OO. 7.5 Improve our knowledge of the socio-economic benefits of biodiversity

The integration of socio-economic sciences into the field of biodiversity research is of major importance in order to slow down and halt the continuing human-mediated loss of biodiversity. This should include the analysis of public awareness and perceptions, and consumers' attitudes and preferences with regard to biodiversity, and then how both of these factors relate to behaviour and public policy.

To influence policy-making and stimulate public awareness, increased knowledge of the values of biodiversity (not limited to pure economic value) is needed, for instance by improving methods for their valuation. In the valuation process, the relationships between health (physical and mental well-being) and biodiversity should be investigated. More research should be dedicated to the link between changes in biodiversity and the rise in incidence of some already existing human and animal diseases or in the emergence of new ones.

Also a better understanding of how humans use biodiversity, and how these uses affect biodiversity, ecosystem goods and services, and ecological-economic system resilience, are examples of research topics that should be developed to support Belgium's National Biodiversity Strategy.