Abstract
The overall aim of the project is to review the social and economic quantitative and qualitative evidence base for assessing the state of England’s terrestrial ecosystems using an Ecosystem Approach. The ‘evidence base’ refers to data, analyses and stakeholder views and will complement and build upon the natural environment evidence base specified in Phase 1 of NEP. The main aims of the projects are to: - Provide recommendations on which sources of social and economic ‘evidence’ would be most useful for compiling an inventory of data for the natural environment - Provide recommendations on the potential use of the evidence base for assessing the state of the natural environment and the ecosystem services it provides to people - Highlight any gaps and issues with the currently available evidence base - Report on new approaches and integration of the data-sets for more effective delivery and communication of the ecosystem service approach To meet the aims of the project a number of specific objectives have been set: - Objective 1: Develop a data framework to identify a wide range of social and economic ‘evidence’ relevant to the natural environment in England. - Objective 2: Compile a list of potential data-sets and methodologies, detailing their characteristics, which could be used in the ecosystem services approach - Objective 3: Indicate the usefulness’ and ‘robustness’ of the available data for evaluating the social and economic roles of England’s terrestrial environment and the ecosystem services it provides. - Objective 4: Compare the reviewed inventory of social and economic data in England with current and future data and methods or ‘best practice’ applied by other countries - Objective 5: Recommend how an integrated approach using the economic, social and natural environment evidence base can be used to assess the state of the natural environment and the ecosystem services it provides to people - Objective 6: Provide regular reports on the progress of the project This project will provide Defra with: 1) a review of the social and economic quantitative and qualitative evidence base for assessing the state of England’s terrestrial ecosystems using an Ecosystem Approach 2) recommendations on which sources of social and economic ‘evidence’ would be most useful for compiling an inventory of data for the natural environment 3) recommendations on the potential use of the evidence base for assessing the state of the natural environment and the ecosystem services it provides to people 4) information on gaps and issues with the currently available evidence base 5) a report on new approaches and integration of the data-sets for more effective delivery and communication of the ecosystem service approach 6) metadata relating to the social and economic datasets that can contribute to the Ecosystem Approach The outputs of the project will provide Defra with recommendations on how an integrated approach using the economic, social and natural environment evidence base can be used to assess the state of the natural environment and the ecosystem services it provides to people.
United Kingdom