News Headlines

CEBC used as a model for developement of new Centre

CEBC has been used as the model for the establishment of a new centre for Evidence-Based Environmental Management (EviEM) in Sweden. CEBC Director, Prof. Andrew Pullin comments on this exciting development in the EviEM Annual Report. Click Here.

28 Sept 2011 - International funding for environmental policies based on weak evidence

Publication Date: 28/09/2011 on Bangor University intranet

Tropical deforestation contributes to climate change, destroys biodiversity and can harm the interests of local people. Community Forest Management (CFM) has been promoted as providing a potential win-win solution (conserving forests while benefitting local communities) and global funders have invested billions of dollars in CFM programmes in developing countries. A study published this week, however, highlights the lack of evidence upon which such investments are made and calls for improved evidence collection in the future.

The study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment suggests that although there is limited evidence that CFM provides some biodiversity benefits in terms of forest protection, evidence for benefit to local communities is generally lacking. The team from the Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation based at Bangor University conducted a systematic review of evidence by examining studies from a highly dispersed literature on the subject. They found that very few studies had been published providing information on CFM performance. Many of those that did had problems with their study design and interpretation.

Andrew Pullin, the senior author on the study says:

“There is some limited evidence that CFM programmes work, but the worrying conclusion is that monitoring and evaluation of many major global environmental programmes is insufficient to establish a clear picture of what works and what doesn’t. Despite having committed substantial resources to these programmes over the last decade or more, we lack the information to inform future funding decisions. CFM programmes are diverse in context and implementation and the reality is most likely that some work and some do not. A better evidence base is needed to help make best use of scarce resources for environmental management”

CFM puts management decisions in the hands of local communities, rather than national or regional government, allowing them to make key decisions about the use of their forests. The assumption is that conferring ownership and responsibility will result in more sustainable use of resources.

The Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel of the Global Environment Facility, one of the major funders of CFM projects, commissioned the systematic review. One of the roles of the Panel is to test the validity of key assumptions underpinning GEF investments, and by so doing assist in improving the quality of future project design.

Julia Jones, one of the authors says “Although we found limited evidence of CFM effectiveness, this does not mean that CFM doesn’t work. There are many anecdotal examples which suggest that it may do. However major investment decisions should be made on more than anecdotal evidence, and large global programmes need to include proper evaluation of their effectiveness in their design.”

For more information about thi ssystematic review, please visit: www.environmentalevidence.org/SR48.html

15th June 2010 -Two new PhD studentships advertised

New! Two PhD studentships involving the Centre for Evidence-Based Conservation are advertised: "Testing the effectiveness of forest governance mechanisms in conservation policy and practices" and "Assessment of vegetation and key plant species responses to the restoration of degraded rich-fen systems in north-west Wales". Please follow the links to find out more.

9th February 2009 - NERC and Defra call for pilot review applications

The UK Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) call for applications to conduct pilot reviews under the Living with Environmental Change (LWEC) research programme. Applications can be made for awards of up to £15,000 for pilot reviews, outlining the existing data and highlighting trends and gaps in current knowledge, on areas relating to LWEC Objective B "to manage ecosystems for human well-being and protect the natural environment as the environment changes". Further funding may be available to develop promising pilot reviews into full systematic reviews. The closing date for applications is 20th February 2009. For more information or to apply, please follow the link to NERC's LWEC events page.

2nd December 2008 - Draft documents now handled by the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence

Draft protocols and reviews are no longer made available on the CEBC website and instead are now handled by the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence. All draft documents currently available for public consultation can be accessed via their 'Drafts' section and the CEE will also now be responsible for managing the peer review process.

20th October 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Great crested newt conservation

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of mitigation actions for great crested newts" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

20th October 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Plant diversity in Australian temperate grassy eucalypt woodland

The draft protocol for the review "Do managed grazed lands contribute to conservation of plant diversity in Australian temperate grassy eucalypt woodland?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

23rd September 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Translocation impact on offspring fitness

The draft protocol for the review "Does translocation of individuals between populations result in net cost or benefit to fitness in offspring of mixed populations?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

15th September 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Parrot conservation.

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of protected areas for the conservation of threatened species of the Genus Amazona" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

8th September 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Forest fire impact mitigation.

The draft protocol for the review "Does seeding after severe forest fires mitigate negative impacts on soils and plant communities?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

8th September 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Rangeland fire impact mitigation.

The draft protocol for the review "Does seeding after rangeland fires mitigate negative impacts on soils and plant communities?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

1st September 2008 - Draft review for comment - African wild dog re-introduction.

The draft systematic review "Effectiveness of African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) re-introductions in South Africa" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC reviews page to access the review. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

26th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Restoration of crocodile populations.

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of the release of individuals reared in captivity as a tool to restore crocodile populations (order Crocodylia, Genus Crocodylus) in the Neotropics" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

26th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Environmental education for Andean Bear conservation.

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of environmental education initiatives for the conservation of the Andean bear in the Andes mountain range" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

12th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Jaguar conservation.

