The British Ecological Society journals Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal of Applied Ecology and People and Nature are seeking proposals for their new cross-journal Special Feature: “Biodiversity, planning and development – towards best practice“.

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) highlights the need to move beyond conservation and protection to a nature positive agenda, to address the climate and biodiversity crises. Planning, as a key mechanism for influencing biodiversity, therefore needs to transition from mitigation of harm to significantly improving the condition and extent of the natural environment.

Across the world proposals are emerging for how this might be achieved but these are using a disparate array of terminology, mechanisms and measurement. Thus far, there are limited attempts to share conceptual framings, empirical knowledge and best practice.

This joint Special Feature between Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Journal of Applied Ecology and People and Nature draws on global research and practice to consolidate an interdisciplinary collection of evidence on the role of planning in reversing biodiversity decline, focusing on:

• Application of new theories

• Planning processes for achieving net positive outcomes

• Barriers and opportunities to the implementation of biodiversity measures

• Ecological measuring and monitoring efficacy

• Stakeholder engagement and public participation in planning

By consolidating empirical evidence into a Special Feature, we hope to bridge the gaps between academia, practice, different disciplines and geographies to overcome the uncertainty inherent in decision-making frameworks and make more ecologically optimal decisions.

We invite contributions that evidence how biodiversity is impacted, or how potential impacts are mitigated or restored through planning and development. By development, we refer to decisions made in response to local, regional or national policy mechanisms related to urban or rural planning frameworks.

Deadline for proposals: Thursday 30 November 2023

Visit the Special Feature page to discover more examples to help guide your proposal as well as instructions for submission.