The full list of Ministers, MEPs and Officials who have agreed to participate in the 2009 scheme has yet to be finalised. However, we are delighted to confirm that the following have so far agreed to take part:

• Jane Davidson AM, Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing at the Welsh Assembly Government
• Professor Maggie Gill, Chief Scientific Advisor for Rural Affairs and the Environment, Scottish Government
• Linda McAvan MEP, Labour Spokesperson on the Environment, European Parliament
  Expenses

If you are a member of the BES and an early-career researcher (no more than eight years since finishing PhD) interested in the science-policy interface, then consider applying. The BES will cover all reasonable expenses you incur whilst on the scheme.

Find out more at the BES website.
Closing date: 27 February

CaSE Forum Focuses on the Impact of the UK Science Base

Today saw the participation of the BES Policy Team in an Opinion Forum organised by the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), focusing on the impact of the UK science and engineering base. The Forum was the first step towards the publication of a policy document by CaSE, summarising discussion and to be used as a basis for the organisation's lobbying activities.

Participants heard presentations from Professor Sir Chris Llewellyn-Smith FRS, former Director General of CERN, Dr Graeme Reid, DIUS, and Professor Philip Esler, Chief Executive of the Arts and Humanities Research Council. Interesting points were made regarding the distinction between 'basic' (or 'curiosity driven') and 'applied' research; including whether such definitions were in fact unhelpful. Is 'basic' research simply applied research which hasn't been applied yet?

Basic research was seen as a vital component of the UK research base and participants felt strongly that the increased emphasis on Knowledge Transfer by the Research Councils should not be at the expense of 'blue skies' thinking. Basic research has a vital role not only in the possibility it offers of discoveries of enormous economic and practical importance, but also in the contribution it offers to culture and to education: attracting people to science through the often fantastic nature of blue skies endeavours.

Discussion in the afternoon's break-out sessions highlighted the importance of communication between researchers, industry and Government to capitalise to the development of benefits from research, and to effecting a 'culture change' within universities: Knowledge Transfer is important and is something researchers should engage in. Changes are also required in the consumers of research however. Government in particular was singled out as needing to become a more intelligent customer of research. Finally, participants felt that there was the need for the formation of a body to act as an 'independent broker' of research, matching researchers to industry and Government need and vice versa. In some respects, this echoes the work of Learned Societies such as the BES, but at a much wider, cross-disciplinary scale.

For further information about the work of CaSE please visit the CaSE website.

Natural Capital Initiative: Linking Environment and Policy

The BES is a major partner and sponsor in a new project, the 'Natural Capital Initiative', which has launched its website today.

The BES, the Institute of Biology, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and the Science Council are co-operating as a partnership (the NCI) to deliver a three-day symposium in April 2009, aiming to bring together ecologists, scientists from other disciplines, policy-makers and others (including architects, land managers, planners, representatives from business and from across Government departments) to discuss gaps in research and implementation of the ecosystem approach - and how to solve them.

The three-day event, from 29 April - 1 May 2009, consists of a high-profile first day with keynote speeches and discussion, followed by two days of case -studies. Groups will get together to discuss the ecosystem approach in the context of rural land-use, urban planning and the marine environment.

Confirmed speakers for day one include: the Government Chief Scientist, Sir John Beddington; Professor Gretchen Daily, Stanford University; Lord May of Oxford, Committee on Climate Change; Baroness Young, Care Quality Commission and Graham Wynne, CEO RSPB. We will also be joined by figures to discuss the importance of an ecosystem approach to business: Lucy Neville-Rolfe, Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs at Tesco and Richard Brown, CEO Eurostar, are amongst our high-profile speakers.

You can find more information about the symposium at www.naturalcapitalinitiative.org.uk. Registration will open in January.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference in Poznań, Poland

Today marks the beginning of the 14th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations on Climate Change.

