ESPA Valuation workshop

May 2011

NERC Valuing Nature Network

A 2 year interdisciplinary network for valuing biodiversity, ecosystem services and

natural resource use Management team:

• Ian Bateman (CSERGE, UEA); PI and Network Leader • Steve Albon (James Hutton Institute); Network Administrator • Roy Haines-Young (Nottingham) • Rosie Hails (NERC-CEH, NCI) • Georgina Mace (Imperial) • David Raffaelli (York)

Network Themes

Better valuation methods

Developing a trans-disciplinary framework for the valuation of stocks of natural capital and flows of ecosystem and natural resource services.

Addressing knowledge gaps and agenda setting

Characterising the socio-ecological system knowledge required to properly capture the value of biodiversity, ecosystem services and natural resources.

Bridging research disciplines & engaging stakeholders

NERC Valuing Nature Network

NERC Valuing Nature Network

May 2011: Scoping Workshops

o Abiotic (atmospheric scientists, biogeochemists, etc) o Biotic (ecologists: terrestrial / freshwater & marine) o Economists (environmental, agricultural, etc. ) o Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation (ESPA) o Health and the environment o Modellers (statistical, deterministic, etc) o Social sciences (human geography, etc.)

See www.valuing-nature.net

• Decision making involves trade-offs – especially in times of austerity.

• Government and business decisions formalise this by looking at the benefits and costs of each possible use of resources.

• The valuation of benefits and costs might be monetary or non-monetary, quantitative or qualitative

• However, biodiversity, ecosystem services and natural resources are often left without valuations and are consequently over-used or under supplied.

• There is ongoing interest from the policy sector: from TEEB to the Green economy.

Why do Valuation?

Ecosystem Services: Building on the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Based on B

. Fisher et al 2009

ES contribution to well-being

Non monetised

Primary production

Decomposition

Soil formation

Nutrient cycling

Water cycling

Weathering

Climate regulation

Pollination

Evolutionary processes

Ecological interactions

Crops, livestock, fish

Water availability

Trees

Peat

Wild species diversity

Drinking water Food

Fibre

Energy

Equable climate

£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £

£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £

Final ecosystem services Goods

Value of goods...

..of which ES value

Primary & intermediate processes

Physical and chemical inputs Other capital inputs

Natural enemies

Detoxification

Local climate

Waste breakdown

Purified water

Stabilising vegetation

Meaningful places

Wild species diversity

Flood control

Natural medicine

Pollution control

Disease control

Good health

Recreation

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+

Regulating

Supporting

Provisioning

Cultural

From ecosystem services to their value NEA Terminology

Based on B. Fisher et al 2009

Spatial Economic Implications of Two Storylines

Individual wellbeing values

Collective shared wellbeing values

Drivers of Change Policy & management

Socio-economic Environmental

(including external pressures)

Air, land, water, biodiversity Natural Resources

Environmental Services (Supporting, Regulating, Provisioning, Cultural)

Goods for people

VNN Conceptual Framework

Governance

Global, EU, State, Private sector and other actors

Non-monetary assessments (quantitative & qualitative)

Monetary valuation of market & non-market goods

Individual wellbeing values

Collective shared wellbeing values

Economic (£) Health (+/-) Shared social

values (/)

Drivers of Change Policy & management

Socio-economic Environmental

(including external pressures)

Air, land, water, biodiversity Natural Resources

VALUATION

Environmental Services (Supporting, Regulating, Provisioning, Cultural)

Governance

Global, EU, State, Private sector and other actors

Goods for people

Scale, place and time sensitive

VNN Conceptual Framework

Decisions

Non-monetary assessments (quantitative & qualitative)

Monetary valuation of market & non-market goods

Individual wellbeing values

Collective shared wellbeing values

Economic (£) Health (+/-) Shared social

values (/)

Drivers of Change Policy & management

Socio-economic Environmental

(including external pressures)

Air, land, water, biodiversity Natural Resources

Decisions

VALUATION

Environmental Services (Supporting, Regulating, Provisioning, Cultural)

Governance

Global, EU, State, Private sector and other actors

Goods for people

Impl

emen

tatio

n R

egul

atio

n et

c.

Scale, place and time sensitive

VNN Conceptual Framework

ESPA Research Framework

Summary of research themes from all VNN workshops

1. Improving valuation (all methods) to incorporate the complexity of socio-ecological systems

2. Stocks, flows and sustainability 3. Scale 4. From science through values to decisions

See www.valuing-nature.net

Summary of findings from ESPA workshop

1. Valuation of what for whom? Who decides what to value and how?

2. How to approach unravelling the science in such complex systems?

3. Measures and monitoring. What is wellbeing? What is poverty?

4. Understanding the importance of history and context.

5. Understanding the different drivers and incentives across actors and scales (spatial and temporal)