Do you have 5 minutes to spare? -The challenges of stakeholder processes in ecosystem services studies

Authors

  • Lars Koschke Dresden University of Technology, Department of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Pienner Str.19, Tharandt, 01737, Germany
  • Suzanne van der Meulen Deltares, Ecosystem Services research group, Postbus 85467, Utrecht, 3508AL, Netherlands
  • Susanne Frank Dresden University of Technology, Department of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Pienner Str.19, Tharandt, 01737, Germany; University of Bonn, Center for Development Research, Department of Ecology and Natural Resources Management, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, Bonn, 53113, Germany
  • Anna Schneidergruber University of Vienna, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Rennweg 14, Vienna, 1030, Austria
  • Marion Kruse Kiel University, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Olshausenstr. 75, Kiel, 24118, Germany
  • Christine Fürst University of Bonn, Center for Development Research, Department of Ecology and Natural Resources Management, Walter-Flex-Str. 3, Bonn, 53113, Germany
  • Esther Neubert Dresden University of Technology, Department of Soil Science and Site Ecology, Pienner Str.19, Tharandt, 01737, Germany
  • Bettina Ohnesorge Ecosystem Services Research Group, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences, Jaegerstrasse 22/23, Berlin, 10117, Germany
  • Claudia Schröder Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Department of Landscape Management and Nature Conservation, Schicklerstr. 5, Eberswalde, 16225, Germany
  • Felix Müller Kiel University, Institute for Natural Resource Conservation, Olshausenstr. 75, Kiel, 24118, Germany
  • Olaf Bastian Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development, Weberplatz 1, Dresden, 01217, Germany

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.201437

Keywords:

Decision-making, Natural resource management, Operationalization, Participative processes, Questionnaire, Spatial planning

Abstract

Operationalization of the ecosystem services (ES) concept for improved natural resource management and decision support cannot, thus far, be rated as satisfactory. Participation of stakeholders is still a major methodical and conceptual challenge for implementing ES. Therefore, we conducted an online survey and a literature analysis to identify benefits and challenges of the application of ES in participatory processes. The results show that the purpose of stakeholder engagement is very diverse as a result of varying objectives, spatial scales and institutional levels of analysis. The complexity, terminology and (lacking) coherent classification of ES are pivotal aspects that should be accounted for in the design of studies to improve stakeholder participation. Although limitations of time and financial resources are bigger challenges than ES related ones, tailoring communication strategies and information for different stakeholder groups are of major importance for the success of ES studies. Results support the view that the potential benefits of applying ES, e.g., consensus finding, and development of integrated solutions, cannot be realized consistently across the different spatial scales and decision-making levels. Focusing on stakeholder processes represents a means to increase the relevance, reliability and impact of study results and to move participation in ES research from theory to reality.

References

Albert, C., Galler, C., & von Haaren, C. (2012). Integration von ökosystemdienstleistungen in die landschaftsplanung. Klimawandel -was Tun! IALE-D-Annual Conference 2012, 24

Albert, C., Hauck, J., Buhr, N., & von Haaren, C. (2014). What ecosystem services information do users want? investigating interests and requirements among landscape and regional planners in germany. Landscape Ecology, 29(8), 1301-1313. doi:10.1007/s10980-014-9990-5

Arciniegas, G., Janssen, R., & Omtzigt, N. (2011). Map-based multicriteria analysis to support interactive land use allocation. International Journal of Geographical Information Science, 25(12), 1931-1947. doi:10.1080/13658816.2011.556118

Baker, J., Sheate, W. R., Phillips, P., & Eales, R. (2013). Ecosystem services in environmental assessment - help or hindrance? Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 40(1), 3-13. doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2012.11.004

Barbier, E. B. (2007). Valuing ecosystem services as productive inputs. Economic Policy, 22(49), 177-229. doi:10.1111/j.1468-0327.2007.00174.x

Bastian, O., Haase, D., & Grunewald, K. (2012). Ecosystem properties, potentials and services - the EPPS conceptual framework and an urban application example. Ecological Indicators, 21, 7-16. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.03.014

