Summary of the impact

AU Research has had impact through the shaping of policies, practices and behaviours affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services (ESS) across a wide range of beneficiaries. The research has involved developing methods for valuing ESS, and subsequently mainstreaming this ESS framework to:

• Local communities: AU research has empowered indigenous communities in the Solomon Islands to use their forest resource more sustainably;
• UK policy: AU research has directly influenced the shape UK biodiversity conservation policies;
• International policy: AU research has led to international policy commitments from countries to better conserve global biodiversity.

Summary of the impact

New approaches to analysing and modelling water systems, developed at Cardiff, have driven national policy changes to improve the proportion of fully functioning water ecosystems in the UK. UK Government, Welsh Government and a range of NGOs have adopted these new approaches, which replace traditional descriptive methods with experimental, analytical and modeling techniques for understanding water ecosystems.

These approaches have been used to develop the water-related component of the National Ecosystem Assessment. This document has directly impacted on UK river management policy, forming the basis of two Defra White papers, `Natural Choice' and `Water for Life', underpinning Welsh Government's Natural Environment Framework and informing the work of a range of NGOs.

Summary of the impact

The School of Environmental Sciences, through its Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (CSERGE) has exerted a seminal influence upon decision-making regarding natural capital and the ecosystem services they supply. Major impacts have been upon UK Government Policy (including the Natural Environment White Paper); Government guidelines (regarding the valuation of ecosystem services and their incorporation within decisions); underpinning UK Official Reports (including the UK National Ecosystem Assessment); Government Committees (including the Defra Science Advisory Council and H.M. Treasury Natural Capital Committee); and the business sector (such as the privatised water companies). In addition, substantial TV, radio and newspaper exposure has generated impact through raising awareness of ecosystem service related issues.

Summary of the impact

Irish, UK and European policy and legislation intended to mitigate the ecological damage and economic costs of invasive alien species (IAS) has been influenced by our inter-governmental Invasive Species Ireland project. Legislation was enacted through the Wildlife Order (NI) 1985 (as amended) and the EC (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2010. Our assessments on the `Killer Shrimp' Dikerogammarus villosus contributed to the EU strategy on IAS. Our Controlling Invasive Riparian Species project removed invasive plants from over 600 km of riverbank in Ireland and Scotland, restoring native biodiversity, and is cited as a best practice case study in the IAS Strategy for Northern Ireland.

Summary of the impact

The Mikoko Pamoja project uses carbon credits for conservation and development in Africa. It is one outcome of Edinburgh Napier University's (ENU) work on mangrove ecology which has local, national and international impacts. With public and private support, the project has recruited >140 international volunteers, trained 46 African scientists, and funded development including schools and pumps. It is pioneering community control of mangroves using new legal instruments and informing the national management plan. A regional forum founded by the team facilitates international networking. The work has been highlighted by the United Kingdom (UK) Department for International Development as good practice and has generated ACES (Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services), a new charity.

Summary of the impact

Effective, equitable natural resource management poses increasingly complex challenges for policymakers and local communities in the context of climate change, population growth and potentially conflicting agendas on biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and economic growth. Leicester research on socio-ecological, culturally appropriate approaches to environmental governance and sustainability has been integral to:

• The development of evidence-based policy and practice on land use, tenure, conservation and pastoralists' livelihoods in Mongolia, by i) empowering herders to communicate with newly-elected government officials; ii) input to policymakers and donors and iii) enhancing herders' understanding and implementation of collaborative management.
• Improved water access amongst marginalised communities at Lake Naivasha, Kenya, with tangible impacts on water poverty and well-being, through i) rehabilitation of infrastructure, ii) environmental education and capacity building and iii) new strategies for sustainable development across the Naivasha basin.

Summary of the impact

Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) are a serious risk to human health and the sustainability of the aquaculture industry. Research by Prof. Davidson has improved understanding of temporal and spatial trends in marine HABs and detection of toxins in farmed shellfish. Knowledge gleaned from this research has been adopted by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the design of the HAB Monitoring Programme for Scotland. Prof. Davidson leads the FSA HAB Monitoring Programme. The research findings also underpin the Crown Estate's finfish monitoring programmes and are used to advise aquaculture businesses on ways to reduce economic impact of HAB events.

Summary of the impact

BEAA's large-scale research designing and testing alternative grazing management systems for the uplands has achieved impact on the environment and economy. Environmental policy and its implementation via agri-environment schemes has been directly and indirectly influenced, with the evidence provided by the research vital to the development of grazing prescriptions and related payment structures by government agencies and conservation bodies. The results have also benefitted the upland farming community by identifying opportunities for improved productivity and hence economic viability; through e.g. more efficient use of pasture resources leading to higher growth rates for forage-based systems and reduced reliance on purchased feed and fertiliser.

Summary of the impact

Managing and conserving the marine environment requires defining what constitutes healthy ecosystems and understanding the effects of pollution. Edinburgh Napier University (ENU) research defining `undesirable disturbance' allowed the United Kingdom (UK) to mount a successful defence at the European Court of Justice in 2009 against alleged infraction of UK obligations under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. This saved UK taxpayers £6 billion in estimated additional costs. The European Union (EU) Marine Strategy Framework Directive uses a definition of good status for pelagic habitats derived from work at ENU, which benefits policy makers and marine stakeholders by facilitating the establishment of Marine Protected Areas.

Summary of the impact

Impacts: I) Improved provision of environmental services in Belize, including the creation of plant reference collections / databases and the training of conservation professionals and students.
II) Land-management policy formation by the Government of Belize and NGOs.

Significance and reach: Over the period 2009 - July 2013 there has been a step-change in the quality of biodiversity monitoring carried out by NGOs and the Government of Belize; including the latter being better able to meet international reporting requirements. Over the same period, 40 conservation professionals have been trained in Belize.

Underpinned by: Research into savanna plant diversity, led by the University of Edinburgh (1996 - 2012).