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

WP7: Dissemination and Science-policy dialogue

(Lyubomir Penev, Co-ordinator)

 Objectives

• Dissemination, publication, promulgation, and exploitation of major project results;
• Training of managers, PhD students, and postdocs;
• To establish a continuous science-policy interface at national and EU level.

Description of work

The work is composed of three tasks: a) to present and disseminate project results to a wide range of users (decision makers, managers, conservation scientists, and amateur naturalist) and the public; b) training for managers and other stakeholders of Natura2000, as well as PhD students and postdocs; c) establishment and maintenance of a continuous science-policy dialogue.

Task 1: Dissemination. The overriding emphasis will be on disseminating high quality, comprehensive information to a wide variety of audiences and users. The web platform set-up for

internal communication in the coordination WP (WP8) will also be used for compilation, synthesis, and dissemination of main results of the project to the interested parties (i) decision makers, administrators, and managers in applied conservation, (ii) scientists, and (iii) general public), and to accumulate (and make available) documents relevant to the topic within the SCALES Online Library. Three main channels will be used to reach the first target group. We will publish results in journals generally accessible to decision makers, administrators, and managers, such as the "Science for Environment Policy Newsletter" issued by the European Commission, involve members of The European Parliament and of national parliaments in the network of stakeholders associated with SCALES, and use our network of existing personal and institutional links, such as the Helmholtz Office in Brussels, for disseminating leaflets, brochures and recommendations, which “translate” the academic language to the users among NATURA 2000 and nature conservation managers and non-specialists’ audience. For dissemination via mass media we will take advantage of the International Press Centre for Biodiversity established by ALTER-NET. The final conference (UFZ) will contain sections targeted to this group of users. For scientists as a target group, we will use the conventional scientific channels, such as journals (original scientific publications and review articles), conferences, and publications summarising the results of SCALES, including the final book of SCALES. We will establish a new on-line open-access journal on scale-related biodiversity research and application (PENSOFT). We will organise a final conference (UFZ) that is open to a broad scientific audience and we will facilitate access to results via the Internet. The general public will be reached mostly through mass-media, PR activities, as well as through popular-science online newsletter and printed leaflets.

Task 2 – Training. Training for stakeholders of different administrative levels and NGOs, and across sectors will be provided on: (1) effective implementation of networks of protected areas (including solving actual conflicts occurring at the interfaces between protected areas and the local community) and (2) for monitoring biodiversity across scales. In total, we plan six 1-day trainings, three on each subject. In addition, a forum and communication platform for PhD students and Post Docs will be established in the project. Subsessions with PhD presentations and posters will be organized at the SCALES general meetings, to facilitate networking and scientific discussion among PhD-students. Post Docs will lead these activities. Relevant PhD-courses or summer schools offered at partner institutions or elsewhere will be posted on the SCALES web page. Two two-days training solving actual conflicts occurring at the interfaces between protected areas and the local community) and (2) for monitoring biodiversity across scales. In total, we plan six 1-day trainings, three on each subject. In addition, a forum and communication platform for PhD students and Post Docs will be established in the project. Subsessions with PhD presentations and posters will be organized at the SCALES general meetings, to facilitate networking and scientific discussion among PhD-students. Post Docs will lead these activities. Relevant PhD-courses or summer schools offered at partner institutions or elsewhere will be posted on the SCALES web page. Two two-days training courses for PhD students and Post Docs on methodology of scaling will be organised in the second and third year. Invitations to this course will be sent around to a wide number of academic institutions and related FP projects. The

lecturer(s) will come mostly from SCALES partners.

Task 3: Science policy dialogue. For the development of a continuous science-policy dialogue we will build on strong links between the consortium and a number of national and international organisations and networks in the science-policy interface. At the European level, science-policy interface mechanisms will involve key policy-makers and other stakeholders, especially DG ENVIRONMENT, DG AGRICULTURE, members of the European Parliament, the European Topic Centre for Biodiversity, the European Environmental Agency, the Scientific Working Group of the Habitats Committee, in which all Member States are represented, the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy (EPBRS), and international NGOs. At the national level, each team of the SCALES consortium will take over responsibilities for direct contacts to relevant national managers, NGOs, and decision makers. In this way and by closely cooperating with EPBRS and the national biodiversity platforms, we will be able to identify the most important and appropriate target groups and also the most effective channels through which information can be transferred. The different mechanisms that we will set up include: (i) invitation of the Advisory Board of Stakeholders set up by WP8 to all main meetings of SCALES: (ii) invitation of additional stakeholders to meetings of SCALES as appropriate; (iii) regular participation in policy meetings and workshops organised by key organizations, especially those mentioned above; (iv) presentation of SCALES results in targeted workshops with these groups, where stakeholders knowledge needs and knowledge emerging from the project will be discussed; (v) setting-up ad-hoc advisory groups of SCALES scientists to meet specific demands of policy-makers. In addition, we will invite both scientists and policy-makers to the training workshops (task 2) and the final conference (task 1) to further strengthen the science-policy dialogue. SCALES will further link with other relevant research projects to explore options for joint actions in science-policy interfaces.