30 th October 2006 - RISK Workshop - Banchory Communicating risks to biodiversity Jurgen Tack...

30th October 2006 - RISK Workshop - Banchory

Communicating risks to biodiversity

Jurgen TackBelgian Biodiversity Platform

Research Institute for Nature and Forest

Belgium


The risks of communicating“Revealed: how global warming will cause extinction of million species”

The Independent, 8 January 2004

“A quarter of known land animals and plants, more than a million species will die out because of global warming the next 50 years”Nature, same week, Chris Thomas, Leeds University, UK

Scientists involved in drawing up the Red List report that Thomas’s estimates may have been far too highGlobal Change Biology, vol 12, p 2037

“Fewer extinctions”“The complex criteria for assessing endangered species status have beenmisapplied”NewScientist, 28 October 2006

“Measurements of 1300 vertebrate species show biodiversity has declined by around 30% between 1970 and 2003.NewScientist, 28 October 2006, next page, referring to the Living Planet Report


The communication matrix

ScienceEnv.

PolicySci.

PolicyPublic

Science

Env.Policy

Sci.

Policy

Public


Science - Science

-

BudgetPast

+

Public reached

Arts – print - digital

Tools

Individuals – groups of researchers

Who

Present

Future

Cave paintings; art; architecture;language; monographies; scienceshow

Publication; presentation; poster

Electronic publications; e-conferences;Science exchange libraries


Most policy issues: public driven/supported by scientific researchEnvironmental policy:

•science driven, not always supported by public opinion•Stories; indicators, scenarios

Science policy: •policy driven, not always supported by science•Direct involvement of science: EPBRS and National Biodiversity Platforms•IPCC, IUCN, IMOSEB

Science - Policy

-

BudgetPast

+

Public reached

Verbal – print (reports & documents)

Tools

Individuals - individuals

Who

Present

Future

Policy in general: advisory roleAstrology, war science

Science translation (new research publications), Science-Policy advisors (new departments)


Education; science communication (no professional approach); public relations; television; movies, sceince channels; large public outreach events (science weeks); hand on exhibitions; increasing use of internet

Science - Public

+ (0.7% of research budget)(Industry 14%; Coca-cola 38%)

BudgetPast

+

Public reached

Hocus pocus – stories – edutainmentVerbal – print - internet

Tools

Individuls; PR-department; Media companies

Who

Present

Future

Arts; Medicine; science shows; exhibitions (zoos, national history museums and botanical gardens); books (for the rich); newspaper (1820, …)

Integrated approach (combination of different communication tools)Science and technology information demand grows in all sectors


CHM CBD

Policy - Science

Non existing

BudgetPast

Non existing

Public reached

CHM

Tools

Individual initiatives

Who

Present

Future

Non existing

???


Env. policy – Env. policy

+

BudgetPast

+

Public reached

Printed material - meetings

Tools

Organisations & governements

Who

Present

Future

Not existing

Best practices (flyers, books)National/international meetingsDocuments (lots of)Biodiversity: CHM CBDCountdown 2010: 1st pol-pol campaign

Information/knowledge based systems


Env. policy – Science policy

Not existing

BudgetPast

?

Public reached

Documents & meetings

Tools

Governments

Who

Present

Future

Not existing

CHM CBDEPBRS – National Biodiversity Platforms

Policy information specific for stakeholders & partners


Science policy – Env. policy

+

BudgetPast

+

Public reached

Documents & meetings

Tools

Governements

Who

Present

Future

Individual reports

Sci. Policy picks up environmental important issuesNo systematic communicationBiodiversity: EPBRS – National Biodiversity Platforms

Research management systems (Biodiversa)


Science policy – Science policy

Not existing

BudgetPast

Public reached

none

Tools

none

Who

Present

Future

Not existing

Not existing

Research Management Systems (Biodiversa)


Policy - Public

++

BudgetPast

+++

Public reached

Mass media

Tools

Governmental and non-governmental organisations

Who

Present

Future

Increasing interest since nineteen sixties

Campaigns

Multi-platform communication


Policy - Public


Public - science

+++

BudgetPast

+++

Public reached

Mass media

Tools

Non-governmental organisations; political parties, religious organisations

Who

Present

Future

Religion

ReligionPoliticsParticipative science

More interactive participation


Public - Policy

+++

BudgetPast

+++

Public reached

Mass media

Tools

Green minded individuals or groups

Who

Present

Future

ReligionPolitics

ReligionPoliticsNon-governmental environmental organisations

Direct link through e-government


Public - Public

+++

BudgetPast

+++

Public reached

Internet

Tools

All (individuals)

Who

Present

Future

Talking; meetings

Civil journalism; internet based discussion groups; blogs (first attempts)

Civil journalism; internet based discussion groups; blogs


The communication matrix: budgets

ScienceEnv.

PolicySci.

PolicyPublic

Science - - +

Env.Policy

Sci.

Policy0 + ++

Public +++ +++ +++


Biodiversity vs climate

• Biodiversity Extinctions not visible No measure No technological

solution Low media attention Representation (Bob

Watson, Al Gore) Origin of biodiversity

loss ?????? Complexity

• Climate Personal involvement Measure Technological solution High media attention No representation

(Cousteau, Attenborough, …)

Causes well known Relatively simple (?!)

30 th October 2006 - RISK Workshop - Banchory Communicating risks to biodiversity Jurgen Tack...

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