Communicating results
A key part of the MESH Project was the effective dissemination
of the project's results to users beyond the project partners.
A communication strategy was developed to ensure these results
were provided in a suitable format with the content at an
appropriate level of technical detail to relevant stakeholders,
from both the habitat mapping practitioner community and the
end-user community (managers, planners, policy makers). It was
the responsibility of all Partners to communicate and disseminate
with stakeholders in their country and within their areas of
responsibility. JNCC led this work in the UK, and have led
responsibility for the overall delivery of a communications and
dissemination plan.
A communications strategy was necessary to:
Gain feedback on user requirements
Encourage input of data and information
Comment on project products
Gain greater use of habitat maps
Help build network of data suppliers and users
Make relevant links to other initiatives
The MESH Project held an international conference in
Dublin Castle, Dublin on 14-15 March 2007 to present its
results of to the wider marine management community. The
programme,
presentations and proceedings are available through the
website.
All the outputs from the MESH project are available
through the MESH website.
MESH Newsletters
(© JNCC 2008)
Stakeholder database
The development of a stakeholder contacts database will
include both habitat mapping practitioners (i.e. those generating
the habitat information), spatial and environmental managers and
policy makers (i.e. those needing the information). It is essential
to build such a set of contacts to allow rapid and cost-effective
communication with the relevant sectors at each stage of the
project.
Stakeholder workshops
At an early stage in the project, each Member State will
organise and host a national workshop (or other suitable forum) on
the use and need for habitat maps in spatial planning and
environmental management (see use of map). The workshop will bring
together those involved in habitat/marine resource mapping and
those responsible for spatial planning and environmental
management.
Technical workshops and peer review
Also early in the project, technical workshops will bring
together mapping experts from across Europe to assess the current
state of mapping protocols and standards, help capture best
practice, and give direction and priority to some aspects of the
projects work. As the protocols and standards are drafted, the
expert network will be used for peer review of the work, ensuring
wide ownership and acceptance of the project's products.
Promotion at conferences, including a final International
Project Conference
Promotion of the project at relevant conferences and meetings
will enable particular aspects of the project to be targeted to
specific sectors (technical, end-user, managers and policy makers).
The final project conference will provide a forum to promote the
overall achievements of the project, demonstrating the benefits of
trans-national partnership and sharing of expertise.
Newsletters
These provide a means of reaching a wide audience with summary
information, keeping those less closely involved with the project
up to date with latest developments.
Project website
As well as providing public access to all project reports and
newsletters, the website will be an important tool to act as a
forum for promotion of the project, and a delivery mechanism for
the seabed maps and protocols developed. The wide availability of
maps and protocols is essential to help bring about the
improvements to spatial planning and management which underpin the
aims of this project.
Outputs and Products
The key products from Action 6 are: