Image
ESMERALDA – Enhancing Ecosystem Services Mapping for Policy and Decision Making
Published on 23 September 2020
Germany
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
To facilitate the implementation of Action 5 of The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 – national mapping and assessment of the state of ecosystems and their services, assessment of their economic value and integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level – the ESMERALDA project developed a methodology for integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES). The methodology was tested in 13 case studies on various spatial scales across European biomes and regions, including the EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories, which addressed diverse themes, from policy- and decision-making, to business and society.
One of the major outcomes of the project is the ESMERALDA MAES Explorer, an online guidance tool which explains the MAES implementation process: (1) understanding the questions that stakeholders ask; (2) identification of relevant stakeholders; (3) network creation and involvement of stakeholders; (4) the mapping and assessment process; (5) MAES case study applications; (6) dissemination and communication; and (7) implementation. The tool also includes the MAES Methods Explorer, which provides detailed documentation of the various biophysical, social and economic mapping and assessment methods and links them to specific ecosystem types and specific ecosystem services, and a searchable database of case study literature.
The main beneficiaries are academics, policy makers and practitioners.
One of the major outcomes of the project is the ESMERALDA MAES Explorer, an online guidance tool which explains the MAES implementation process: (1) understanding the questions that stakeholders ask; (2) identification of relevant stakeholders; (3) network creation and involvement of stakeholders; (4) the mapping and assessment process; (5) MAES case study applications; (6) dissemination and communication; and (7) implementation. The tool also includes the MAES Methods Explorer, which provides detailed documentation of the various biophysical, social and economic mapping and assessment methods and links them to specific ecosystem types and specific ecosystem services, and a searchable database of case study literature.
The main beneficiaries are academics, policy makers and practitioners.
Expert opinion
This good practice was developed to address one of the targets of the 2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy, and is also in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which is an integral part of the European Green Deal. The ESMERALDA MAES Explorer is an online guidance tool that explains the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services. It is a great help to academics, practitioners and policy makers, who are working on the agenda, which receives increasingly more attention. The first ever EU-wide Ecosystem Assessment was conducted in 2020 with results released in May 2021. One of the key messages was that the EU needs a better performing biodiversity observation network and more consistent reporting on ecosystem condition. A tool such as ESMERALDA MAES Explorer is designed to help with mapping and assessment and is therefore highly applicable for the current needs. Another benefit is that ESMERALDA already has partners from all EU countries, Norway, Switzerland and Israel. The online tool provides guidance for implementation of the MAES methodology, while various case studies serve as reference points and inspiration. All the resources are free and ready for use, and are therefore available to decision-makers across the whole EU. For more resources visit: http://database.esmeralda-project.eu/home
Works at
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
Resources needed
ESMERALDA MAES Explorer is a free tool. However, not all of the publications in the database are open access.
The project has received funding under the Horizon 2020 Programme. Overall budget: EURO 3.133.306; EU contribution: EURO 3.002.166.
The project has received funding under the Horizon 2020 Programme. Overall budget: EURO 3.133.306; EU contribution: EURO 3.002.166.
Evidence of success
At its start, the consortium had 25 partners from 19 EU member states and Switzerland (Romania being represented by the University of Bucharest). At its end, it had 37 partners from all 28 EU member states, Switzerland, Norway and Israel. ESMERALDA improved awareness of MAES among policy makers and practitioners and has facilitated dialogue about the challenges of MAES for policy uptake. Front-runner countries were able to share knowledge with other countries regarding MAES implementation.
Potential for learning or transfer
ESMERALDA MAES Explorer aids decision-makers from policy, science and society in the integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystem services (MAES) at different levels, from national policy down to local spatial planning. The online guidance tool provides easy-to-follow instructions for implementing the MAES methodology and the database of case study literature of the different mapping and assessment tools is a valuable reference tool.
In addition, the open access special issue of One Ecosystem collates 27 articles resulting from the project, including ecosystem service mapping and assessment methodologies, stakeholder engagement strategies, and case studies.
In addition, the open access special issue of One Ecosystem collates 27 articles resulting from the project, including ecosystem service mapping and assessment methodologies, stakeholder engagement strategies, and case studies.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Leibniz Universität Hannover
Germany
Hannover
Contact
Project Manager