The meeting has the following aims;

• Agree on a plan of action and programmes of work for the final year of negotiations after a year of comprehensive and extensive discussions on crucial issues relating to future commitments, actions and cooperation
• Make significant progress on a number of on-going issues required to enhance further the implementation of the Convention and the Kyoto Protocol, including capacity-building for developing countries, reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD), technology transfer and adaptation.
• Advance understanding and commonality of views on "shared vision" for a new climate change regime
• Strengthen commitment to the process and the agreed timeline

EU Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas stated recently that: "Even if it is too early to expect major breakthroughs, the Poznan conference must shift gear from exploratory discussions to concrete negotiations."

Parties have less than a year to agree on strengthened action on mitigation, adaptation, finance and technology.

It is hoped that the climate talks will form the basis of global deal in Copenhagen at the end of 2009.

View the full schedule here.

IUSS Select Committee Announces New Inquiry

The Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Select Committee has announced a new inquiry into 'Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy'. The Committee is seeking evidence on, amongst other things:

• whether there should be a Department for Science
• strengths and weaknesses of how Government currently formulates science policy
• whether the views of the science and engineering community are, or should be, central to the formulation of government policy
• engaging the public and increasing public confidence in science and engineering policy
• the role of GO-Science, DIUS and other Government departments, charities, learned societies, Regional Development Agencies, industry and other stakeholders in determining UK science and engineering policy
• how government science and engineering policy should be scrutinised.

The BES is planning to respond to this consultation, by the deadline of Monday 12 January. If you would like to contribute to this response, e-mail Policy@BritishEcologicalSociety.org, by, at the latest, Friday 12 December.

Towards A Sustainable Society - What is the Correct Role for Science?

Yesterday evening the Royal Society played host to the Institute of Environmental Sciences' Burntwood Lecture, presented by former Friends of the Earth Director and Special Adviser to the Prince of Wales' Rainforest Project: Tony Juniper.

All the major environmental issues of the last fifty years or so were mentioned: the effects of DDT accumulation in raptors; sulphur and nitrogen deposition creating acid rain, impacting on people, forests and livestock; CFC particulates causing ozone depletion; and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting in global climate change.

Tony emphasised the critical role that science played in firstly, the identification of these issues as serious problems for the environment and society, but also in making the case for effective policy change.

Policy change came in the form of the Montreal Protocol in order to end CFC use in domestic products and allow stratospheric ozone layer to recover. None of these issues have been 'solved' completely - although DDT was eventually banned in Britain and Europe, it is still used widely in malaria hotspots across Africa to reduce mosquito abundance and disease incidence. However effective steps have been taken around the world to reduce the relative impacts of these pollutants.

The emphasis of the talk was on the biggest challenge the world faces currently: climate change. With the previous environmental problems, the compounds requiring bans had effective alternatives (i.e. less harmful pesticides) or were an unimportant by-product of an important process, (e.g. CFCs from refrigerator coolants and nitrogen and sulphuric oxides from power stations). Unlike the aforementioned issues, tackling climate change requires massively reducing the output of GHGs; gases inextricably linked to the everyday lives of everyone on the planet in terms of food, transport and energy.

In summary, Tony's talk covered well-trodden ground and seemed to lack any refreshing or challenging ideas. The message that the scientist's role, is and will continue to be instrumental in tackling climate change and emerging threats, is an important one. It is imperative however that innovative ways continue to be sought to engage government, policy-makers and justify the case for change to the wider public.

Check out the Royal Society website here, and the Institute of Environment Sciences website here

Volunteer at the BES

The BES has an opportunity for an intern to assist the Science Policy Team for up to three months, working for two days each week. Although this position is not paid, the BES will cover lunch costs (up to £5 per day) and travel expenses within London.

Assist the Society's policy officer in monitoring current legislation in the UK and EU, contribute to consultation responses and briefing papers, help to organise policy meetings and events and to maintain the Ecology and Policy Blog. This is a fantastic way for a graduate with a knowledge of, or interest in, ecology, to gain valuable experience of working in science policy.

For more information see the BES website.

To apply, send your CV and a covering letter, explaining why you are interested in the post and giving details of your availability, to Policy@BritishEcologicalSociety.org no later than Friday 28 November. Interviews will be held in the morning of Wednesday 10 December.

