A recently published article in Earth System Governance’ Special Issue co-authored by GreenFormation expert, Agnes Zolyomi provides an overview of a systemic analysis that assessed a century of ecosystem services and their impacts on policy. Assessing ecosystem services and assigning an economic value to them has been thought of as the silver bullet to shed light on nature’s immense value in a deepening environmental crisis. They were expected to bring the breakthrough for biodiversity prioritisation. The figures and monetary values were thought to change policy-makers’ minds to prioritise biodiversity in their agendas. To date, there has been limited research exploring how the concept of ecosystem services has impacted policy. This new study aims to provide an overview about the achieved policy impacts, enabling and hindering factors as well as lessons learnt. You can read the open access article here.
Improving water retention capacities of local governments in Hungary
EcosystemEvaluation carries out economic impact assessment as well as ecosystem serrvices analysis of theLIFE LOGOS 4 WATER project. This project aims to improve water management practices of Hungarian local governments with natural water retention solutions, thus reducing the negative water balance, increasing the prevalence of water retention solutions and adapting to the adverse effects of a climate crisis. In addition to a number of awareness-raising and capacity-building activities, the project aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of natural water retention solutions in two river basin districts through the coordinated work of the municipalities in the concerned areas. [Read more…] about Improving water retention capacities of local governments in Hungary
Assessing socio-economic impacts of a network
The network of Justice and Environment has been operating for around 20 years with the mission to improve EU environmental laws and their implementation for the benefit of the environment and people across Europe. While their two decades of work resulted in many policy outputs and successes, systematic organizational screening of their impact has not yet been carried out (similarly to most organizations – mostly due to the complexity of the task). In order to have a better understanding of how the members consider the impacts of the organization and what future directions they regard important, Ecosystem Valuation set up an initial impact framework and compiled a relevant questionnaire. [Read more…] about Assessing socio-economic impacts of a network
Stork or birds of prey? Assessing the baseline indicators of the LIFE Danube Free Sky project
The LIFE Danube Free Sky project is a transnational project with the aim to save thousands of birds from electrocution and collisions with power lines. To achieve this, the project involves and collaborates with numerous stakeholders including, for instance, electric companies and nature conservation actors along the Danube. In order to understand the project’s overall socio-economic dimensions and impact on ecosystem services by 2025 (when the project ends) we at Ecosystem Valuation prepared a baseline study of the status quo. [Read more…] about Stork or birds of prey? Assessing the baseline indicators of the LIFE Danube Free Sky project
Assessing the impacts of conserving Lesser Spotted Eagle in Latvia
The “Conservation arrangements for Lesser Spotted Eagle in Latvia” (LIFE AQPOM) project has focused on the complex conservation of the bird’s alarmingly declining population. The project created new habitats for the eagle and for his preys and ensured safe pylons around the habitats of the bird. In our socio-economic impact and ecosystem services assessment we analysed how the project contributed to the well-being of impacted stakeholders (grassland and forest owners) and revealed how different ecosystem services (biomass and carbon sequestration of project sites) were changed due to project interventions.
In regard to the evaluation of these two essential forest related ecosystem services, we found that the protected nesting sites not only served the purpose of preserving the Lesser spotted eagle but also improved the condition of the biomass and the carbon sequestration ecosystem services and indirectly, other ecosystem services. [Read more…] about Assessing the impacts of conserving Lesser Spotted Eagle in Latvia