The Communities of Practice (CoPs) are central to SELINA’s mission of bridging science, policy, and practice. These dynamic networks bring together scientists, policymakers, practitioners, and business representatives to promote knowledge exchange, mutual learning, and stakeholder engagement at national and regional levels. Their core aim is to close the gap between ecosystem research and real-world decision-making, enabling more sustainable and informed choices across the public and private sectors.

The CoPs are the result of over 23 months of collaborative work, including more than 20 dedicated partner meetings and the active engagement of almost all SELINA project partners.

This effort has led to the creation of national and regional Communities of Practice and the publication of 29 approved factsheets. These factsheets provide valuable insights into each country’s progress in integrating biodiversity, ecosystem condition, ecosystem services, and ecosystem accounting into policy and decision-making frameworks.

Each Community of Practice contributes to three key objectives:

• To serve as a national platform for knowledge exchange and learning throughout the SELINA project.

• To establish a structure for continued collaboration and engagement beyond the project’s duration.

• To build a lasting, self-sustaining network of CoPs that continues to share expertise, experiences, and solutions well beyond SELINA’s conclusion.
  
  

In addition to national-level activities, SELINA actively fosters cross-border collaboration among Communities of Practice. These interactions, whether organised through facilitated dialogues or initiated independently, enable the sharing of best practices and solutions to common challenges, thereby enhancing the impact of national efforts on a European scale.

The dedicated CoP webpage presents all of the needed information and it will be properly amended throughout the duration of the communities meetings.

If you are interested in joining your national Community of Practice, please contact the relevant national lead or reach out to the SELINA Work Package lead at inge.liekens@vito.be