Seminar One
The first seminar was hosted by the Centre for Environmental Management in the School of Geography, University of Nottingham on the 23rd and 24th October, 2007. The event had over 30 people in attendance, and included researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds, as well as policy advisors. The general purpose of the first seminar was to characterize some of the emerging issues shaping research into ecosystem services, and within this, to establish a set of seminar questions that could link this emerging work to discussion taking place at the events.
A copy of the programme can be found here (pdf)
The event began with an overview presentation by Roy Haines-Young (CEM Nottingham) in which the substantive concerns of emerging research and policy agendas were outlined and explored. This presentation addressed definitional complexities surrounding the idea of ecosystem services and the emerging scope of current work. The insights of this presentation were then contextualized in terms of the aims of the seminar series. To do this Robert Fish (Exeter/Ormi) outlined a series of key research questions that could link different seminar discussions to emerging agendas and which would form the basis for an overall 'seminar narrative'.
Roy Haines-Young presentation slides (pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Robert Fish presentation (pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Agenda setting: emerging questions for the seminar series
- How can we obtain a holistic picture of the state of the natural environment, in terms of healthy ecosystems and provision of ecosystem services? How can we measure services to assess the potential of ecosystems to enhance human well-being? What are the key indicators of ecosystem quality?
- How can appraisal and valuation of ecosystem services improve sustainability through existing decision making frameworks?
- How can we set objectives for ecosystem services in the context of societal choice? How do we deal with trade-offs
- Can an understanding of the ways in which people appreciate the value of ecosystems lead to more effective policy development?
- How do we translate science evidence into usable tools?
- How do we predict the outcomes of decision making for the delivery of a range of services (and benefits)?
- What do we need to do to mainstream consideration of ecosystem services into policy and decision making?
- How do we create the research community needed for this approach?
It is against this background that the seminar proceeded with five ‘agenda setting’ papers. The first paper was given by Sarah Moon who is leading the strategic development of Defra’s work on the Ecosystems Approach. Sarah outlined the aims and objectives of this work, and within this, highlighted progress to date and the nature of emerging evidence needs within the Department. The second paper was given by Meg Huby, Senior Lecturer in Social Policy, University of York who has been exploring ecosystem services in the context of childhood well-being and environmental Inequalities. Douglas MacMillan, Reader in Conservation and Applied Resource Economics, University of Kent presented the third paper and addressed the substantive problems researchers face when broaching issues of valuation. Next up was Brendan Fisher, a researcher working Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment (UEA), who introduced recent assessment research taking place in the Eastern Arc Mountains and which is encompassing issues of monitoring, mapping and governance. The final agenda setting paper of day 1 was given by Ed Maltby, Director of SWIMMER and University of Liverpool. Drawing on insights from four major research projects Maltby gave the audience a wide ranging view on the problems and prospects for rolling out the ecosystems approach as both a scientific tool and policy agenda.
Sarah Moon presentation (pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Meg Huby presentation (pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Brendan Fisher presentation(pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Ed Maltby presentation (pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Douglas MacMillan voice file (wmp)
Day 2 proceeded with a review of the previous day’s discussion by Rob Fish. This was followed by four further perspectives on current issues and work. The first paper by Les Firbank, Head of Dept., Soil Environmental and Ecological Sciences, North Wyke Research addressed emerging trends and their implications for the application of the Ecosystems Approach. Pushpam Kumar, an Environmental Economist, University of Liverpool returned to the issue (and dilemmas) of performing economic valuation of ecosystem services, while Dave Raffaelli, Head of Environment Dept, University of York used examples from his current research to present a overview of emerging challenges.
Robert Fish presentation (pdf)
Les Firbank presentation (pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Dave Raffaelli presentation (pdf) and voice file (wmp)
Pushpam Kumar voice file (wmp)
The first seminar concluded with a public lecture on the afternoon of the 24th October by Professor Robert Watson, Chief Scientific Adviser, Defra. Watson outlined his work in the leading Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) and took questions from the floor. A link to this presentation can be found under 'Public Events'.
In addition, some of the Early Stage Researchers presented posters outlining their research. Copies are provided below:
Stephen Dangerfield, University of Nottingham (pdf)
Franziska Kroll, University of Kiel (ppt)
Jon Tollervey, University of Liverpool (pdf)
Jessica Weigand, University of York (pdf)
