In recent years, the scientific and policy-making communities across Europe have increasingly recognized the urgent need to integrate ecosystem knowledge into decision-making processes. Addressing this critical challenge, the Communities of Practice (CoPs) initiative under the SELINA project is emerging as a transformative platform that unites diverse stakeholders — including scientists, policymakers, practitioners, and business leaders — to collaboratively foster sustainable ecosystem management. This initiative represents a sophisticated and dynamic mechanism to translate complex ecosystem science into actionable insights that can shape environmental policies and business strategies effectively.
The genesis of SELINA’s Communities of Practice lies in a comprehensive, nearly two-year-long collaborative journey involving extensive partner engagement. Over 23 months, SELINA partners held more than 19 consortium meetings, coordinating cross-national knowledge exchange and aligning methodologies for ecosystem assessment, accounting, and valuation. This collective effort has culminated in the creation of multiple national and regional CoPs, each serving as a dedicated knowledge hub that contextualizes ecosystem data and services specific to their geographical and socio-economic realities. As a result, a substantial repository of 29 rigorously reviewed factsheets has been published, offering granular insights into biodiversity metrics, ecosystem conditions, the flow of ecosystem services, and their incorporation into economic accounts.
The SELINA CoPs are designed not merely as transient project-based gatherings but as enduring pillars of knowledge exchange and collaboration. In the short term, they function as national platforms facilitating continuous learning and networking among stakeholders during the project’s life span. These forums promote dialogues that demystify ecosystem science, making it accessible for decision-makers and industry leaders who often grapple with translating scientific findings into practical policies and innovations. By fostering shared understanding, they bridge traditional gaps between ecological research and policy implementation, enabling more informed and sustainable choices.
Beyond the immediate project timeframe, the initiative envisions intermediate and long-term objectives that embed resilience into these communities. Intermediate goals focus on institutionalizing CoPs as formal networks capable of sustaining ongoing cooperation beyond initial funding periods. This involves establishing governance structures, fostering trust among participants, and encouraging resource sharing to facilitate knowledge continuity. Ultimately, the aspiration is to cultivate a robust and self-sufficient pan-European network of CoPs, interconnected yet autonomous, continuing to disseminate expertise and best practices well into the future.
A notable feature of the SELINA CoP framework is its emphasis on cross-national collaboration. Recognizing that ecological challenges often transcend borders, the initiative encourages CoPs from different countries to engage in joint dialogues, exchange best practices, and collaboratively tackle shared issues. These interactions, facilitated through SELINA-organized events or self-initiated community activities, enable the pooling of diverse experiences and innovative approaches. This collective intelligence fosters scalable solutions and spurs the harmonization of ecosystem accounting methodologies across Europe, strengthening the foundations for a unified environmental governance landscape.
Underpinning the CoPs is an advanced science-policy interface that integrates cutting-edge research with practical policymaking tools. The factsheets produced by the CoPs synthesize complex datasets on ecosystem condition and services into comprehensible formats, often employing standardized indicators and accounting frameworks aligned with international standards such as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). These resources assist stakeholders in quantifying ecosystem contributions to economic and social well-being, enabling the incorporation of natural capital considerations into national statistics, corporate reporting, and public policy evaluations.
Moreover, through these CoPs, SELINA is addressing a perennial obstacle in environmental governance: the fragmentation of knowledge domains. Many ecosystem-related decisions have historically suffered from siloed information streams, lacking integration between ecological science, economic valuation, and social dimensions. The CoPs act as integrative platforms where multidisciplinary expertise converges, facilitating holistic analyses of ecosystem functionality, service flows, and their socio-economic impacts. This systemic perspective is crucial for crafting adaptive management strategies that are resilient to environmental changes and socio-economic uncertainties.
Communication and outreach also constitute vital components of the Communities of Practice model. SELINA has developed a dedicated digital hub where CoP activities, updated factsheets, and event information are continuously published. This ensures transparency, promotes wider stakeholder engagement, and maintains the relevance of the platform amidst evolving environmental challenges. By leveraging digital tools alongside traditional meetings, SELINA enhances the accessibility of ecosystem knowledge, thus broadening its impact beyond immediate participants to reach policymakers, researchers, and the public alike.
Importantly, the CoPs provide a valuable testing ground for methodological innovations in ecosystem accounting and valuation. Through iterative learning processes and mutual feedback loops within communities, best practices are refined and adapted to diverse contexts. This empirical approach enhances the robustness of ecosystem service assessments and their policy applicability, providing evidence-based inputs for ecosystem restoration, conservation funding, and sustainable resource management initiatives at multiple governance levels.
The SELINA project’s integration of CoPs exemplifies a forward-looking paradigm in environmental governance — one that prioritizes stakeholder inclusivity, knowledge co-production, and multi-level cooperation. By fostering enduring, dynamic networks that transcend disciplinary and national boundaries, SELINA contributes significantly to the evolving landscape of ecosystem management in Europe. Its emphasis on embedding natural capital considerations systematically into economic and policy frameworks aligns with global sustainability goals and underpins Europe’s commitment to the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
For professionals, policymakers, and researchers intrigued by this novel approach, SELINA’s new Communities of Practice webpage offers a gateway to explore ongoing initiatives, factsheets, and future events. As the CoPs continue to mature and generate tangible outcomes, they represent a compelling model for scaling ecosystem knowledge integration worldwide. Those interested in contributing to or learning from these vibrant communities are encouraged to connect with national contact points or SELINA project leads, fostering a growing network dedicated to ecosystem sustainability.
In summary, the SELINA Communities of Practice initiative is not just a scientific endeavor but a socio-political innovation in environmental stewardship. Its multi-tiered strategy, uniting scientific rigor with stakeholder engagement and practical tools, paves the way for more informed, transparent, and collaborative ecosystem governance models. As challenges associated with biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change intensify, such integrative platforms are indispensable for harnessing collective expertise towards resilient and sustainable futures.
Subject of Research: Integration of ecosystem knowledge into decision-making processes through Communities of Practice in the SELINA project.
Article Title: SELINA’s Communities of Practice: Catalyzing Sustainable Ecosystem Governance Across Europe
Web References:
https://project-selina.eu/communities-of-practice
http://www.project-selina.eu
https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-selina
https://bsky.app/profile/selinaproject.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@SELINA_HorizonEU
Image Credits: Pensoft Publishers
Keywords: Scientific organizations, Scientific publishing, Ecosystem accounting, Natural capital, Sustainability, Environmental governance, Biodiversity integration
