Sustainability impact assessment tools for multifunctional land use (SENSOR)

 

Summary

SENSOR will deliver Sustainability Impact Assessment Tools (SIAT) for use primarily by European policymakers to support decision making on new policies likely to have a significant impact on land use at the regional level throughout Europe.

 Explanatory brochure ^(PDF-204K)

Research objectives

Policy scenarios: compile data for the European analysis of policy performances related to land use sectors and their effects on sustainability issues. Formulate future scenarios of land use ranging from most proximate and thinkable to the two ends of positive and negative visionary developments.

Land use models: link existing state-of-the-art econometric models with sectoral land use models making use of both statistical and spatially explicit data. This includes the multifunctionality analysis of social, economic and environmental issues by means of impact indicators.

Spatial reference framework: integrate robust social, economic and environmental characteristics to develop regional profiles as key reference base for linking impacts and thresholds.

Thresholds and targets: Employ expert judgement and participatory tools to identify and evaluate regionally specific social, economic and environmental problems, thresholds and targets related to land use.

Sensitivity analysis: identify characteristic sustainability issues in sensitive areas such as mountains, coastal zones, islands and post-industrialised areas.

Data and indicator management: develop a GIS based, GMES/GEO compatible, quality assured and harmonised data and indicator management system for land use impact assessment, which can be employed at regional scale for EU 25.

Sustainability Impact Assessment Tools: Enable EU policymakers to analyse the impact of land use policy options on regional sustainability issues including cost benefit analysis and externality valuation.

Funders and partners

This programme is funded by the European Union - Framework Programme FP6

The consortium comprises 33 partners in 15 countries.

Forest Research involvement

Forest Research is leading Module 7: “Stakeholder Participation and Institutional Analysis”.

Under this module, stakeholders at local, regional and EU level will be engaged in scoping sustainability issues and in testing and developing the Sustainability Impact Assessment Tools.

Forest Research will also explore innovative ways of engaging local stakeholders in the EU impact assessment process.

Status

This project commenced on 1st December 2004 and will run until December 2008.

Contact

Liz O'Brien
Forest Research
Alice Holt Lodge
Farnham
Surrey GU10 4LH

Tel: 01420 526155
Fax: 01420 520558
Email: liz.obrien@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

EU contract details

Co-ordinator: Katharina Helming, ZALF, Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape and Land Use Research, Germany.

Type of instrument: Integrated Project.
Call Identifier: FP6 Global Change and Ecosystems.