SUBJECT: Science and policy
AUTHOR: Katalin Torok
DATE: 17th April 2003

KEYWORDS: Role of scientists and officials.

SUMMARY: Decision making and science are exercised by different groups. To improve communication and understanding among them, both groups should involve young experts more in the process.

I agree with Rainer Muessner that a "best practice" manual for policy advice would be another document that would not be used. According to my experience first only in research and then working with government officials, the gap is great.... Scientists often make decisions arbitrarily, made in a "hectic" way, without sufficient scientific background. Officials think scientists cannot help them in their every day solutions as they are not "practical" enough and always speak about doubts. The problem is that both groups can develop a residing attitude that is passed to young experts. However, concerning longer and larger tasks as Natura 2000 site selection, forest reserves and biodiversity monitoring, a good collaboration can be achieved with minor problems. During such joint projects, tension has been reduced.

According to my opinion, biodiversity science and policy making have to rely on each other a lot , the "segment" is large, but not complete. Even such research has to be carried out that is NOT policy relevant at the moment (who knows what will be relevant in 3 years?), and officials can make certain decisions without asking scientists, as they themselves have a general understanding of biological processes. I see the future solution in propagation of the problem and the necessity of collaboration during conferences and in education. In Hungary, for example, several governmental programmes (biodiversity monitoring, ecological network) are included in university courses , and on the other hand, nature protection experts from national parks participate at ecological conferences. It should be made clear that there is a joint responsibility concerning biodiversity loss - the roles are a bit different, but both roles are necessary.

A contribution by:

Katalin Torok

Institute of Ecology and Botany of the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Vacratot, 2163 Hungary