Methodology Work packages WP 1: Understanding combinations of anthropogenic and natural processes across scales WP 2: Scaling biotic processes WP 3: Up- and down-scaling methods: cross-scale method development WP 4: Multi-level governance and policy instruments WP 5: Testing the practical suitability and matching of methods and policy instruments WP 6: Synthesis: Integration and development of SCALETOOL WP 7: Dissemination and Science-policy dialogue WP 8: Coordination Expected results Partners Project timetable Project organisation

WP 4: Multi-level governance and policy instruments

(Jukka Similä, Co-ordinator)

Objectives

This work package aims to contribute to the understanding of the scale sensitivity of policy instruments. It will

• Assess the merits and drawbacks of EU policies governing biodiversity conservation and anthropogenic;
• Processes relevant for scale-related problems, such as fragmentation;
• Identify and evaluate national policy instruments potentially able to mitigate undesirable impacts of harmful anthropogenic process;
• Identify, analyse and develop innovative policy instruments and mechanisms to address scale-related problems.

Description of work

This WP will identify key aspects of major policy instruments both at EU and national levels that reflect their scale sensitivity and effectiveness. Based on this evaluation, WP4 will provide recommendations how to improve policy instruments. Instruments that will be analyzed include the EU Habitats and Birds Directives and their national implementation, as well as other relevant sector specific instruments governing anthropogenic processes, which generate pressure on protected habitats and the landscape outside protected areas. Due to the complexity of the causes and the processes of fragmentation as well as other problems occurring at and across different scales, no single instrument is likely to be effective alone. Hence special emphasis will be put on the interaction of policies across and within different administrative levels and sectors – in other words, WP4 emphasises multi-level governance approaches. To this end, the mechanisms through which instruments influence behaviour and practice at different administrative levels will be analysed. In a first task, we will address EU policies, in a second task, national policies, and in a third task innovative policy instruments. All three tasks will pass on their results to WP5 for evaluating their matching with scale-dependent biodiversity processes and assessment methods and for further development of policy improvements, to WP6 for integration into policy recommendations, and to WP7 for science-policy dialogues.