CASCADE evidence synthesis and research for JNCC's Areas of Research Interest

Project Aims

This project will focus on further developing the six agreed JNCC Areas of Research Interest (ARI):

1. Integrating novel monitoring technologies for biodiversity and ecosystem health.
2. Improving predictive and foresight modelling of land/sea use and environmental change.
3. Optimising the sustainability and resilience of different marine food systems.
4. Evaluating the impacts of agricultural policies and management regimes.
5. Identifying evidence needs for funding nature conservation and recovery through market-based approaches.
6. Strengthening knowledge on the outcomes of conservation and recovery actions.

The project will ensure that for each ARI:

• Priority research questions and methodologies are identified;
• The readiness of novel technologies and data approaches are assessed;
• Interdisciplinary and cross-sector capability needs are clarified;
• Policy-relevant evidence gaps and uncertainties are identified; and
• Coordinated research networks capable of rapid future delivery are established.

3. Project Background

JNCC, Defra, and wider government require robust, forward-looking evidence to support work towards biodiversity commitments, environmental targets, food security objectives, and international obligations.

Delays in establishing coherent evidence baselines and research priorities risk duplication of effort, inefficient allocation of future Research & Development (R&D) funding, reduced policy effectiveness, and missed opportunities to integrate emerging technologies and approaches.

The six ARIs all relate to complex challenges requiring interdisciplinary approaches that integrate ecological, socio-economic, technological, governance and policy expertise. With existing evidence bases varying significantly in maturity, methodological consistency, and accessibility to decision-makers.

The project will support effective future R&D investment and decision-making, and demonstrate a model for rapid, coordinated, cross-institutional research to provide policy-relevant evidence foundations to support the design of targeted research on strategic biodiversity and environmental challenges.

4. Project Objectives

To meet the overall aims of this project (Section 2), the objectives are:

1. To develop six evidence synthesis reports aligned to JNCC's ARIs.

• Each evidence synthesis report will include:

o Collation of an evidence database;

o Evidence synthesis and gaps identification;

o Identification of solutions and emerging issues;

o Incorporation of technical expertise across the CASCADE consortium and JNCC through workshops and review opportunities.

2. To develop six summary policy briefings and presentations, associated to the finalised ARI evidence synthesis reports.
3. To develop a cross-cutting recommendations report.

• The report will include:

o Recommendations for future targeted research investment;

o Incorporation of technical expertise across the CASCADE consortium and JNCC through workshops and review opportunities.

5. Project Objectives: Detailed Tasks

The project is to be delivered across two financial years due to funding allocation timelines.

The proposed split of work allows progress on Objectives 1 and 2 before the end of the 2026/2027 financial year, with completion of these objectives and Objective 3 in 2027/2028 financial year.

The proposed objectives will be delivered by end of March 2027 (FY 26/27):

• Objective 1- partial delivery

o Evidence synthesis 1 & 2 will be fully delivered.

o Evidence synthesis 3 & 4 will be delivered to draft full report stage.

o Evidence synthesis 5 & 6 will be delivered to evidence database collation stage.

• Objective 2- partial delivery

o Policy summaries and presentations for evidence synthesis 1 & 2 will be fully delivered.

The proposed objectives will be delivered by end of September 2027 (FY 27/28):

• Objective 1- partial delivery to complete

o Evidence synthesis 3 & 4 will be fully delivered by finalising full report.

o Evidence synthesis 5 & 6 will be fully delivered by completing the evidence synthesis, solutions and emerging issues review, incorporation of technical expertise and providing a full report.

• Objective 2- partial delivery to complete

o Policy summaries and presentations for evidence synthesis 3,4, 5 and 6 will be fully delivered.

• Objective 3- full delivery

o Cross-cutting recommendations report completed.