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The identification of 100 ecological questions of high policy relevance in the UK
WILLIAM J.SUTHERLAND1, SUSANARMSTRONG-BROWN2, PAUL R.ARMSWORTH3, TOMBRERETON4, JONATHANBRICKLAND5, COLIN D.CAMPBELL6, DANIEL E.CHAMBERLAIN7, ANDREW I.COOKE8, NICHOLAS K.DULVY9, NICHOLAS R.DUSIC10, MARTINFITTON11, ROBERT P.FRECKLETON12, H. CHARLES J.GODFRAY13, NICKGROUT14, H. JOHNHARVEY15, COLINHEDLEY16, JOHN J.HOPKINS17, NEIL B.KIFT18, JEFFKIRBY19, WILLIAM E.KUNIN20, DAVID W.MACDONALD21, BRIANMARKER22, MARCNAURA23, ANDREW R.NEALE24, TOMOLIVER25, DANOSBORN26, ANDREW S.PULLIN27, MATTHEW E. A.SHARDLOW28, DAVID A.SHOWLER1, PAUL L.SMITH29, RICHARD J.SMITHERS30, JEAN-LUCSOLANDT31, JONATHANSPENCER32, CHRIS J.SPRAY33, CHRIS D.THOMAS34, JIMTHOMPSON35, SARAH E.WEBB36, DEREK W.YALDEN37 and ANDREW R.WATKINSON38
1Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Biological Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK; 2RSPB, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2 DL, UK; 3Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; 4Butterfly Conservation, Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset BH20 5QP, UK; 5British Waterways, Fearns Wharf, Neptune Street, Leeds LS9 8PB, UK; 6The Macaulay Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH, UK; 7British Trust for Ornithology, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk IP24 2 PU, UK; 8Rural Development Service, Department of Environment and Rural Affairs, Woodthorne, Wergs Road, Wolverhampton WV6 8TQ, UK; 9Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UK; 10British Ecological Society, 26 Blades Court, Deodar Road, London SW15 2NU, UK; 11The Association of National Park Authorities, 126 Bute Street, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff CF10 5LE, UK; 12Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK; 13NERC Centre for Population Biology, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot, Berkshire SL5 7PY, UK; 14Office of Science and Technology, Science in Government Directorate, Department of Trade and Industry, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1, UK; 15The National Trust, Heelis, Kemble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire SN2 2NA, UK; 16Country Land and Business Association, 16 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PQ, UK; 17English Nature, North Minster House, Peterborough P61 1UA, UK; 18National Farmer's Union, Agriculture House, Stoneleigh Park, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire CV8 2TZ, UK; 19Natural Resource and Rural Affairs Science Division, Defra, Room G05, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EB, UK; 20Earth and Biosphere Institute, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK; 21Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford, Tubney House, Abingdon Road, Tubney, Oxfordshire OX13 5QL, UK; 22Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Zone 4/A2, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5 DU, UK; 23Technical Adviser 1, Ecology & Conservation, The Environment Agency, Richard Fairelough House, Knutsford Road, Warrington WA4 1HG, UK; 24Countryside Agency, John Dower House, Crescent Place, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL50 3RA, UK; 25Campaign to Protect Rural England, 128 Southwark St, London SE1 0SW, UK; 26Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Library Avenue, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4AP, UK; 27Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation, School of Biosciences, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; 28Buglife – The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, 170A Park Road, Peterborough PE1 2UF, UK; 29Wildlife Trusts Representative, Middlemarch Environmental Ltd, Triumph House, Birmingham Road, Allesley, Coventry CV5 9AZ, UK; 30The Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Dysart Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL, UK; 31Marine Conservation Society, Wolf Business Park, Alton Road, Ross on Wye HR9 5NB, UK; 32Forest Enterprise, The Queens House, Lyndhurst, Hampshire SO43 7NH, UK; 33Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, Erskine Court, Castle Business Park, Stirling FK9 4TR, UK; 34Department of Biology (Area 18), University of York, PO Box 373, York YO10 5YW, UK; 35Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, 45, Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 9EH, UK; 36Office of Science and Technology, Exploitation Group, 1 Victoria Street, London SW1H OET, UK; 37Mammal Society representative, School of Life Sciences, 3239 Stopford Building, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, UK; 38Schools of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK
Correspondence: William J. Sutherland, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, School of Biological Science, University of East Anglia, Norwich, Norfolk NR4 7TJ, UK (e-mail W.Sutherland@uea.ac.uk).
Evidence-based policy requires researchers to provide the answers to ecological questions that are of interest to policy makers. To find out what those questions are in the UK, representatives from 28 organizations involved in policy, together with scientists from 10 academic institutions, were asked to generate a list of questions from their organizations.
2.
During a 2-day workshop the initial list of 1003 questions generated from consulting at least 654 policy makers and academics was used as a basis for generating a short list of 100 questions of significant policy relevance. Short-listing was decided on the basis of the preferences of the representatives from the policy-led organizations.
3.
The areas covered included most major issues of environmental concern in the UK, including agriculture, marine fisheries, climate change, ecosystem function and land management.
4.
The most striking outcome was the preference for general questions rather than narrow ones. The reason is that policy is driven by broad issues rather than specific ones. In contrast, scientists are frequently best equipped to answer specific questions. This means that it may be necessary to extract the underpinning specific question before researchers can proceed.
5.
Synthesis and applications. Greater communication between policy makers and scientists is required in order to ensure that applied ecologists are dealing with issues in a way that can feed into policy. It is particularly important that applied ecologists emphasize the generic value of their work wherever possible.
Received 25 September 2005; final copy received 24 March 2006 Editor: Phil Hulme
This Virtual Issue accompanies our latest Special Profile: Challenges and Prospects for Applied Ecology in China, now available online
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