Beaumont, N. J., Austen, M. C., Atkins, J. P., Burdon, D., Degraer, S., Dentinho, T. P., . . . Zarzycki, T. (2007). Identification, definition and quantification of goods and services provided by marine biodiversity: Implications for the ecosystem approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 54(3), 253-265. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2006.12.003

Bolund, P., & Hunhammar, S. (1999). Ecosystem services in urban areas. Ecological Economics, 29(2), 293-301. doi:10.1016/S0921-8009(99)00013-0

Brauman, K. A., Van Der Meulen, S., & Brils, J. (2014). Ecosystem services and river basin management doi:10.1007/978-3-642-38598-8_10

Broekx, S., Liekens, I., Peelaerts, W., De Nocker, L., Landuyt, D., Staes, J., . . . Cerulus, T. (2013). A web application to support the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 40(1), 65-74. doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2013.01.003

Bryan, B. A., Raymond, C. M., Crossman, N. D., & Macdonald, D. H. (2010). Targeting the management of ecosystem services based on social values: Where, what, and how? Landscape and Urban Planning, 97(2), 111-122. doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2010.05.002

Burkhard, B., Kroll, F., Nedkov, S., & Müller, F. (2012). Mapping ecosystem service supply, demand and budgets. Ecological Indicators, 21, 17-29. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.06.019

Carpenter, S. R., DeFries, R., Dietz, T., Mooney, H. A., Polasky, S., Reid, W. V., & Scholes, R. J. (2006). Millennium ecosystem assessment: Research needs. Science, 314(5797), 257-258. doi:10.1126/science.1131946

Chettri, N., Sharma, E., Shakya, B., & Bajracharya, B. (2007). Developing forested conservation corridors in the kangchenjunga landscape, eastern himalaya. Mountain Research and Development, 27(3), 211-214. doi:10.1659/mrd.0923

Cowling, R. M., Egoh, B., Knight, A. T., O'Farrell, P. J., Reyers, B., Rouget, M., . . . Wilhelm-Rechman, A. (2008). An operational model for mainstreaming ecosystem services for implementation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(28), 9483-9488. doi:10.1073/pnas.0706559105

de Groot, R. S., Alkemade, R., Braat, L., Hein, L., & Willemen, L. (2010). Challenges in integrating the concept of ecosystem services and values in landscape planning, management and decision making. Ecological Complexity, 7(3), 260-272. doi:10.1016/j.ecocom.2009.10.006

De Groot, R. S., Wilson, M. A., & Boumans, R. M. J. (2002). A typology for the classification, description and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services. Ecological Economics, 41(3), 393-408. doi:10.1016/S0921-8009(02)00089-7

Eikelboom, T., & Janssen, R. (2013). Interactive spatial tools for the design of regional adaptation strategies. Journal of Environmental Management, 127, S6-S14. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.09.019

Everard, M. (2009). Ecosystem Services Case Studies, Better Regulation Science Programme, Environment Agency,

Fagerholm, N., Käyhkö, N., Ndumbaro, F., & Khamis, M. (2012). Community stakeholders' knowledge in landscape assessments - mapping indicators for landscape services. Ecological Indicators, 18, 421-433. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.12.004

Fisher, B., Turner, R. K., & Morling, P. (2009). Defining and classifying ecosystem services for decision making. Ecological Economics, 68(3), 643-653. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.09.014

Frank, S., Fürst, C., Koschke, L., & Makeschin, F. (2012). A contribution towards a transfer of the ecosystem service concept to landscape planning using landscape metrics. Ecological Indicators, 21, 30-38. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.04.027

Frank, S., Fürst, C., Witt, A., Koschke, L., & Makeschin, F. (2014). Making use of the ecosystem services concept in regional planning—trade-offs from reducing water erosion. Landscape Ecology, 29(8), 1377-1391. doi:10.1007/s10980-014-9992-3

