Water-related ecosystem services [ESS] – increasing the relevance of the concept for operational management on various scales

INVITATION to a joint EurAqua – WssTP workshop:

Date: 18-19 November 2014Venue: Oslo Science Park, Gaustadalleen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway. http://www.oslotech.no/forskningsparken/

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVE:• To provide an opportunity for professionals concerned with quantifying and assessing water-related ecosystem • services [ESS] to discuss state of the art knowledge, and in particular addressing challenges in the further • operationalization of the ESS concepts. • To contribute to make ESS tools and results operational and increasingly taken up by management and policy • bodies, whether they operate at water body, catchment, river basin district, national or the international level.

TARGET GROUPS:• ESS knowledge providers (scientists, consultants)• ESS knowledge users (Competent Authorities, policy-makers etc.)

Confirmed speakers:• Giovanni Bidoglio (EC JRC-Ispra): Head of the Water Resources Unit of the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (Ispra) of the European Commission’s

Joint Research Centre (JRC). • Michael Munk Sørensen (COWI): Presenting results from a newly completed study commissioned by DG Environment «Support

Policy Development for Integration of Ecosystem Services Approach with WFD and FD Implementation”.• Kristin Magnussen (Vista Analyse): Presenting the

Norwegian Official Report NOU 2013:10, Natural benefits – on the values of ecosystem services: Opportunities and challenges of the practical application of the

concept with examples from water management. • Eduard Interwies (InterSus - Sustainability Services): Environmental policy consultant working for e.g. the

European Commission, European Environment Agency, World Bank and OECD. • Presentations of research from the EU FP7 projects OpenNESS and REFORM.

We also invite YOU to present: We aim for a social, interactive and discussion oriented workshop that provides different perspectives on the use of ESS, based on various experiences. We thus invite workshop participants to give brief (15 min) presentations relevant for the workshop objectives and its format. Presentations related to research results, research needs and experiences in operational management are all of interest. However, we would in particular encourage aspects related to research and knowledge needs.

Maximum numbers of participants: 60

- DAY 1 -

12.00 Launching the workshop

Plenary presentations: What is the current and future policy context for developing ESS?

Plenary presentations: Developing tools for applying ESS to water management: key research findings.

Panel debate/open discussion:Why do we need the ESS concept in operational water related

management?

What are the key obstacles for the uptake of the ESS concept and methods in implementing the WFD?

17.00 - 20.00 Tapasbuffet

- DAY 2 -

09.00

11.00 - 12.00 Lunch

12.00 Continued parallel sessions and wrap up

Plenary discussion: How to increase the relevance of ESS for operational management?

Plenary: What are the main future research needs and opportunities?

Presentation: Forthcoming research opportunities, in particular under H2020 & JPI Water

calls for 2015.

Presentation: Research needs and challenges for policy makers- merging experiences from

workshop participants.

Discussion: Joint research ventures

15.30 - 16.00 Wrap up and concluding remarks

-More information and registration: http://www.niva.no/en/aktiviteter/workshop-water-related-ecosystem-services

Workshop design:

Parallel 1: Ecosystem services and the WFD: how to achieve good ecological status?

Parallel 2: Valuing floodregulatory functions: technical / grey infrastructure versus natural retention solutions

Parallel 3: Ecosystem services and the CAP