Insect Seed Predators as Important as Pollinators

Recent research published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology suggests greater attention ought to be paid to seed predators, especially in the context of natural and agro-ecosystems.

Whilst a great deal of work and policy has focused on the functional importance of pollinators in the agricultural landscape, scant attention has duly been paid to insect seed predators.

A body of work has shown that the experimental removal of insect seed predators can have positive effects on annual plant populations. Insect predators play an important role in competition, specifically apparent competition. Apparent competition is where for example, two tree species appear to compete for similar resources, yet are in fact limited by a shared natural enemy that in turn responds to changes in abundance or distribution of either species.

Although apparent competition is thought to be widespread, so far few studies have so far been able to quantify this effect in long-lived species. Food webs, that describe the abundance and interaction of different species within a community can reveal the importance of this effect. Research in Sarawak tropical forests has shown that the diet of insect predators depends heavily on the abundance of their favoured prey type.

Humans can also directly and indirectly mediate the impact of insect seed predation. Given how sensitive insects are to light and humidity, even if a logged area of rainforest retains an insect's main food source, the change in local conditions could have seriously detrimental affects on the insect population. The resulting change in abundance and distribution of insect species could thus have serious consequences for local plant community dynamics.

Many scientists consider tropical forests to be more resilient to climate change than other ecosystems. Changes in the phenology of plants (timing of flowering), could result in asynchrony with insect predators. If plant species begin to bare fruit more regularly this could result in elevated insect predator populations. It is thought that increased predator numbers could thus reduce the rate of forest regeneration.

Thought should be given to the impacts of plant or seed predators introduced to combat invasive species, especially in the context of changes that could occur in the wider food web. The authors recommend that insect predators should be given equivalent consideration to functionally important groups such as pollinators, in the wider research agenda.


Source: Lewis, O.T. & Gripenberg, S. (2008) Insect seed predators and environmental change, Journal of Applied Ecology, DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2008.01575.

UK Science Advisory Council Meeting October 08

Yesterday, the BES policy team attended the Science Advisory Council Meeting at Westminster, London. The day provided an opportunity to meet with members of Defra, the media, other NGOs, listen to talks from senior scientists and learn about Defra's present and future plans.

The keynote speech was presented by the Chief Scientific Advisor, Prof. John Beddington. The scope of the speech was global, emphasising the need for a systems approach to tackling all of the biggest challenges mankind faces: an expected surge in demand for water, food, energy and an increasingly erratic climate.

Professor Beddington spoke of the need to be mindful of an increasing world population, coupled with a rise in economic prosperity in India and China in the context of meat demand and climate change, and a rise in demand for fundamental resources.

Climate change featured very highly on the agenda, with particular attention brought to ocean acidification and coastal vulnerability. Professor Beddington noted the startling prediction concerning the world's major ports; of the 135 major ports around the world, there is a 75% chance that at least one of these will be inundated by the sea over the next five years.

Continuing on the water theme, concerns were raised over the implications of water shortages, brought about by a combination of increased demand, and reduced supply because of climate change. For example, the political tension between India and Pakistan could be exacerbated as these vital resources become more scarce.

Professor Beddington cited South East Asia's achievement in increasing productivity since 1961 without a concurrent increase in land use, (although he failed to mention any implications for biodiversity). Given SE Asia's successes, he called for greater ingenuity in feeding a growing world population - a key challenge for the future. Selective plant genomics, (i.e. preferential propagation of plants with favourable traits), will enhance agricultural practices around the world, so long as we can improve our understanding of the plant genome.

Other news:

Tom Meagher gave a brief update on bluetongue disease, which affects ruminants such as cattle, but also affects deer, camels and goats. Its thought to have been spreading North from North Africa by wind-borne Cullicoides flies since the late 90s. There are 25 known serotypes, and in spring this year a vaccine rollout programme began. Currently vaccinations are optional, but not against all serotypes, however this is under review.