Fürst, C., Frank, S., Witt, A., Koschke, L., & Makeschin, F. (2013). Assessment of the effects of forest land use strategies on the provision of ecosystem services at regional scale. Journal of Environmental Management, 127, S96-S116. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.09.020

Fürst, C., Helming, K., Lorz, C., Müller, F., & Verburg, P. H. (2013). Integrated land use and regional resource management - A cross-disciplinary dialogue on future perspectives for a sustainable development of regional resources. Journal of Environmental Management, 127, S1-S5. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.12.015

Fürst, C., Lorz, C., & Makeschin, F. (2011). Integrating land management aspects into an assessment of the impact of land cover changes on ecosystem services. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services & Management, , 1-14.

Fürst, C., Pietzsch, K., Frank, S., Koschke, L., Witt, A., & Makeschin, F. (2012). How to better consider sectoral planning information in regional planning -example afforestation and conversion. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 2012, 1-29.

García-Llorente, M., Martín-López, B., Nunes, P. A. L. D., González, J. A., Alcorlo, P., & Montes, C. (2011). Analyzing the social factors that influence willingness to pay for invasive alien species management under two different strategies: Eradication and prevention. Environmental Management, 48(3), 418-435. doi:10.1007/s00267-011-9646-z

Ghazoul, J. (2007). Challenges to the uptake of the ecosystem service rationale for conservation. Conservation Biology, 21(6), 1651-1652. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2007.00758.x

Granek, E. F., Polasky, S., Kappel, C. V., Reed, D. J., Stoms, D. M., Koch, E. W., . . . Wolanski, E. (2010). Ecosystem services as a common language for coastal ecosystem-based management. Conservation Biology : The Journal of the Society for Conservation Biology, 24(1), 207-216. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01355.x

Grêt-Regamey, A., Brunner, S. H., & Kienast, F. (2012). Mountain ecosystem services: Who cares? Mountain Research and Development, 32(SUPPL. 1), S23-S34. doi:10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-10-00115.S1

Gret-Regamey, A., Walz, A., & Bebi, P. (2008). Valuing ecosystem services for sustainable landscape planning in alpine regions. Mountain Research and Development, 28(2), 156-165. doi:10.1659/mrd.0951

Grimble, R., & Wellard, K. (1997). Stakeholder methodologies in natural resource management: A review of principles, contexts, experiences and opportunities. Agricultural Systems, 55(2), 173-193. doi:10.1016/S0308-521X(97)00006-1

Grunewald, K., & Bastian, O. (2010). Ökosystemdienstleistungen analysieren-begrifflicher und konzeptioneller rahmen aus landschaftsökologischer sicht. GEOÖKO, 31, 50-82.

Haines-Young, R., & Potschin, M. (2010). The links between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being. Ecosystem Ecology: A New Synthesis, , 110-139.

Haines-Young, R., Potschin, M., & Kienast, F. (2012). Indicators of ecosystem service potential at european scales: Mapping marginal changes and trade-offs. Ecological Indicators, 21, 39-53. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.09.004

Hauck, J., Schweppe-Kraft, B., Albert, C., Görg, C., Jax, K., Jensen, R., . . . Grêt-Regamey, A. (2013). The promise of the ecosystem services concept for planning and decision-making. GAIA, 22(4), 232-236. doi:10.14512/gaia.22.4.6

Hein, L., van Koppen, K., de Groot, R. S., & van Ierland, E. C. (2006). Spatial scales, stakeholders and the valuation of ecosystem services. Ecological Economics, 57(2), 209-228. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.04.005

Hermann, A., Kuttner, M., Hainz-Renetzeder, C., Konkoly-Gyuró, É., Tirászi, Á., Brandenburg, C., . . . Wrbka, T. (2014). Assessment framework for landscape services in european cultural landscapes: An austrian hungarian case study. Ecological Indicators, 37(PART A), 229-240. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2013.01.019

Jones, M., & Stenseke, M. (2011). The European Landscape Convention -Challenges of Participation,

