BioWatch UK: Participatory biodiversity assessment in the UK: building environmental governance.
The synergistic / integrative work of the Human Ecology programme is epitomised by the internet conference convened by ECI and the European Tropical Forest Research Network in January 2002, on 'Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation of Biodiversity'.
With 300 participants from 55 countries, and representatives from grassroots organisations in Nepal and Indonesia, through local government in Scotland, to the World Bank and the international CBD Secretariat in Montreal, it provided a forum to share experiences and goals among people from a diversity of cultural and disciplinary backgrounds who do not normally find the space compare and reflect on experiences.
The emphasis of local stakeholders on the cultural, spiritual and other qualitative dimensions of 'biodiversity' and the 'ecosystem' provided some challenges for researchers and international decision-makers, who prefer to digest data in quantitative, spatially comparable forms.
The conference made some important contacts for ECI, and has led to further seminars (for policy makers, in DFID offices in May, and at the International Agriculture Centre in Wageningen this October) and publications (a commissioned book of case studies).
Project Documents
- Participatory assessment, monitoring and evaluation of biodiversity: the art and the science (Background paper)
- Page summary of workshop results: English| Spanish
- Summary of internet discussion
- Summary of policy seminar
- Policy Briefing paper: Participatory assessment monitoring and evaluation of Biodiversity: A briefing paper for planners, policy makers and advisers