Based on the best available scientific evidence and after stakeholder engagement, Hilary Benn has no plans to cull badgers to prevent TB outbreaks in cattle. Plans to vaccinate badgers against TB have been put forward, but the practical and economic implications make this an unfeasible proposal.

Summary

Overall, Defra will seek to forge greater cross-sectoral links within government and urges research councils to facilitate multidisciplinary research. This will enable better evaluation of ecosystem services, and the broader implications of climate change. Greater links with the social sciences must also be sought to better evaluate the non-economic aspects of ecosystem services, for example historically significant sites and their place within the broader landscape.

The broad issues of food security, water, energy and climate change are all interlinked, and therefore should be considered holistically. Efforts to share information and expertise between government departments and research groups in order to face the challenges ahead is essential.

Blog readers are invited to comment

Translating Science to Policy Effectively: Looking to the Amazon

A high citation index is an interpretation of the effectiveness of science communication between scientists, not to mention the importance and relevance of the research, within that particular field. But is a highly cited paper an indication of effective communication to the public and policy makers?

Writing in NERC's Planet Earth publication, Alan Grainger recalled that research by Oliver Phillips in the late nineties illustrated just how tropical forests, not only store, but sequester carbon, set about a chain of events that resulted in the creation of RAINFOR, a multinational scientific network.

RAINFOR has published and continues to publish an extensive body of research in highly ranked journals. The research has reached policy makers in two distinct ways; indirectly through the IPCC and directly through a report by the British Government that used a synthesis of RAINFOR research at a UN convention on climate change.

Because the results of RAINFOR's work has been effectively communicated to policy-makers, initiatives such as carbon-offset schemes that involve planting forests have been operationalised. However international policy has yet to fully take on board the full implications of their research, such as conserving existing natural forests. If effectively valued and incorporated into the carbon offset markets, forests are worth orders of magnitude more standing then cleared.

Publishing in leading journals such as Science and Nature often results in a level of exposure to the media that would not otherwise be received in the 'smaller' journals. The BES journals (Journal of Ecology, Functional Ecology, Journal of Animal Ecology and Journal of Applied Ecology) are ranked some of the highest within ecology; all but one ranked inside the top twenty ecology journals. Concurrently, extensive media coverage highlights scientific developments to policy-makers. This can be particularly effective when the paper clearly has policy relevance, such as Professor Bill Sutherland's paper in the Journal of Applied Ecology in 2006: The identification of 100 questions of high policy-relevance in the UK.

When Alan Grainier reported that UN estimates of forest loss could be overinflated due to their statistical modeling techniques, and possibly underestimating the influence of natural forest regrowth, he stressed the importance of errors when making forest estimates. So that the message wasn't misinterpreted in his research, he emphasised the need for a better monitoring system. After exposure from the BBC, and subsequently across the globe, it is hoped that carbon credits trading under REDD, (Reducing GHG Emissions through Deforestation and forest Degradation), will consider Alan's idea of creating a World Forest Observatory.

Finally, interacting directly with ministers is an effective means of translating science into policy. Meetings and conferences attended by ministers, are a great opportunity for scientists to interact with politicians and present their ideas and findings.

Scientists must always be mindful that, in order to get the message across, they should be clear, non-technical and succinct, so as not to alienate their subject.

Climate Policymakers Must Consider Small Livestock Farmers

The director general of the International Livestock Research Institute, Carlos Sere has urged policy makers not to impose policies on farmers in developing countries to curb livestock use and production.

The institute recognises that livestock production is responsible for an estimated 18% of global greenhouse gases (GHGs), whilst transport contributes 13% overall.

Policies aimed at globally reducing meat consumption might make the livelihoods of small scale farmers in developing countries even more difficult than they already are.

Sere recognised the plight of the half a billion people around the world that rely upon domestic livestock: "If you stop [livestock] production, it will make a lot of people become poor … it's important to have policies to facilitate these people so they can live and adapt to more modern challenges." Sere believes that policymakers need to recognise the impacts of the decisions that they make.

