1. Water Science-Policy Interface (CIS-SPI)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
RESEARCH DIRECTORATE-GENERAL
Directorate I – Environment
Water Science-Policy Interface (CIS-SPI)
Paul Logan (Environment Agency)
Ecostat meeting – 31 March 2011

2. SPI Mandate: 3 Tasks over 2010-2012
Compile feedback from users and future research needs
Ensure efficient transfer and uptake of scientific knowledge
Task 1 Inventory of research and implementation needs from CIS groups
- Inventory of the needs for each CIS WG (based on a questionnaire followed by discussion within or back to back with regular meetings of the WGs)
Compilation of the needs from the different WGs
Task 2 Available research and research gaps
Inventory of available research results relevant to CIS research and implementation needs.
Discussion of research gaps on a yearly basis within each CIS Working Group or Activity
A list of priority research topics to be communicated to the CIS Strategic Coordination Group once a year, as well as to relevant funding organisations (DG RTD, ERANETs, others)
Task 3 Improving transfer and usability of research outputs
Organisation of Water Science meets Policy events (possibly linked to a Water ERANET),
Compilation of synthesis (2 pages) to translate results from existing RTD projects into “Science-Policy Briefs” (posted on website and CIRCA)
Contributing to demonstration of applicability (pilot zones)
The activity includes three following tasks
Task 1: Inventory of research and implementation needs from CIS groups
Each CIS-group makes an inventory of the needs on their field of activity based on their mandates.
This can be based on a questionnaire within each WG followed by discussion within or back to back with regular meetings of the WGs.
The SPI-group compiles the needs from the different WGs, and ensures that information on existing knowledge is transferred (Task 2), or that gaps are relayed to relevant funding organisations (Task 3).
Task 2: Available research and research gaps
Inventory of available research results relevant to CIS research and implementation needs.
Discussion of research gaps on a yearly basis within each CIS Working Group or Activity
A list of priority research topics to be communicated to the CIS Strategic Coordination Group once a year, as well as to relevant funding organisations (DG RTD, ERANETs, others)
Task 3: Improving transfer and usability of research outputs
Organisation of Water Science meets Policy events (possibly linked to a Water ERANET),
Guidance in compilation of synthesis (2 pages) for policy-makers
To translate results from existing local/national and EU RTD projects into “Science-Policy Briefs” of relevance to CIS needs
To highlight key scientific outputs supporting technical water policy milestones,
To be posted on the WFD europa website and CIRCA, and possibly translated in different EU languages to widen taken-up by MS.
Contributing to demonstration of applicability : encouraging science-policy networking at most appropriate level (from EU to catchment level).
Particular attention is paid to transferring information at the most appropriate timing so that it can be taken up by DG RTD for the yearly programmation of the FP work programme (e.g. in March every year) and similarly for the ERANET

3. Ongoing activities(1)
Research needs discussed at the 1st SPI event (30/09/2010) available through the WFD CIRCA website (under “workshops and conferences”).
Report sent to EU and national research programming agencies (ongoing JPI “water challenges”).
Panorama of FP6/7 projects relevant to CIS research themes and issues + Ongoing survey of selected projects to identify available knowledge relevant to the CIS research issues
On this basis, update of research needs from CIS groups with indication of priorities
Nomination of a SPI correspondent in each CIS group

4. 1st Event Round Table Discussions
Ecostat
Hydromorphology
Chemicals
Groundwater
Socio Economics
River Basin Management
Extreme events
Agriculture
Dissemination

5. Ecostat 1
Research area 1 : Developing and validating new Bioassessment tools
1: To overcome gaps for Transitional and Coastal waters (methods, taxonomy)
2: To overcome gaps for lakes (methods and taxonomy, notably for Mediterranean areas)
3: To analyse more carefully the links between ecotoxicological (individual and population levels) tools and assessment tools based on the structure of communities
4: To investigate the role of spatial scales in the relative sensitivity of assessment tools (e.g. European vs. regional level)
5: To reinforce the knowledge concerning uncertainties
6: To consider risk assessment information to ensure bioassessment results

6. Ecostat 2
Research area 2 : Refining the knowledge about pressure-impacts relationships
1: To clarify the links between hydromorphological pressures and biological responses
2: To investigate more carefully the consequences of sediment contaminations by chemical pollutants on biological communities (from individuals to populations and communities)
3: In the case of multi-pressure contexts, to develop proxies based on existing knowledge and expertise to facilitate the analysis of pressure-impacts relationships

7. Ecostat 3
Research area 3 : Evolving toward a more functional and holistic approach of aquatic ecosystems
1: To develop functional assessment tools based on trophic networks to complement tools based on community structure attributes – Assess the links with resilience and stability
2 : To investigate the relationships between metacommunities functioning and ecosystems capacity of resilience (migration, immigration/extinction processes) in both reference and disturbed (e.g. fragmented landscapes, high chemical loads in the sediments) contexts
3 : To clarify the links between global changes (climate, fragmentation, exotics) and ecosystem functioning and assessment tools

8. Ecostat 4
Research area 4 : Reconnecting the socio-economical and biological issues
1 : To reinforce the knowledge on relationships between Good Ecological Status, Biodiversity (taxonomy, functionalities, genetic aspects) and ecological services (including human health and social well-being)
2 : To clarify the links between Good Ecological Potential and socio-economical aspects

9. 2nd SPI event (29-30 September, Brussels)
“Socio-economic tools supporting the WFD implementation: Possible contribution in the perspective of an ecosystem services approach”
A two-step process:
2011: gather scientists and front-runner policy makers in order to share a common view on the links between the ecosystem services concept and the WFD
2012: transferring this information and reflexion to managers at basin and local level.
It aims to explore how the ecosystem services approach can help highlight benefits (social, economical, environmental) from the WFD and boost political levers for the implementation of the WFD

10. 2nd SPI event: Outline
Session 1: Keynote speeches on the use of ecosystem services for the implementation of the WFD
Impact of ecological engineering and restoration on both ecological status and the provision of ecosystem services?
Ecosystem services as a tool for analysis of water pressures and impacts for future RBMPs and how global change will affect them?
What can the ecosystem services approach provide for decision makers in the implementation of WFD?
Session 2: Five roundtables based on implementation issues
Session 3: Integration and Conclusions
Hydro-morphology and hydropower
Diffuse pollution and agriculture
Quantity management and climate change
Wetlands
Exotic species
Presentation of case studies
Analysis of environmental, economic and social issues
Key operational tools for WFD implementation
Remaining research questions

11. Links with CIS groups
Ensure that policy and management needs are met and priority issues are addressed.
Participation of CIS groups experts in the roundtables preparation
Help the collection of tangible examples of the use of ecosystem services from Member States

12. "research correspondent'
To ensure the links between the group and relevant research projects
To provide to the group a better overview of existing knowledge and most recent research results
To identify key scientists in the field of the group
To disseminate key deliverables and relevant science-policy briefs to the group
To pursue the work on the validation of research needs initiated at the SPI event
To organize a dedicated SPI session in the regular CIS group meeting, in which scientists and/or Member States could provide their insights on the current state of the art regarding identified research issues.
To participate –on a voluntary basis- in the preparation of the 2nd (and third) science meets policy event
DUROT Marie-Perrine (Onema)/Paul Logan (EA) / Yorick Reyjol (Onema)

13. Harmonisation Activity post CEN meeting in London March 2011
Recent CEN meeting update document
Includes recommendations for Annex V
10 in development or review 9 published
Zip file of Standards in development/Review (CIRCA)
Letter to National Standards bodies published
Further discussion next meeting and in October
Links with WISER