BIOCONSENT: Decision Support for Forest Biodiversity Policy

BIOCONSENT aims to provide novel scientific knowledge and policy support by (i.) analysis of the (in)coherence of cross-sectoral policies, (ii.) assessment of forest users behavioral changes towards sustainable socio-ecosystems with improved biodiversity status, and (iii.) integration of biophysical, social, economic and governance drivers at the biodiversity-forest-climate-water nexus. The project uses integrative socio-ecological approaches to assess and quantify outcomes of alternative conservation and restoration measures on forest biodiversity and ecosystem services provision across spatial and temporal scales. The main contribution is decision support through i) better knowledge about tradeoffs and synergies between policy objectives and management practices, ii) novel development and application of participatory foresight methods to explore behavioral responses promoting transformational change, iii) agent-based modelling tools that assess and quantify synergies and trade-offs between forest conservation and restoration, and iv) policy and management recommendations, and policy learning through dissemination of knowledge and good practices.