Appendix 1. Interview questions 1.
Could you briefly describe the current state and trajectory of freshwaters across the four countries of the UK? a. What evidence do you think best supports your statement? b. How well is the current state and trajectory captured by existing evidence, monitoring and assessment? c. Why do freshwaters matter, and for who (e.g. intrinsic value, key service, future generations, social justice…)?
2.
What are the biggest pressures on freshwaters in the UK (e.g. habitat change, INNS, pollution (including emergent pollutants), climate change, overexploitation), and what are the main sources of these pressures (e.g. sectors, environmental, political)? a. What issues have been most difficult to gain progress on to date and why? b. In general, what type of mechanisms do we need to employ to address these pressures? (policy; regulation; designation; adaptation; mitigation; behaviour change; incentivisation; demonstration projects; valuation; education; communication)
3.
We are looking for case studies of innovation and success. Could you describe successful freshwater projects or interventions, either from your own organisation or those of others that you consider particularly impactful? a. If you described your own project/intervention, when planning those interventions, what evidence did you seek to decide on the best course of action? and on what criteria did you make that decision? b. If you described your own project/intervention, on what evidence did you assess your intervention was a success? c. More generally, what should a freshwater intervention/project achieve to be successful? d. Do you communicate your successes (or failures) to others, and how?
4.
Moving forwards, what do you see as key opportunities for solutions or interventions to address freshwater problems and what are your aspirations/plans in the next five years? a. Is there anything that you anticipate might slow your progress? b. How could further engagement/communication with young people, local communities or other demographic sectors be beneficial to freshwaters? c. How important is partnership working to the restoration of freshwaters? Can you think about new and more ‘unconventional partners’ that would enable/enhance your work? Do you think different water stakeholders work together well?
5.
Do you think there are sufficient resources (for example in terms of funding opportunities) available to support solutions or interventions to address problems in freshwaters? a. Do you think there are sufficient training opportunities for the next generation to acquire the skills necessary to understand freshwaters and implement solutions? b. In terms of sector capability, are there facilities or services that currently do not exist, which could support freshwater interventions or solutions? c. If resource were not constrained, what freshwater projects or interventions would you like to run?
6.
Who do you think are the key organisations in the freshwater sector? Is there anyone else that you think we should talk to?
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