A CREDIBILITY, RELEVANCE AND LEGITIMACY FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL DNA FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF POTENTIAL END-USERS

Abstract

As threats to natural resources multiply, the need for effective science-policy interfaces (SPIs) that account for the incorporation of ecological and social issues into decision-making is increasing. A feasible solution to successfully accomplish fast and reliable environmental information is to make use of advanced technologies, such as sampling genetic material shed by organisms into the surrounding environment, also known as environmental DNA (eDNA). While there are many studies on the scientific and technical aspects of eDNA, not much attention has been paid to users’ and decision-makers’ perspectives on eDNA and their implication in aquatic environmental monitoring and assessment. Aiming to verify if the eDNA tool and data generated by its use could make its way into decision- and policy-making, I conducted semi-structured interviews with potential end-users and stakeholders, and reviewed some Acts and Regulations, in order to better understand how eDNA is perceived and accepted. Results were interpreted and discussed using the credibility, relevance and legitimacy (CRELE) framework, as the balance among those criteria is seen as key to effective SPIs. Analysis demonstrated that eDNA is already seen as a relevant tool in inventory-monitoring studies, especially for preliminary assessments and targeted monitoring, but it would be applied as an addition to current techniques and programs, instead of a replacement option. The main challenges for eDNA relate to its resolution, its validity and its users. Although current legislation presents more opportunities than challenges for eDNA incorporation, better reproducibility and repeatability are necessary for strengthening eDNA’s credibility and legitimacy. Hence, through a combination of social perceptions, regulatory information and ecological knowledge, this study enhanced scientists and decision-makers knowledge about the tool, facilitating the identification of relevant points to be addressed towards an improved SPI.