The document discusses how spatial data can be used to inform policy development and review related to biodiversity. It notes that spatial data and maps can help identify conservation priorities, assess trade-offs between development and biodiversity, and monitor progress towards targets. However, barriers include lack of data sharing, expertise, infrastructure, and funding. The document then describes a project in the Lake Victoria Basin that developed land use change scenarios, mapped biodiversity and development data, modeled impacts, and used the results to review relevant policies and recommend revisions.

1. The use of spatial data in policy
development and review
A tool for biodiversity mainstreaming
Sarah Darrah, UNEP-WCMC

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. Engaging stakeholders in using future scenarios
to analyse the potential impacts of agricultural
development in the Lake Victoria Basin
Project steps:
1. Develop future scenarios – four scenarios based on modes
of governance and regionalisation
2. Map biodiversity, ecosystem function and
planned/proposed high impact developments
3. Model biodiversity and ecosystem function under land use
change scenarios
4. Use results to inform scenario guided policy review –
agriculture sector
5. Harmonise policies in the region and look for
transboundary impacts

7. • Key Biodiversity
Areas (KBAs)
• Proposed
freshwater KBAs
• Protected Areas
• Population
density in cities
Areas of biodiversity importance

8. Land use 2005 (baseline)

9. Population density (2012)

10. Mining activity (2015)

11. Contracted or intended land deals (2015)

12. Land use 2050 (future)

13. Differences between scenarios

14. Development in and around Lake Victoria Basin

15. 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

16. 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