The fifth Italian Community of Practice (CoP) meeting took place on 29 April 2026, organised by SELINA partners from the University of Trento. The meeting brought together representatives from the private sector, research institutions and non-profit organisations to explore how ecosystem evidence can better support collaboration between public and private actors in environmental decision-making.

The session focused on the theme “Governance and integration of ecosystem evidence”, continuing the Community’s work on strengthening cooperation between actors involved in sustainability planning and implementation.

Participants presented projects, case studies and practical experiences from different sectors and territorial contexts. Contributions included examples of urban data-sharing infrastructures, citizen science initiatives, urban regeneration projects, and governance approaches, emphasising how various actors can collaborate more effectively.

The meeting emphasised the need for scientific evidence to be more accessible and comprehensible, enabling it to serve as a common language among stakeholders with varying responsibilities, technical abilities, and interests. Other discussed challenges included fragmented responsibilities, limited technical capacity in public administrations, and gaps in evidence production and data updating processes.

Transparency, participation, and long-term collaboration were deemed essential for building trust, with non-profit organisations playing a crucial role in connecting research with various stakeholders. 

Looking ahead, a meeting planned for June will continue exploring how governance and ecosystem evidence can strengthen long-term public–private cooperation for sustainable decision-making.