As with so many global policy issues the policy, in most cases, must be fine tuned to the local level. In the Sci Dev article, Carlos Sere failed to mention the proportional impact that the enormous meat production industry in the West has, particularly the US and Europe. Carlos is right that small-scale independent farmers should not be 'forgotten' when policy is proposed. However the link between consumer demand, and where the impact of that demand is felt must be of chief importance in policy development in this area.

BES members and blog readers are invited to comment.

End in Sight for Japanese Knotweed?

A team of scientists based at the Centre for Agricultural and Biosciences International (CABI), after extensive experimental trials, have finally found a solution to the super invasive Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica.

Japanese knotweed is one of several invasive non-native species, that are collectively estimated to cost the UK billions of pounds in eradication programmes. It is notorious for growing rapidly from tiny fragments, and has the ability to pierce and break-up concrete and tarmac.

The research team at CABI, have discovered that Aphalara itadori, a type of jumping plant lice, is an effective biological control agent against japanese knotweed. The louse could potentially save millions of pounds in chemicals and other means of removal that is otherwise necessary.

The leader of CABI's research, Dick Shaw, said: “In the case of Japanese knotweed, doing nothing is not an option, so we are applying a century-old technique to a new target and are very hopeful of an effective and sustainable outcome.”

A. itadori has been through extensive trials, to make sure it has an exclusive preference to knotweed (over our native flora - 70 species having been tested). Only after having undergone a public consultation will the lice be ready for widespread use in the UK.

BES members and blog readers are invited to comment on this article

Royal Society Urge Stronger Action for Ozone Pollution

A recent report conducted by leading experts from across Europe published by the Royal Society, suggests we need much stronger legislation regarding tropospheric (low/ground-level atmosphere) ozone pollution.

Tropospheric ozone lowers crop yields, damages natural ecosystems and harms human health potentially leading to respiratory problems. It is created from reactions between compounds released from fossil fuels burnt in vehicles, power stations and aviation.

It has been estimated that over 1,500 people died in the UK in 2003 as a result of ozone pollution. The EU is said to have lost billions of Euros as a result of yield reduction caused by ozone. The 'precursor' pollutants such as methane and oxides of nitrogen are also active greenhouse gases, so a reduction in ozone pollution would contribute to the fight against climate change.

The Royal Society would like to see legislation that results in a decoupling of ozone pollution from economic growth. It is vital that greater regulation is imposed upon the shipping industry. The chair of the working group, Prof David Fowler, said that by 2020, pollution from shipping in Europe will outstrip land based sources. If ozone pollution continues as current trends predict, it will become a considerably more serious problem by the end of this century.


Download the report here: http://royalsociety.org/displaypagedoc.asp?id=31467

The BES invites BES members and readers of the blog to comment on this and any other articles

Content Analysis Could Aid Public Engagement

Recent research published in the British Ecological Society's Journal of Applied Ecology has revealed that analysis of language content used in debate between stakeholders could help find common ground to manage conflicts.

The researchers used the case study of hedgehog eradication on Scottish islands; hedgehogs were introduced to combat garden pests on one island but spread to a further three and became invasive, threatening ground nesting bird species. The issue was divisive and resulted in pro-bird and pro-hedgehog groups.

The researchers analysed stakeholder documents and media reports and found the pro-hedgehog group to be emotive, informal and focused on animal welfare issues, whereas the pro-bird group focused on the conservation of the birds and native wildlife, using more scientific language. The media, in this case, tended to be biased towards the hedgehogs, highlighting the killing of the individual hedgehogs, rather than the protection of entire populations utilising the islands.

Content analysis was found to be useful in finding common ground whilst a debate is ongoing, since it cannot be used until the text and media reports have been produced.

There may be lessons to be learned for those working in policy and public engagement. The media err towards an imbalanced non-scientific view, highlighting the plight of the targeted individuals rather than providing a balanced account of the whole situation, and motivations behind the action taken. Its often easier to conceptualise the 'few' over the 'many', and the media often plays on this. Providing greater weight, to the environmental concerns, communicated with clarity, whilst considering the favoured opinion may help engage the public in all the issues involved in debate.


