The use of spatial data in policy development and review

A tool for biodiversity mainstreamingSarah Darrah, UNEP-WCMC

Why include spatial data in policies/action plans?• Spatial data and maps provide a

strong communication message• Help identify hotspots of threat to

determine action and prioritise limited resources

• Provide a context to decision-making• Baselines and monitoring to track

progress towards targets• Multiple layers of data can be used to

compare ‘competing’ demand on land to assess trade-offs and synergies e.g. proposed developments vs areas of high biodiversity importance

How spatial data can be used as a tool to facilitate the mainstreaming process• Most (spatial) data can be used for

multiple purposes• Land use planning requires cooperation

as well as the sharing of (spatial) data• Changes in land use over time are

relevant for monitoring and planning, involving many stakeholders

• Solving data availability, costs, exchange, access problems involves many stakeholders

• Mainstreaming processes will lead to more efficient data gathering and use

Barriers to use of spatial data

• Lack of access to data (e.g. inter-agency data sharing is poor) and data collection (e.g. lack of continuous temporal data/data on certain topics)• Lack of expertise with spatial data (e.g. GIS analysis

and interpretation)• Limited infrastructure to conduct spatial data

analysis (e.g. data storage and equipment)• Lack of financial resources

Enabling factors for use of spatial data• Good institutional exchange• Existing research and data collection programmes• Existing network and infrastructure for data

management

Engaging stakeholders in using future scenarios to analyse the potential impacts of agricultural development in the Lake Victoria BasinProject steps:1. Develop future scenarios – four scenarios based on modes of

governance and regionalisation2. Map biodiversity, ecosystem function and planned/proposed

high impact developments3. Model biodiversity and ecosystem function under land use

change scenarios4. Use results to inform scenario guided policy review –

agriculture sector5. Harmonise policies in the region and look for transboundary

impacts

• Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs)

• Proposed freshwater KBAs

• Protected Areas

• Population density in cities

Areas of biodiversity importance

Land use 2005 (baseline)

Population density (2012)

Mining activity (2015)

Contracted or intended land deals (2015)

Land use 2050 (future)

Differences between scenarios

Development in and around Lake Victoria Basin

Scenario-guided policy review

• Five policies reviewed against the modelled scenario results• Uganda – Draft National Water Policy• Tanzania – National Livestock Policy• Burundi – Plan National D’Ivestissement Agricole• Kenya – Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries

Strategic Plan• Rwanda – National Food and Nutrition Strategic Plan

• Recommendations produced to input into policy revision and development

1. Is spatial data relevant to your identified entry points?

2. Is it already included? And adequately? Does it include both development and biodiversity data?

3. If not, is it accessible?4. How can the project help in the provision of

biodiversity data/maps?

Group discussions