Katharina Helming Libri

Strategic intelligence is essential for informed policy decisions, particularly in today's knowledge society, characterized by two opposing trends. First, there is a rise in human intelligence across economic, social, and political systems. Conversely, there is a growing uncertainty about societal problems and their solutions. More information does not equate to clearer action paths, as the same facts can be interpreted differently, leading to conflicting problem framings among stakeholders. This divergence often arises from competing assumptions rather than inconsistent data. Consequently, policy-makers increasingly seek strategic intelligence to navigate contemporary challenges, including the implications of science and technology and their future trajectories. Over the past 15 years, Europe has embraced Impact Assessment (IA) tools to enhance decision-making. Established procedures and guidance for IA exist within the European Commission and most EU Member States. However, merely adopting IA procedures does not ensure that all policy areas fully leverage these assessment tools in policy and legislation preparation.

New demands on landscapes and natural resources call for multifunctional approaches to land development. Tools are required to identify the effects of land management on landscape sustainability and to support the decision-making process on the multipurpose utilisation of landscape resources. Scientists from across Europe installed the "Landscape Tomorrow" network to be prepared for new challenges in research to sustainable land development in an international perspective. This publication analyses general principles of landscape multifunctionality, develops methods to assess the sustainability of agricultural and forestry land management and identifies strategies of sustainable land management. Moreover, it contributes to the scientific basis for future land development strategies and helps support land use decision-making on the political, planning and management level.