The draft protocol for the review "Are protected areas an effective strategy for the conservation of jaguar (Panthera onca) populations?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

12th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Resolving human-jaguar conflict.

The draft protocol for the review "Is translocation of problematic jaguars (Panthera onca) an effective strategy to resolve human-predator conflicts?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

8th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Orinoco crocodile conservation.

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of protected areas for the conservation of Orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius) and American crocodile (C. acutus) in Latin-American countries" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

8th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Caribbean marine turtle nests.

The draft protocol for the review "Does the relocation of caribbean marine turtle nests to hatcheries improve their hatching success?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

5th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Nature and stress.

The draft protocol for the review "Does contact with nature have an effect on physiological or psychological stress?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

5th August 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Venezuelan River Turtle conservation.

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of protected areas for the conservation of freshwater turtle species native to Venezuela" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

30th July 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Effectiveness of Venezuelan River Turtle recovery strategies.

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of nest management and population reinforcement in the recovery of river turtle populations in Venezuela." is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

28th July 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Carbon stores and mangement of peat soils.

The draft protocol for the review "How do flooding and draining affect carbon stores in peat soils?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

23rd July 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - The Evidence Base for Community Forest Management.

The draft protocol for the review "The Evidence Base for Community Forest Management as a Mechanism for Supplying Environmental Benefits and Improving Rural Welfare" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

22nd July 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - management of Mountain Pine Beetle.

The draft protocol for the review "What management practices are effective in preventing an infestation of Mountain Pine Beetle in Colorado's front range forests?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

22nd July 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - Andean Bear conservation.

The draft protocol for the review "Effectiveness of protected areas for the conservation of the andean bear, Tremarctus ornatus" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

22nd July 2008 - Draft review for comment - European Red Fox control interventions.

The draft systematic review "Do control interventions effectively reduce the impact of European red foxes on conservation values and agricultural production in Australia?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC reviews page to access the review. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this review has now passed.

11th April 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - wooded riparian zones and stream biota.

The draft protocol for the review "What are the effects of wooded riparian zones on stream temperature and stream biota?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

8th April 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - structural connectivity in Australia's fragmented terrestrial landscapes.

The draft protocol for the review "Does structural connectivity facilitate effective dispersal of native species in Australia’s fragmented terrestrial landscapes?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

19th March 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - landscape connectivity

The draft protocol for the review "What is the evidence for the development of connectivity to improve species movement, as an adaptation to climate change?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

6th March 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - thinning/burning of ponderosa pine and natural fire behaviour.

The draft protocol for the review "Do thinning and/or burning treatments on ponderosa pine and related forests in western USA produce restoration of natural fire behaviour?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

6th March 2008 - Draft review for comment - impact of human recreation on breeding raptors.

The draft review "What are the impacts of human recreational activity on the distribution, nest-occupancy rates, and reproductive success of breeding raptors?" is now available for comment. Please visit the draft reviews page to access the draft review. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this review has now passed.

18th February 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - climate change, urban greening and human health.

The draft protocol for the review "How effective is ‘greening’ of urban areas in reducing human exposure to ground level ozone concentrations, UV exposure and the ‘urban heat island effect’?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

14th February 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - environment and human health.

The draft protocol for the review "How effective is direct accessing of semi-natural environments in the promotion of health and well-being compared with other forms of ‘exposure’ to the natural environment or with accessing ‘synthetic environments’?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

12th February 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - monitoring methods for terrestrial vegetation.

The draft protocol for the review "Comparison of methodologies for the monitoring and surveillance of terrestrial vegetation " is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

22nd January 2008 - The CEBC advertises a new post.

The CEBC is currently looking to recruit a new Research Officer to work on a NERC funded project: "Using systematic review methodology to establish an evidence base for implementing climate change strategy". Please visit our 'Jobs' page for more details. Please note: the deadline for applications has now passed.

15th January 2008 - Draft protocol for comment - predator control and bird populations.

The draft protocol for the review "Is predator control an effective strategy for enhancing bird populations? " is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

7th December 2007 - Draft protocol for comment - tropical dry forest restoration.

The draft protocol for the review "What is the impact of disturbance on tropical dry forest restoration" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

6th December 2007 - Draft review available for comment - impact of grazing on heathland.

The draft review "How does the impact of grazing on heathland compare with other management methods?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC draft reviews page to access the review. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this review has now passed.

6th December 2007 - Draft protocol for comment - salt marsh restoration.

The draft protocol for the review "Does salt marsh restoration benefit bird populations or their habitats?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

20th November - Draft review for comment - marine protected areas.

The draft review "Are marine protected areas effective tools for sustainable fisheries management " is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC draft reviews page to access the review. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this review is Thursday 20th December. The deadline for feedback on this review has now passed.

15th November - Draft protocol for comment - farm biodiversity conservation.

The draft protocol for the review "The effectiveness of integrated farm management, organic farming and agri-environment schemes as interventions for biodiversity conservation" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol is Monday 17th December. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

8th October - Draft protocol for comment - Impacts of marine aquaculture.

