embedding the ecosystem approach in policy: problems and potential
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Embedding the Ecosystem Approach in Policy and Decision making.
Personal Reflections Alister Scott
Big questions tough decisions • Demographic change •Economic growth •Planning new developments where •Climate change •Species decline •Reduced diversity of natural and built assets •Uncertainty •Conflicting values •Trade offs
Aim of NEAFO
• “To further develop and communicate the evidence base of the UK NEA and make it relevant to decision and policy making at different spatial scales across the UK”
http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/NEWFollowonPhase/Aimoffollowupphase/tabid/128/Default.aspx
Aim
• The principal aim of work package 9/10 is to mainstream the principles of the ecosystem approach by adapting public policy and decision-support tools within an ecosystem services framework to improve policy- and decision-making processes and outcomes
Delivery and Tools
Why should we use the ecosystem approach?
Outcome 1C. By 2020, at least 17% of land and inland water, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, conserved through
effective, integrated and joined up approaches to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services including through management of our existing systems of protected
areas and the establishment of nature improvement areas;
Interdisciplinary solutions reqd • Need integrative
frameworks • Need to understand
interrelationships and interfaces
• Need to work across built and natural professions
•
• BUT...........................
Should have gone to Specosystem Savers
Typology of tools
Stages with guidance Suite of tools with
guidance using ecosystem service
framework
Video extracts
SUDSEcosystem mapping
But key problems
1. hands are tied …….. • Work silos • Work targets • Lack of time • Lack of resources • Culture change required
2. no complete buy in of ecosystem services
• Decision making processes
• Built environment• Business • Other ‘lenses’• Identity sector
Champions
3. language of ecosystem services
• Complex theory • Environmental label
hinders integration • Alienates business,
developers and statutory decision makers
• Where is additionality beyond good practice.
4. tools are abused
• Policy based evidence• Maps based on poor
quality data • Assumptions not made
explicit • Limitations not made
explicit
5 Ecosystem Approach does demand behaviour change.
EATME Ingredients • Ecosystem Approach • Hooks to capture key audiences and stakeholders
(NPPF, NEWP, DTC, Benefits, Risk)• Coproduction: Talk to exemplar projects about tool
experiences • Classify, Use and review existing tools rather than
creating something new • Use decision making process rather than new jargon. • Ecosystem proof linked suite of favoured tools
Tool Type Decision-Making
Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulatory ALL stages
Environmental Impact Assessment Regulatory ALL stages
Natural Capital Asset Check Incentive Survey
Payments for Ecosystem Services Incentive Survey - Act
Cost-Benefit Analysis and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis Valuation Survey - Evaluate
Corporate Ecosystem Valuation Valuation Survey – Evaluate
Ecosystem Assessment Ecosystem Services Ideas - Evaluate
GIS tools Ecosystem Services Ideas - Evaluate
Futures/Scenarios Futures Ideas - Assess
TABLE 7: Final tools for ecosystem proofing
Not Fit for Purpose
• Communication focus to highlight tree of ecosystem knowledge.
• Entry routes for different professionals
• Entry routes based on commonly identified problems
• Pathways to bundles of tools that might be used
• Open source format?
Identify key problem areas
Draft guidance
Signpost tools
Key lessons learned
• Process is key in translating theory into policy and decisions.
• Language and communication is key to unlock engagement
• Tools do not exist in isolation from setting • Tools are only as good as the user. • Inclusion of different publics and knowledges
is vital
Dangers • Policy-based evidence • Neglecting existing frameworks and practices that
currently deliver good policy and decisions • Ecosystem Services Messiahs • Cherry picking ecosystem services in isolation • Bolting on ecosystem services to existing practices,
decisions and plans • Not embedding ‘true’ value of nature into built
environment professions and practices.
Summary
• We sometimes forget the biggest tool is the person standing here talking to you.