Ecosystem services provide substantial benefits to human well-being and sustainable development. However, these benefits are not widely recognized and integrated into socio-political decisions and their potentials are underestimated, leading to a continued loss and degradation of ecosystems and biodiversity.

Organisation

Key reasons to attend this course

Better understand the pertinence and purpose of valuing the services provided by ecosystems;
Be aware of the role of ecosystem service valuation in diverse decision contexts and for different objectives;
Appreciate the necessity of adopting inclusive, relevant, transparent, diverse and effective valuation approaches;
Review the main methods and tools for ecosystem service valuation, their applicability and limitations;
Identify and select key value methods under different social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts;
Learn about existing policy assessment frameworks;
Develop a critical understanding about the opportunities and challenges of ecosystem service valuation for practical application in policy.

Lecturers

D.N. Barton, NINA, Oslo (Norway)
I. Iniesta, Fractal, Madrid (Spain)
S. Jacobs, INBO, Anderlecht (Belgium)
E. Kelemen, ESSRG, Budapest (Hungary)
M. Lago, Ecologic Institute, Berlin (Germany)
F. Santos Martin, Univ. Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid (Spain)
M. Schaafsma, Vrije Univ., Amsterdam (the Netherlands)
S. Wunder, EFIMED, Barcelona (Spain)

Applied approach
(lectures, practical group work, case studies & debate)

8 Leading international experts

Course in English, French and Spanish with interpretation

Programme

Programme Timetable brochure
  • 1. Why do we need valuation of nature?
    • 1.1. Nature degradation and its impact on human well-being
    • 1.2. Failures in decision-making
    • 1.3. The potential of valuation: advantages and limits
    • 1.4. Existing policy assessment frameworks
  • 2. The context of valuation
    • 2.1. The goals of valuation
    • 2.2. Scale challenges
    • 2.3. Decision-making processes and governance
    • 2.4. Social context of valuation
    • 2.5. Discussion
  • 3. Values of nature
    • 3.1. Value definitions and typology. Different types of value held by different people
    • 3.2. Broadening the picture
      • 3.2.1. Ecosystem services approach
      • 3.2.2. Nature’s Contribution to People and other advancements
    • 3.3. Discussion
  • 4. Valuation as a process
    • 4.1. Purpose of the valuation
    • 4.2. Overview of major valuation method families
      • 4.2.1. Biophysical
      • 4.2.2. Sociocultural
      • 4.2.3. Economic
      • 4.2.4. Integrated approaches
    • 4.3. Practical work: role game to integrate or bridge-across different values using various valuation methods
    • 4.4. Choosing the right methods according to different purposes and contexts
  • 5. Valuation and policy instruments
    • 5.1. Introduction: different types of instruments and scales
    • 5.2. Examples of application
      • 5.2.1. Biodiversity conservation and the legal context for protection
      • 5.2.2. Payment for ecosystem services
      • 5.2.3. Conservation of traditional practices
      • 5.2.4. Valuation for Natural Capital and Ecosystem Accounting
  • 6. Practical group work based on case studies
    • 6.1. Introduction to the group work
    • 6.2. Work sessions
      • 6.2.1. Work session 1: Case study analysis and identification of challenges
      • 6.2.2. Work session 2: Setting the context of valuation
      • 6.2.3. Work session 3: Identification of ecosystem services, values and conflicts
      • 6.2.4. Work session 4: Choice of suitable valuation methods
      • 6.2.5. Work session 5: Decision-making processes and applicable policy instruments
    • 6.3. Presentation of results and discussion of each work session
  • 7. Closing remarks and lessons learned

Train at an outstanding international institution

Registration

If you wish to participate in the course, apply online at the following address: www.admission.iamz.ciheam.org

The course is designed for 30 professionals with a university degree. It is intended for decision-makers, public sector agents, technical advisors, researchers, and other professionals dealing with natural resources management or landscape planning, and involved or interested in ecosystem service valuation.

  • The course will be held at CIHEAM Zaragoza (Spain) from 9 to 13 May 2022, in morning and afternoon sessions. If the health risk from Covid-19 persists on those dates, the course will take place online.
  • Application deadline: 18 March 2022.
  • Registration fees for the course amount to 500 euro.
  • Candidates from Mediterranean countries and from ICARDA Middle East and North Africa partner countries, may apply for scholarships awarded by the organizing institutions covering registration fees and for scholarships covering full board accommodation and/or cost of travel.
  • Candidates from other countries who require financial support should apply directly to other national or international institutions.

It is compulsory for participants to have medical insurance valid for Spain. Proof of insurance cover must be given at the beginning of the course. Those who so wish may participate in a collective insurance policy taken out by the Organization, upon payment of the stipulated sum.

Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza

Av. Montañana 1005, 50059 Zaragoza, Spain

www.iamz.ciheam.org

iamz@iamz.ciheam.org

+34 976716000

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