A centre for biodiversity and ecosystem services in Trondheim: a pilot project

The present focus on biodiversity conservation and the need to achieve sustainability in the use of ecosystem services has highlighted the need for changes in the way knowledge is generated and communicated. Knowledge needs to; - be of high quality, - b e of an interdisciplinary nature - include multiple forms of knowledge, be more international, - be better prepared for communication to policy makers. Rising to these challenges requires new institutional structures that better promote cooperation betw een researchers from different background and provide shared communication and outreach resources. This application concerns a pilot project to explore the potential for developing a national and international centre for research within the field of Biodi versity and Ecosystem Services. The initiative is being developed by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), the Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre (NBIC), and the Norwegian University for Science and Technology (NTNU), all based in Tro ndheim. The pilot project phase will allow a scoping of interest among related researchers from a broad disciplinary background within these institutions, investigate the potential to integrate other relevant institutions within Trondheim (such as managem ent agencies, other university departments and environmental technology institutes) and evaluate the various alternative administrative structures that could be created to achieve the desired goals of the centre.