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ullrika at the uncertainty show

Ullrika Sahlin

Senior lecturer

ullrika at the uncertainty show

External evaluation of the scientific basis of the assessment system for ecological condition in Norway

Author

  • Katarina Eckerberg
  • Lena Gustafsson
  • Jon Moen
  • Andrea Joslyn Nightingale
  • Patrick Roose
  • Ullrika Sahlin
  • Jan Martin Węsławski

Summary, in English

This reportis an external evaluation of the scientific basis of the Norwegian assessment system for ecological condition, commissioned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment. Two assessment methods are currently used for various terrestsrial and marine ecosystem: the Panel-Based Assessment of Ecological Condition (PAEC) and the Index-Based Ecological Condition Assessment (IBECA). The purpose of the evaluation is to scrutinise and compare the respective scientific strengths and weaknesses of the two assessment methods, as well as the assessments carried out since 2017, and to evaluate the suitability of the two assessment methods for evidence-based policy-making. The evaluation should cover possible improvements and adjustments to the assessment system regarding methods and scientific design, including opportunities and dilemmas, and "as far as the available information permits" discuss the role of the two assessment methods as basis for decisions in policy and management including any limitations of the knowledge base. All these aims are well covered in the report.

The evaluation panel has consisted of seven international experts, coordinated by the Norwegian Research Council. The panel has evaluated twelve PAEC and IBECA reports including an advisory report setting the framework conditions for the assessment system. Three peer-reviewed articles describining the respective methods have been considiered. Further, the panel has interviewed five experts involved in the assessments and 14 stakeholders to better understand the methods for assessment and the potential use of the assessment results for policy and management.

The evaluation ends with proposing specific recommendations both to the PAEC and IBECA methods and to the Ministry.

Department/s

  • Computational Science for Health and Environment
  • MERGE: ModElling the Regional and Global Earth system
  • Centre for Environmental and Climate Science (CEC)
  • BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate

Publishing year

2024

Language

Swedish

Document type

Report

Publisher

The Research Council of Norway

Topic

  • Political Science
  • Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
  • Ecology (including Biodiversity Conservation)
  • Environmental Sciences
  • Climate Science
  • Agricultural Science

Keywords

  • evaluation
  • ecological assessment
  • assessment system
  • ecological condition

Status

Published

Research group

  • Computational Science for Health and Environment

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 978-82-12-04189-9