The draft protocol for the review "What are the ecological impacts of marine aquaculture on biotic and abiotic components of the water column?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

12th September - Meta-analysis software presentation online

29th August - Final review on effects of salmonid stocking now available - please visit the CEE Library.

31st July 2007 - CEBC advertises two new posts - Please visit our jobs page for details

10th May 2007 - Draft protocol available for comment - Instream wood placement

The draft protocol for the review "Does instream wood placement affect salmonid growth, survival or habitat complexity?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

25th April 2007 - Draft review of Salmonid stocking in lakes now available online

The draft version of systematic review 13 "What are the effects of salmonid stocking in lakes on native fish populations and other fauna and flora?" is now available. Please visit the CEBC draft review page to access the review. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

2nd April 2007 - Draft protocol available for comment - Reintroduction success

The draft protocol for the review "Factors Influencing the Success Rate of Reintroduction of Endangered Animal Species." is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback is May 2, 2007. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

2nd April 2007 - Draft protocol available for comment - Vertebrate reintroductions

The draft protocol for the review "What is the Effectiveness of Vertebrate Reintroductions for Conservation Purposes in the Iberian Peninsula?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback is May 2, 2007. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

2nd April 2007 - Draft protocol available for comment - Raptor disturbance

The draft protocol for the review "What are the Effects of Recreational Activities on Breeding Success or Breeding-Site Fidelity of Diurnal Raptors?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback is May 2, 2007. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

2nd April 2007 - Draft protocol available for comment - Gull culling

The draft protocol for the review "What is the Effectiveness of Culling to Reduce Population Growth Rates of Gull Colonies?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback is May 2, 2007. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

7th March 2007 - Draft protocol available for comment - Island rat eradication

The draft protocol for the review "Are methods for the eradication of Rattus species on islands effective?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback is April 7, 2007. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

7th March 2007 - CEBC staff publications list updated

The CEBC publications page has been updated to include new peer-reviewed publications. These include papers on assessment of windfarm impacts on birds, effectiveness of asulam for bracken control, effectiveness of hedgerow corridors between fragments of woodland habitat, effectiveness of ragwort control, and Bayesian Belief Networks as a tool for evidence-based conservation management.

30th January 2007 - Finalised review of farmland bird conservation now available online

The final version of systematic review 11 "The effectiveness of land-based schemes (incl. agri-environment) at conserving farmland bird densities within the U.K." is now available. Please visit the CEE Library to access either the summary or full version of the review.

10th January 2007 - Finalised review of Japanese knotweed control now available online

The final version of of systematic review 21 "Are Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) control and eradication interventions effective?" is now available. Please visit the CEE Library to access either the summary or full version of the review.

1st December 2006 - Draft protocol available for comment - Marine protected areas

The draft protocol for the review "Are marine protected areas effective tools for sustainable fisheries management?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback is January 3, 2006. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

27th November 2006 - Finalised review of Spartina control now available online

The final version of of systematic review 22 "The effectiveness of management options used for the control of Spartina species" is now available. Please visit the CEE Library to access either the summary or full version of the review.

15th November 2006 - Draft protocol available for comment - Impact of foxes in Australia

The draft protocol for the review "Do control interventions effectively reduce the impact of European red foxes on biodiversity and agricultural production in Australia?" is now available for comment. Please visit the CEBC protocols page to access the protocol. There is also a form available on this page for providing comments. The deadline for feedback is December 15, 2006. The deadline for feedback on this protocol has now passed.

31st October 2006 - Draft review of Japanese knotweed control now available online

The draft version of systematic review 21 "Are Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) control and eradication interventions effective?" is now available. Please visit the CEBC draft review page to access the review. The deadline for feedback on this review is December 1, 2006. The deadline for feedback on this review has now passed.

25th October 2006 - New systematic review guidelines published by CEBC staff

The CEBC publications page has been updated to include a new peer-reviewed publication of our guidelines for undertaking a systematic review in conservation and environmental management.

25th October 2006 - New poster presentations added to the website

The CEBC presentations page has been updated to include a number of recent conference poster presentations. Conferences attended were the first European Congress for Conservation Biology (Eger, Hungary), the British Ecological Society Annual Meeting (Oxford, UK) and the International Conference on Riverine Hydrology: Advances in Research and Applications (Stirling, UK). Talks were also presented at the BES and ECCB conferences by members of the CEBC.

25th October 2006 - Finalised review of in-stream devices now available online

The final version of of systematic review 12 "Does the use of in-stream structures and woody debris increase the abundance of trout and salmon?" is now available. Please visit the CEE Library to access either the summary or full version of the review. A talk about this review was presented at the 15th International Salmonid Conference at Newcastle-Gateshead - a picture from the conference can be seen here.

15th September 2006 - Draft review of Spartina control now available online

The draft version of systematic review 22 "The effectiveness of management options used for the control of Spartina species" is now available. Please visit the CEBC draft review page to access the review. The deadline for feedback on this review is October 31, 2006. The deadline for feedback on this review has now passed.