Article source: Webb, T.J. and Raffaelli, D. (2008). Conversations in conservation: revealing and dealing with language difficulties in environmental conflicts. Journal of Applied Ecology. 45: 1198-1204.

Intermediaries Important to Bridge Divide Between Science and Policy

New research by the London-based Overseas Development Institute (ODI) indicates the value of intermediary organisations, such as the BES, in bridging the divide between science and policy. Although the research focused on the interface between science and development policy, they can equally be applied to science to ecology/ environmental policy-making. The research has been published as part of the ODI's RAPID programme (Research and Policy in Development).

More than 600 scientists, intermediaries and policy-makers responded to an electronic survey from the ODI, launched in summer 2007. The findings were combined with a literature review and case studies to generate the conclusions of the project.

The review and case-studies show that, in the developing world particularly, close personal relationships between scientists and policy-makers are extremely important.

Two-thirds of the stakeholders surveyed by the ODI stated that a lack of understanding by policy-makers was a major obstacle to getting scientific information into policy. Poor dissemination of research findings was also identified as a hindrance. Policy-makers found opportunities to exchange opinions with scientists, and other forms of personal interaction, the most valuable means to increase their engagement with the science community.

The BES plays an important role in building the relationships between scientists and policy-makers highlighted as so important by this research. Our Ministerial Shadowing Scheme allows early-career ecologists to spend several days shadowing a Minister or government official, experiencing first-hand how the policy-making process works. The BES also organises workshops each year to bring policy-makers and scientists closer together, so building networks of collaboration.

Access the ODI's report
Find out more about the BES's Ministerial Shadowing Scheme and Policy Meetings.

Science Advisory Council Open Meeting: 28 October 2008

Defra's Science Advisory Council has announced an Open Meeting on 28 October 2008, to provide the opportunity for delegates to find out more about how the Council works, and to explore the biggest challenges faced by Defra.

The Science Advisory Council was established in 2004 and provides independent scientific advice to Defra's Chief Scientific Advisor and to Government Ministers.

The meeting will examine:
· Defra's Evidence Programme – establishing the major evidence challenges Defra is facing and the future research and development activities needed to tackle these,
· The Council’s role in continuing to provide the best possible independent strategic science advice to Defra,
· Current animal health issues, including an update on work to identify research gaps and priorities for the control of Bluetongue.

Professor John Beddington, Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor will address the meeting on “Key Science Challenges across Government”.

The meeting is free to attend but pre-registration is essential.
Register for the event at Defra's website.

IIED Research and Media Social Network

The International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has established a 'Research and Media Network' to link together researchers, journalists, science communicators, policy-makers and others with an interest in research, policy and sustainable development. The social network now boasts over 1000 members in 100 countries.

View the network and sign up.

Coral Reef Ecosystem Services Valued

A team of environmental economists have asked Bermuda's residents to put a Total Economic Value on Bermuda's reefs.

Household surveys of residents will be used to determine a mean TEV for the reefs, so that fines can be levied against any person or company, found to damage the reefs, whether by ship grounding, propellor scarring or anchor damage. The proposals aim to incorporate the coral reefs into future planning proposals too, so, for example if offshore wind farms are planned to be built over the reefs then their value can be included in any cost benefit analysis.

Project coordinator Dr. Sarkis spoke of the novelty and importance of the work:

"[This is] the first study which gives a voice to the environment, so when people are trying to make decisions and policies, we can bring the environment to the table on an equal footing."

A draft version of a Marine Bill for England's coast has been consulted on by relevant stakeholders and NGOs, including the BES. It is strongly hoped that the Government will take an ecosystem services approach to managing our marine wildlife, as is planned in Bermuda. The BES is actively engaged in work to ensure that British Government take an ecosystems services approach to all future developments proposals whether marine or land-based.

It is hoped that the coral reef valuation project, funded by the UK Overseas territory project, will be completed by mid-2009.

BES members and blog readers are invited to comment