Kudos
Kunnskapsdokumenter i offentlig sektor

Evaluering

External Evaluation of the Scientific Basis of the Assessment System for Ecological Condition in Norway Ny utgave

The evaluation panel’s overarching conclusion is that the PAEC and IBECA methods have been developed for the same purpose but in partly different institutional and policy contexts. We find that neither of the two methods follow all our proposed scientific and management criteria for an efficient assessment system for ecological condition, but that the PAEC method is better designed overall to this aim compared with the IBECA method. Since our knowledge of the processes influencing the functioning of the different ecosystems are incomplete, and indicators must be selected based on data availability and best available knowledge, we fully acknowledge the need for structured and welldocumented expert judgements. In this respect, we find that the PAEC method outweighs IBECA. IBECA relies heavily on quantitative indices and aggregation of data with comparatively low transparency and high uncertainty in relation to the setting of a normative threshold of ‘good ecological condition’. Inevitably, to evaluate changes over time and critical thresholds not to be exceeded will require insightful expert judgement from different perspectives and needs to be presented in a transparent manner.