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ES in the UK(?) Ecosystem A ssessment. Roy Haines-Young & Marion Potschin Centre for Environmental Management School of Geography University of Nottingham cem@nottingham.ac.uk. Joint session between BES and the UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group September, 2008.
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ES in the UK(?) Ecosystem Assessment Roy Haines-Young & Marion Potschin Centre for Environmental Management School of Geography University of Nottingham cem@nottingham.ac.uk Joint session between BES and the UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group September, 2008
Review the case for an ‘MA-style’ assessment for England… Background • MA has had a marked impact on both policy and research communities: • House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee • 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review • Research Councils ~ LWEC • Defra’s Action Plan for Embedding an Ecosystems Approach & Research Programme
Key questions considered… • What do we mean by an ‘MA-style assessment’? • Who would the customers for such an assessment be? • Who needs to be involved? • What timescales and resources….
There is a significant evidence need There is a significant evidence need that is not being met Coordination of initiatives and reporting focus The scoping study… Is there a need for the types of evidence an MA could produce? Is the evidence needed being produced by existing or planned initiatives? What could a national MA contribute? Key stimulus for helping embed an ecosystems approach
Classification Issues • ES discussions often combine issues about • the importance of biodiversity • the importance of natural resource systems • Think in terms of service/benefit themes
Classification Issues • ES discussions often combine issues about • the importance of biodiversity • the importance of natural resource systems • Think in terms of service/benefit themes • Possibly there is a distinction between • Whole (socio-) ecosystem services (e.g. cultural services) • Biophysical ecosystem services (esp. regulating services) • Ecosystem services mainly dependent on ecological processes (biodiversity)
The practical implementation of ‘Ecosystem Services’ principles • Framing the ‘ecosystem service paradigm’: • An understanding of the link to beneficiaries is essential • An understanding of ‘minimum service levels’ is helpful • An awareness of multi-functionality and trade-offs between service output is vital • An understanding of the role that biodiversity plays in ES is fundamental • Analysis of the value of benefits and the costs of ecosystem maintenance/restoration is necessary • ????.... • How do we articulate these through an ‘ecosystems approach’ and how can we embed these ideas in decision making?
CICES? • Not a classification but a framework • A framework in which translations and customisation is possible • A framework which supports multiple purposes • A framework that demonstrates benefits of being able to cross reference… • So CICES or CIFES?