Kandziora, M., Burkhard, B., & Müller, F. (2013). Interactions of ecosystem properties, ecosystem integrity and ecosystem service indicators: A theoretical matrix exercise. Ecological Indicators, 28, 54-78. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2012.09.006

Kasemir, B., Jager, J., Jaeger, C. C., & Gardner, M. T. (2003). Public participation in sustainability science. A handbook. Public participation in sustainability science. A handbook (pp. 1-281) doi:10.1017/CBO9780511490972

König, H. J., Schuler, J., Suarma, U., McNeill, D., Imbernon, J., Damayanti, F., . . . Morris, J. (2010). Assessing the impact of land use policy on urban-rural sustainability using the FoPIA approach in yogyakarta, indonesia. Sustainability, 2(7), 1991-2009. doi:10.3390/su2071991

Koschke, L., Fürst, C., Frank, S., & Makeschin, F. (2012). A multi-criteria approach for an integrated land-cover-based assessment of ecosystem services provision to support landscape planning. Ecological Indicators, 21, 54-66. doi:10.1016/j.ecolind.2011.12.010

Kroll, F., Müller, F., Haase, D., & Fohrer, N. (2012). Rural-urban gradient analysis of ecosystem services supply and demand dynamics. Land use Policy, 29(3), 521-535. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2011.07.008

Kumar, P. (2010). The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Ecological and Economic Foundations,

Link, J. S. (2010). Ecosystem-based fisheries management: Confronting tradeoffs. Ecosystem-based fisheries management: Confronting tradeoffs (pp. 1-221) doi:10.1017/CBO9780511667091

Maes, J., Egoh, B., Willemen, L., Liquete, C., Vihervaara, P., Schägner, J. P., . . . Bidoglio, G. (2012). Mapping ecosystem services for policy support and decision making in the european union. Ecosystem Services, 1(1), 31-39. doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2012.06.004

Malone, E. L., Dooley, J. J., & Bradbury, J. A. (2010). Moving from misinformation derived from public attitude surveys on carbon dioxide capture and storage towards realistic stakeholder involvement. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 4(2), 419-425. doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2009.09.004

Meinke, H., Nelson, R., Kokic, P., Stone, R., Selvaraju, R., & Baethgen, W. (2006). Actionable climate knowledge: From analysis to synthesis. Climate Research, 33(1), 101-110. doi:10.3354/cr033101

Menzel, S., & Teng, J. (2010). Ecosystem services as a stakeholder-driven concept for conservation science. Conservation Biology, 24(3), 907-909. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2009.01347.x

Mullen, B. (1991). Group composition, salience, and cognitive representations: The phenomenology of being in a group. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 27(4), 297-323. doi:10.1016/0022-1031(91)90028-5

Müller, F., de Groot, R., & Willemen, L. (2010). Ecosystem services at the landscape scale: The need for integrative approaches. Landscape Online, 23(1), 1-11. doi:10.3097/LO.201023

Nordström, E. -., Eriksson, L. O., & Öhman, K. (2010). Integrating multiple criteria decision analysis in participatory forest planning: Experience from a case study in northern sweden. Forest Policy and Economics, 12(8), 562-574. doi:10.1016/j.forpol.2010.07.006

Opdam, P., Luque, S., & Jones, K. B. (2009). Changing landscapes to accommodate for climate change impacts: A call for landscape ecology. Landscape Ecology, 24(6), 715-721. doi:10.1007/s10980-009-9377-1

Ranganathan, J., Raudsepp-Hearne, C., Lucas, N., Irwin, F., Zurek, M., Bennett, K., . . . West, P. (2008). Ecosystem services: A guide for decision makers. Ecosystem Services: A Guide for Decision Makers,

Rutgers, M., Mulder, C., Schouten, A. J., Bloem, J., Bogte, J. J., & Breure, A. M. (2008). Soil ecosystem profiling in the netherlands with ten references for biological soil quality. Report 607604009,

Sagoff, M. (2011). The quantification and valuation of ecosystem services. Ecological Economics, 70(3), 497-502. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2010.10.006

