the state of the nation’s ecosystems project and...
TRANSCRIPT
The State of the Nation’s Ecosystems Projectand
Conceptual Model Development
Robin O’MalleyThe Heinz Center
UN Statistical DivisionExperts Group MeetingNovember 10-12, 2009
Less detail
Number of Pieces of Information
Talking, discussing, arguing:a few key facts
Tracking key aspects of progress: succinct indicators of key attributes
Managing, deciding, evaluating: more details, stronger links to specific places and programs
Local decisions, research, evaluations: highly detailed and
specific information
Information and Indicators for Multiple Needs
More detail and specificity
How can we communicate what we know?
What do we need to know? What do we know?
Information Value Chain
ScienceManagement PolicyPublic
ScienceManagement Policy Public
Define information Needs
• Monitoring Systems • Indicators• DSS, models• Assessments
Information Products
Delivery Mechanisms
Goals of the State of the Nation's Ecosystems Project
• Identify strategic indicators of condition and use of U.S. ecosystems
• Lay the groundwork for periodic, high-quality, non-partisan reporting
Key Principles:• Focus on trends• Politically neutral• Scientifically excellent • Policy relevant• Not a one-time report
Process – a crucial distinguishing feature
Multiple “sectors”: government (federal, state, local), business, environmental NGOs, academia
Multiple skill sets: policy/legal/advocacy AND technical
Multiple rounds of collaborator and external reviews
Respectful dialog!
Chemical &
Physical
Biological Components
Goods &
Services
Nutrients, C, O
Contaminants
Physical Conditions
Plants & Animals
Communities
Productivity
Food, Fiber, Water
Recreation & Other Services
System Dimensions
Extent
Landscape Pattern
Urban & Suburban Areas
Coasts & Oceans
Farmlands
Forests
Fresh Waters
Grasslands & Shrublands
13 “Core National Indicators”
broad, cross-ecosystem
SixEcosystemChapters
~17 indicators per
chapter
The Reporting Framework
“Data Gaps”
Strategy: Report intentionally was not limited to data already in hand
Outcome: In 2002, nearly half of 103 high priority indicators could not be reported
~30% had inadequate data~14% had inadequate definition
2008: 26% (of 108)
2008: 11% (of 108)
Key Principles:
Focus on trends
Politically neutral
Scientifically excellent
X Policy relevant (connected to local / national decisions)
Not a one-time report
Conceptual Framework Development
(thanks to)
Integration and Synthesis Group Theodore Heintz
White House Council on Environmental Quality
Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem
The Earth’s Ecosystem
Tier 0 – ISG Conceptual Framework
InitialEnvironmental
Conditions
NaturalResource
Capital
Social Capacity & Economic
Capital
Initial Human
ConditionsState t0
Processes
NewEnvironmental
Conditions
NaturalResource
Capital
Social Capacity & Economic
Capital
NewHuman
Conditions
Environm
ental &N
atural Resource
Processes
Social &
Econom
icP
rocesses
Tim
e
State t1
Tier 1 - ISG Conceptual Framework
Interactions
Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem
CurrentEnvironmental
Conditions
NaturalResource
Capital
Social Capacity & Economic
Capital
CurrentHuman
ConditionsState t0
Processes
CurrentEnvironmental
Conditions
NaturalResource
Capital
Social Capacity & Economic
Capital
CurrentHuman
Conditions
Environm
ental &N
atural Resource
Processes
Tim
e
State t1
Tier 1a - ISG Conceptual Framework with Ecosystem Services
Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem
Human Alterations& Discharges
EcosystemGoods & Services S
ocial &E
conomic
Processes
Initial EnvironmentalConditions
Air, Water. Climate,Plants, Animals
Soil, Microbes, Rocks
Initial NaturalResource Capital
Biomass, Water,Minerals
Initial Social Capacity And Economic Capital
Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints
Initial HumanConditions
Values & NormsIncome, Health, Security
Air, Water. ClimatePlants, Animals
Soil, Microbes, Rocks
New EnvironmentalConditions
Biomass, Water,Minerals
New NaturalResource Capital
Economic Assets & LiabilitiesSocial Opportunities & Constraints
New Social Capacity And Economic Capital
Values & NormsIncome, Health, Security
New HumanConditions
Environmental Subsystem Human Subsystem
Tier 2 – ISG Conceptual Framework
UnderlyingEnvironmental
Processes:
AtmosphericHydrologicBiologic/EcologicGeologic
Investment, Use of GoodsAnd Services
UnderlyingSocial AndEconomic
Processes:
Demographic,Cultural,
Governance’Legal,
Market,Interaction,
Family,Education
FinalEcosystem
Goods
FinalEcosystemServices
Processes ProducingFinal Ecosystem Services
Production of Economic Goods
and Services
Use of Final Ecosystem
Services
Processes ProducingFinal Ecosystem Goods Extraction
Land cover, land form and water flow alterations; Waste discharges; Biota transport
Land cover, land form and water flow alterations; Waste discharges; Biota transport
Thank you