Field Evidence That Ecosystem Service Projects Support Biodiversity and Diversify Options Rebecca L Goldman, Heather Tallis, Peter Kareiva, Gretchen DailyA Conference on Ecosystem Services (ACES)9 December 2008

Two focal questionsHow do biodiversity approaches differ from ecosystem service approaches?

2) Can ecosystem service approaches mainstream conservation?

Conservation approaches

Land purchaseEasement purchaseFocus on species and habitats

Biodiversity Approach

Conservation approaches

Land purchaseEasement purchaseFocus on species and habitats

Biodiversity ApproachReserves: too few, too small, too isolatedPurchase: too costly; too many people

Conservation approaches

Land purchaseEasement purchaseFocus on species and habitats

Service goalsConsider human well-beingBiodiversity ApproachEcosystem service ApproachReserves: too few, too small, too isolatedPurchase: too costly; too many people

What are Ecosystem Services?The benefits people obtain from ecosystemsSupporting servicesPreserving optionsProvisioning servicesRegulating servicesCultural services

Two focal questionsHow do biodiversity approaches differ from ecosystem service approaches?

2) Can ecosystem service approaches mainstream conservation?

Do ecosystem service approaches:Targeted Systems?Protected Areas?

Participation?Targeted Systems?Protected Areas?Do ecosystem service approaches:

Participation?Reward Mechanisms?Targeted Systems?Protected Areas?Do ecosystem service approaches:

Participation?Reward Mechanisms?Diversity of Revenue Streams?Targeted Systems?Protected Areas?Do ecosystem service approaches:

MethodsTNC case studySemi-structured interviewsProject implementationQuestions about monitoringDatabase 34 ES projects26 BD projectsUS, Central, South AmericaStatistical analysisChi-squareMean/SE

Targeted Systems?Protected Areas?Do ecosystem service approaches:

Ecosystem service projects include new landscapes * p

Ecosystem service projects do NOT leave reserves behindGoldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Ecosystem service projects address the same threatsGoldman et al. 2008 PNAS

Participation?Do ecosystem service approaches:Photo by: Nestor Windvoxhel, TNC

Ecosystem service projects engage new stakeholders* p

Do ecosystem service approaches:Reward Mechanisms?Photo by: Chris Matson, TNC

Ecosystem service projects use a greater variety of finance tools* p

Ecosystem service projects use a greater variety of finance tools* p

Ecosystem service projects use a greater variety of finance tools* p

Ecosystem service projects use a greater variety of finance tools* p

Ecosystem service projects can use finance tools abroad

**p

Do ecosystem service approaches:Diversity of Revenue Streams?

Ecosystem service projects diversify revenue streams**p

Ecosystem service projects diversify revenue streams* p

Potential of ecosystem service approachWork with agricultural landscapes

Potential of ecosystem service approachWork with agricultural landscapesRetain private landownership

Potential of ecosystem service approachWork with agricultural landscapesRetain private landownershipUse more finance tools

Potential of ecosystem service approachWork with agricultural landscapesRetain private landownershipUse more finance toolsExpand funding from corporate sources

What is needed:Outcome-based monitoringMeasure of return on investment

THANKS!AcknowledgementsTNC staff and partnersMy co-authorsHeather TallisPeter KareivaGretchen DailyFunding sources: Teresa Heinz Environmental ScholarsNational Science Foundation Graduate Student Fellowship

My Contact Info:rgoldman@tnc.org