Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES): Highlights and uncertainties of a science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services

Under Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 the Member States are committed to map and assess the ecosystems and their services on their national territory (MAES). A recent analysis of the implementation of Action 5 across the EU suggests that nearly all countries have started the assessment proposed by Action 5. The assessments at national scale are supported by guidance documents (MAES reports), prepared by the working group MAES. The MAES approach to ecosystem assessment is built on a community-of-practise model according to which scientists and policy-makers work together and provide guidance to member states based on their common knowledge and expertise of ecosystems and ecosystem services. The assessment at European scale is structured according to a four-step approach: mapping ecosystems, assessment of ecosystem condition, quantifying ecosystem services, and integration of these steps with a view to support policy making and implementation. Finally three approaches are proposed to address uncertainties that emerge when mapping assessing ecosystems and when using this knowledge for policy: a better exploration of reported and published scientific evidence, comparison of mapping outcomes between and across geographic scales, and knowledge co-production among scientists and policy makers.

MAES Joachim; 

2017-01-19

Fundacja Ekonomistów Środowiska i Zasobów Naturalnych

JRC103434

0867-8898,   

http://www.ekonomiaisrodowisko.pl/,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC103434,