Reflectie PBL-rekeninstrumentarium voor natuur

The Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) carries out several studies in support of policy development for nature, landscape and ecosystem services. Scientific models are important knowledge production tools for these studies. As developments in nature policy, science and society are leading to a demand for different types of knowledge and information, the question now is whether and how the models need to be adapted to meet those changing requirements. In interviews and focus groups, experts in the field of nature policy and scientific models shared and discussed their views on this question. In particular, they highlighted the increasing interconnectedness and complexity of policy issues, the decentralisation of nature policy and the importance of transparent and comprehensible model results. One of the recommendations is to consider the process surrounding the model application as a method in itself, which would create more room for input from other disciplines, other forms of knowledge and other values attached to nature.