WP11

EO supported policy development and integration (WP Leader: M. Jurek (UNEP), matthias.jurek[AT]unvienna.org)

The main objective of this WP is to facilitate and enhance the use of the Earth Observation (EO) and in-situ data and tools/services developed in particular in WP3, WP4 and WP5, as well as of the modelling results obtained in WP6, WP7, WP8 and results from WP9, in decision-making, in particular, at the level of management of targeted Protected Areas (PAs).

In collaboration with policy makers and resource managers (PA managers) in targeted pilot sites (existing internationally recognised PAs), partners will develop the necessary science-policy interface to assess the status and temporal evolution of diverse and changing ecosystems and their services in response to policy needs. The outputs of WP11 will provide a basis for the integration of EO data into policy and decision making processes for PAs in general and selected PAs as well as the GEO/GEOSS system in particular. Outputs will be made available through the Virtual Laboratory Platform (WP10). Partners will collaborate closely with the WP11 team and define synergies between activities undertaken.

The overall objective will be achieved through the following specific objectives:

• Assessment of relevant capacities of stakeholders at different scales for guiding, processing and integrating EO data/tools in decision-making and assessment of bottle-necks in terms of integration;

• Strengthening the science-policy interface through enhanced dialogue between the scientific (WP 3-9), policy-making (WP11) and other stakeholder communities to better specify the required research outputs of the project;

• Building capacity and training, and increasing the potential for successful policy formulation by integrating stakeholders into a genuine trans-disciplinary process to collaboratively develop, facilitate and work at the science policy interface and support the further integration of EO data/tools (developed in other WPs) in management, monitoring and policy development;

• Contribute to the plan for the dissemination and exploitation of the results prepared by WP12.