Checklists to Support Practitioners in the Assessment of Ecosystem Services
Earlier this month a new article was published, in which we, together with other partners in the SELINA project, have designed best-practice checklists to support practitioners in the assessment of ecosystem services.
Earlier this month a new article was published, in which we, together with other partners in the external page SELINA project, have designed best-practice checklists to support practitioners in the assessment of ecosystem services. Ecosystems provide a multitude of benefits for human well-being, known as ecosystem services. The assessment of these services is intended to support decision-making, but the effective integration of ecosystem services into decision-making has been lacking. Therefore, this recent study reviewed a total of 111 guidance documents on ecosystem services assessments with a particular focus on seven critical diagnostic topics, i.e. ecosystem condition variables, capacity-potential, supply-demand, spatial scaling and resolution capability, social and health benefit compatibility, economic valuation compatibility and uncertainty assessment. For each of these diagnostic topics, checklists have been developed to enhance the relevance and robustness of ecosystem services assessments, thereby bridging the gap between scientific assessments and practical application.
By improving the design and implementation of the ecosystem services assessments, the study aims to promote greater integration of ecosystem services assessments and their results into decision-making, ultimately contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems and their services.
Have a look at the article and checklists here: external page https://doi.org/10.3897/oneeco.9.e120449 .
Learn more about the SELINA project here: external page https://www.project-selina.eu/.
Article
David N. Barton, Bart Immerzeel, Luke Brander, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey, Jarumi Kato Huerta, Conor Kretsch, Solen Le Clech, Paula Rendón, Joana Seguin, Martha V. Arámbula Coyote, Javier Babí Almenar, Mario V Balzan, Benjamin Burkhard, Claudia Carvalho-Santos, Davide Geneletti, Victoria Guisado Goñi, Elias Giannakis, Inge Liekens, Piotr Lupa, Gillian Ryan, Małgorzata K. Stępniewska, Eszter Tanács, Vince van ‘t Hoff, Franziska E. Walther, Christos Zoumides, Iwona Zwierzchowska, Ioanna Grammatikopoulou, Miguel Villosalda (2024) Increasing uptake of ecosystem service assessments: best practice check-lists for practitioners in Europe. One Ecosystem 9: e120449.
external page https://doi.org/10.3897/oneeco.9.e120449