147
© The Author(s) 2020
O. Saito et al. (eds.), Managing Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and
Seascapes for Sustainable Communities in Asia, Science for Sustainable
Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1133-2_8
Chapter 8
Mapping the Current Understanding
of Biodiversity Science–Policy Interfaces
Ikuko Matsumoto, Yasuo Takahashi, André Mader, Brian Johnson,
Federico Lopez-Casero, Masayuki Kawai, Kazuo Matsushita,
and Sana Okayasu
Abstract This chapter contributes to improve an understanding of the effectiveness
of different biodiversity science–policy interfaces (SPIs), which play a vital role in
navigating policies and actions with sound evidence base. The single comprehensive study that was found to exist, assessed SPIs in terms of their ‘features’—goals,
structure, process, outputs and outcomes. We conducted a renewed systematic
review of 96 SPI studies in terms of these features, but separating outcomes, as a
proxy for effectiveness, from other features. Outcomes were considered in terms of
their perceived credibility, relevance and legitimacy. SPI studies were found to
focus mostly on global scale SPIs, followed by national and regional scale SPIs and
few at subnational or local scale. The global emphasis is largely explained by the
numerous studies that focused on the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Regionally, the vast majority of studies were
European, with a severe shortage of studies, and possibly SPIs themselves, in especially the developing world. Communication at the science–policy interface was
found to occur mostly between academia and governments, who were also found to
initiate most communication. Certain themes emerged across the different features
of effective SPIs, including capacity building, trust building, adaptability and continuity. For inclusive, meaningful and continuous participation in biodiversity SPIs,
continuous, scientifically sound and adaptable processes are required. Effective,
interdisciplinary SPIs and timely and relevant inputs for policymakers are required
I. Matsumoto · Y. Takahashi (*) · A. Mader · B. Johnson · F. Lopez-Casero · M. Kawai ·
S. Okayasu
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
e-mail: yasuo.takahashi@iges.or.jp
K. Matsushita
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
© The Author(s) 2020
O. Saito et al. (eds.), Managing Socio-ecological Production Landscapes and
Seascapes for Sustainable Communities in Asia, Science for Sustainable
Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-1133-2_8
Chapter 8
Mapping the Current Understanding
of Biodiversity Science–Policy Interfaces
Ikuko Matsumoto, Yasuo Takahashi, André Mader, Brian Johnson,
Federico Lopez-Casero, Masayuki Kawai, Kazuo Matsushita,
and Sana Okayasu
Abstract This chapter contributes to improve an understanding of the effectiveness
of different biodiversity science–policy interfaces (SPIs), which play a vital role in
navigating policies and actions with sound evidence base. The single comprehensive study that was found to exist, assessed SPIs in terms of their ‘features’—goals,
structure, process, outputs and outcomes. We conducted a renewed systematic
review of 96 SPI studies in terms of these features, but separating outcomes, as a
proxy for effectiveness, from other features. Outcomes were considered in terms of
their perceived credibility, relevance and legitimacy. SPI studies were found to
focus mostly on global scale SPIs, followed by national and regional scale SPIs and
few at subnational or local scale. The global emphasis is largely explained by the
numerous studies that focused on the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Regionally, the vast majority of studies were
European, with a severe shortage of studies, and possibly SPIs themselves, in especially the developing world. Communication at the science–policy interface was
found to occur mostly between academia and governments, who were also found to
initiate most communication. Certain themes emerged across the different features
of effective SPIs, including capacity building, trust building, adaptability and continuity. For inclusive, meaningful and continuous participation in biodiversity SPIs,
continuous, scientifically sound and adaptable processes are required. Effective,
interdisciplinary SPIs and timely and relevant inputs for policymakers are required
I. Matsumoto · Y. Takahashi (*) · A. Mader · B. Johnson · F. Lopez-Casero · M. Kawai ·
S. Okayasu
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
e-mail: yasuo.takahashi@iges.or.jp
K. Matsushita
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Hayama, Kanagawa, Japan
Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan