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.