Natural England Chief Scientist Report 2020: Developing our evidence base - research & collaboration (NE760)

In last year’s Chief Scientist Report, we focussed on monitoring and indicators; making clear how vital it is that we understand the changes in our environment and the effects of our actions.
As Andy Clements noted in his Foreword to this year’s report, it focusses on our partnership working and the way that we use the science and evidence to deliver Natural England’s vision to achieve Thriving nature for people and planet. Our science, evidence and evaluation (SEE) strategy underpins this vision by describing the importance of being evidence-led and in setting out our ambition to be strong leaders in the application of environmental science. We will only realise this ambition if we are able to enhance our scientific understanding in some key areas such as: our understanding of the nature of changes occurring to the natural environment; how to measure and improve the resilience of landscapes and ecosystems; and the importance of linkages between the natural environment and people’s health and wellbeing.
Whilst we have a wide range of highly skilled and experienced specialist and technical staff, we cannot answer these questions alone. We need to build, maintain and strengthen a wider range of partnerships with academics, researchers and innovators from across society, in the public, private and civil sectors, both in the UK and (increasingly) internationally.