Sustainable Water Ecosystems Management in Europe examines the anthropogenic deterioration of water ecosystems, in particular in coastal areas. It proposes a new approach to enhance connectivity between research and policy-making. Sustainable Water Ecosystems Management in Europe exploits the concept of integrated adaptive ecosystem management, by engaging scientists, policy makers and the public (the latter including both stakeholders and lay citizens/water users) in comparable case studies. Emphasis is given to the role of the public to enlarge the concept of organisational learning to the wider concept of social learning.
- Foreword: Bridging the Citizens-Science-Policy gap in the water sector, why should we care?
- Introduction
- Water ecosystem concerns and EU research for sustainable water management
- Institutional and policy framework at EU and national levels
- The AWARE methodology for building a new Science-Citizens-Policy Interface: theoretical foundations
- The pilot experience with the AWARE citizens' panel
- The Gulf of Riga case study
- The Southern North Sea case study
- The Sacca di Goro case study
- Evaluation of the AWARE pilot experience
- Recommendations to enhance the connectivity between scientists, citizens and policy makers in the water sector and beyond, to tackle with sustainability challenges