Saxena, K. G., Rao, K. S., Sen, K. K., Maikhuri, R. K., & Semwal, R. L. (2002). Integrated natural resource management: Approaches and lessons from the himalaya. Ecology and Society, 5(2) doi:10.5751/es-00289-050214

Seppelt, R., Dormann, C. F., Eppink, F. V., Lautenbach, S., & Schmidt, S. (2011). A quantitative review of ecosystem service studies: Approaches, shortcomings and the road ahead. Journal of Applied Ecology, 48(3), 630-636. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01952.x

Sheppard, S. R. J., & Meitner, M. (2005). Using multi-criteria analysis and visualisation for sustainable forest management planning with stakeholder groups. Forest Ecology and Management, 207(1-2 SPEC. ISS.), 171-187. doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2004.10.032

Staub, C., & Ott, W. (2011). Indikatoren für ökosystemdienstleistungen: Systematik, methodik und umsetzungsempfehlung für eine wohlfahrtsbezogene umweltberichterstattung. Indikatoren Für Ökosystemleistungen: Systematik, Methodik Und Umsetzungsempfehlungen Für Eine Wohlfahrtsbezogene Umweltberichterstattung,

Tallis, H., Goldman, R., Uhl, M., & Brosi, B. (2009). Integrating conservation and development in the field: Implementing ecosystem service projects. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 7(1), 12-20. doi:10.1890/080012

Tallis, H., & Polasky, S. (2009). Mapping and valuing ecosystem services as an approach for conservation and natural-resource management doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04152.x

Termorshuizen, J. W., & Opdam, P. (2009). Landscape services as a bridge between landscape ecology and sustainable development. Landscape Ecology, 24(8), 1037-1052. doi:10.1007/s10980-008-9314-8

Turpie, J. K., Marais, C., & Blignaut, J. N. (2008). The working for water programme: Evolution of a payments for ecosystem services mechanism that addresses both poverty and ecosystem service delivery in south africa. Ecological Economics, 65(4), 788-798. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2007.12.024

Van der Meulen, S., Brils, J., Borowski-Maaser, I., & Sauer, U. (2013). Payment for ecosystem services (PES) in support of river restoration. Water Governance, 4, 40-44.

Van der Meulen, S., & Brils, J. M. (2011). Do ecosystem services provide a common language to facilitate participation in water management? Session Report, Resilience Conference,

Van der Meulen, S., Brils, J. M., & Borowski, I. (2012). Lessons learned from stakeholder interviews on ecosystem services with a special focus on scale issues.

Villa, F., Ceroni, M., Bagstad, K., Johnson, G., & Krivov, S. (2009). ARIES (artificial intelligence for ecosystem services): A new tool for ecosystem services assessment, planning, and valuation. 11Th Annual BIOECON Conference on Economic Instruments to Enhance the Conservation and Sustainable use of Biodiversity, Conference Proceedings.Venice, Italy,

von Christian, A., von Haaren C., C., & Galler, C. (2012). Ecosystem services - old wine in new bottles or an incentive for german landscape planning? [Ökosystemdienstleistungen - Alter wein in neuen schläuchen oder ein impuls für die landschaftsplanung?] Naturschutz Und Landschaftsplanung, 44(5), 142-148.

Von Haaren, C., & Albert, C. (2011). Integrating ecosystem services and environmental planning: Limitations and synergies. International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management, 7(3), 150-167. doi:10.1080/21513732.2011.616534

Wainger, L. A., King, D. M., Mack, R. N., Price, E. W., & Maslin, T. (2010). Can the concept of ecosystem services be practically applied to improve natural resource management decisions? Ecological Economics, 69(5), 978-987. doi:10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.12.011

LO.201437

Downloads

Published

02.10.2014

How to Cite

Koschke, L., van der Meulen, S., Frank, S., Schneidergruber, A., Kruse, M., Fürst, C., … Bastian, O. (2014). Do you have 5 minutes to spare? -The challenges of stakeholder processes in ecosystem services studies. Landscape Online, 37. https://doi.org/10.3097/LO.201437