Through the creation of a European forum for discussion between scientists and policy-makers, this Concerted Action aims at reducing the conflict between the conservation of biodiversity and economic development. Particular attention will be devoted to boreal, Meditteranean and temperate forests, grasslands, uplands, riverine and freshwater habitats (inland wetlands) and mixed agricultural and semi-natural landscapes.

Objective: BIOFORUM is an experiment in implementing the "ecosystem approach" (sense CBD) to resolving conflicts between economic development and biodiversity values in forestry, grasslands, uplands, in-land waters and agricultural landscapes. The purpose of this CA is to create a dialogue between a full range of stakeholders, from the policy-making, end-user and scientific research sectors. This dialogue will focus on a variety of land-use situations in which Community policy (CAP, Tens and the ESPI) will influence the future conditions of the natural resources that are the basis of the land use at present. BIOFORUM will analyse sources of conflict, identify measures for their resolution, identify corresponding best-practice in biodiversity management though spatial planning instruments, and identify and evaluate methods for monitoring progress in conflict resolution. This CA supports both Community biodiversity policy and Community input into the CBD.