Field Evidence That Ecosystem Service Projects Support Biodiversity and Diversify Options

Field Evidence That Ecosystem Service Projects Support Biodiversity and Diversify Options Rebecca L Goldman, Heather Tallis, Peter Kareiva, Gretchen Daily A Conference on Ecosystem Services (ACES) 9 December 2008

Two focal questions • How do biodiversity approaches differ from ecosystem service approaches? 2) Can ecosystem service approaches mainstream conservation?

Land purchase Easement purchase Focus on species and habitats Conservation approaches Biodiversity Approach

Land purchase Easement purchase Focus on species and habitats Conservation approaches Biodiversity Approach Reserves: too few, too small, too isolated Purchase: too costly; too many people

Land purchase Easement purchase Focus on species and habitats Service goals Consider human well-being Conservation approaches Biodiversity Approach Ecosystem service Approach Reserves: too few, too small, too isolated Purchase: too costly; too many people

What are Ecosystem Services? Regulating services The benefits people obtain from ecosystems Provisioning services Supporting services Preserving options Cultural services

Two focal questions • How do biodiversity approaches differ from ecosystem service approaches? 2) Can ecosystem service approaches mainstream conservation?

Do ecosystem service approaches: Targeted Systems? Protected Areas?

Do ecosystem service approaches: Targeted Systems? Protected Areas? Participation?

Do ecosystem service approaches: Targeted Systems? Protected Areas? Participation? Reward Mechanisms?

Do ecosystem service approaches: Targeted Systems? Protected Areas? Participation? Reward Mechanisms? Diversity of Revenue Streams?

Methods • TNC case study • Semi-structured interviews • Project implementation • Questions about monitoring • Database • 34 ES projects • 26 BD projects • US, Central, South America • Statistical analysis • Chi-square • Mean/SE

Do ecosystem service approaches: Targeted Systems? Protected Areas?

Ecosystem service projects include new landscapes * p<.05 Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Ecosystem service projects do NOT leave reserves behind Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Ecosystem service projects address the same threats Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Do ecosystem service approaches: Participation? Photo by: Nestor Windvoxhel, TNC

Ecosystem service projects engage new stakeholders * p<.05 Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Do ecosystem service approaches: Reward Mechanisms? Photo by: Chris Matson, TNC

Ecosystem service projects use a greater variety of finance tools * p<.05 **p<.01 Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Ecosystem service projects can use finance tools abroad **p<.01 Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Do ecosystem service approaches: Diversity of Revenue Streams?

Ecosystem service projects diversify revenue streams **p<.01 Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Ecosystem service projects diversify revenue streams * p<.05 Goldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Potential of ecosystem service approach Work with agricultural landscapes

Potential of ecosystem service approach Work with agricultural landscapes Retain private landownership

Potential of ecosystem service approach Work with agricultural landscapes Retain private landownership Use more finance tools

Potential of ecosystem service approach Work with agricultural landscapes Retain private landownership Use more finance tools Expand funding from corporate sources

What is needed: Outcome-based monitoring Measure of return on investment

THANKS! Acknowledgements TNC staff and partners My co-authors Heather Tallis Peter Kareiva Gretchen Daily Funding sources: Teresa Heinz Environmental Scholars National Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship My Contact Info: rgoldman@tnc.org

Field Evidence That Ecosystem Service Projects Support Biodiversity and Diversify Options