Policy and Management Impacts

Why?

Biodiversity is not an issue that stands alone. It is a concept that sits within a co-evolving system of social and ecosystem interactions at a variety of scales. To address biodiversity fully, it is necessary to see the context within which it is framed.

This module seeks to explore the conflicting influences on decisions that affect biodiversity, for example:

Improving engagement and governance require:

• Changes in markets and consumer demand
• Normative influences within the agricultural community
• Changes in policy and agricultural funding schemes

We take an integrated approach to examine the biodiversity implications of policy and management change, using advanced simulation and GIS modelling techniques to explore the issues, together with broader qualitative analyses.

Outcomes

• Understanding of the wider influences of management and policy on biodiversity change
• Evaluation of scale issues associated with biodiversity change (scales of management, scales of policy implementation, scales of impact)
• Assessment of potential biodiversity impacts of future policy changes

Contact

Dr Gary Polhill g.polhill@macaulay.ac.uk