Maynard, Simone
Description
The goods and services received from ecosystems (e.g. clean air,
clean water, regulating climate, sense of place) are referred to
as ecosystem services. People (stakeholders) receive and manage
ecosystem services in different ways, rates, magnitudes and
scales. This research is premised on the notion that to manage
natural resources sustainably for ecosystem service provision we
need to mainstream ecosystem services into all stakeholder
decision making and a...[Show more] framework is required to meet this
purpose.
The most utilised framework is the one supporting the Millennium
Ecosystem Assessment (MA). Since the MA’s release in 2005 there
has been exponential growth in ecosystem services research and
framework development; there exists no systematic or agreed
framework from which to assess ecosystem services across sites,
ecosystems, catchments, regions or nations. A lack of analysis of
existing initiatives, particularly the drivers underpinning the
choice of process applied to develop frameworks and why
information and tools differ, hinders the ability to make
informed decisions on a framework’s relevance, transferability
and scalability to purpose, or what is required to develop a more
relevant framework. The use of different frameworks by
stakeholders limits the use of assessment outcomes by others, and
therefore the ability to inform natural resource management,
planning and policy at different scales.
To better understand the drivers behind the choice of methodology
applied in programs, this research analyses ecosystem services
assessment methodologies and schools of thought developed in
different contexts with a specific focus on geo-jurisdictional
scales. In this research a methodology includes the process to
develop a framework, and the information and tools supporting the
framework.
To analyse methodologies, a three pronged research approach was
applied. Document reviews ensured this research drew on an
existing body of knowledge and broad range of methodologies.
Applied research was used to develop a regional scale framework
in South East Queensland (SEQ), Australia, capturing and creating
an understanding of constraints and opportunities that arise in
everyday practice. Multiple case study analysis with semi-formal
interviews was used to analyse frameworks developed at national
and multi-national scales (i.e. for the US and UK).
This research provides: (a) a new understanding of the drivers,
motivations and contexts that influence how ecosystem services
assessment initiatives are shaped; and (b) findings and
Recommendations for use by those working in the ever-expanding
field of ecosystem services, that will enable them to adopt,
adapt or develop assessment methodologies (process, information,
tools) in a more sophisticated and explicit manner.
This research reveals the factors influencing the initiation of
the program, the culture of coordinating organisations and the
resources available strongly influenced the process applied to
develop frameworks; the information incorporated in frameworks
was influenced by the culture of nations, mandates of
coordinating organisations, the existing evidence-base, and the
need to integrate assessment outcomes with current natural
resource initiatives; and the resources available and capacity of
framework users influenced the tools developed. A major finding
is the high influence the process applied has on the type of
information and tools incorporated in frameworks. Hence, to
develop an appropriate methodology for ecosystem services
assessments across multiple scales the creation of scientific and
political space that allows different knowledge systems to inform
each other is required.
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