TY - JOUR
T1 - Marine and coastal ecosystem services on the science-policy-practice nexus
T2 - Challenges and opportunities from 11 European case studies
AU - Drakou, Evangelia G.
AU - Kermagoret, Charlène
AU - Liquete, Camino
AU - Ruiz-Frau, Ana
AU - Burkhard, Kremena
AU - Lillebø, Ana I.
AU - van Oudenhoven, Alexander P.E.
AU - Ballé-Béganton, Johanna
AU - Rodrigues, João Garcia
AU - Nieminen, Emmi
AU - Oinonen, Soile
AU - Ziemba, Alex
AU - Gissi, Elena
AU - Depellegrin, Daniel
AU - Veidemane, Kristina
AU - Ruskule, Anda
AU - Delangue, Justine
AU - Böhnke-Henrichs, Anne
AU - Boon, Arjen
AU - Wenning, Richard
AU - Martino, Simone
AU - Hasler, Berit
AU - Termansen, Mette
AU - Rockel, Mark
AU - Hummel, Herman
AU - El Serafy, Ghada
AU - Peev, Plamen
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - We compared and contrasted 11 European case studies to identify challenges and opportunities toward the operationalization of marine and coastal ecosystem service (MCES) assessments in Europe. This work is the output of a panel convened by the Marine Working Group of the Ecosystem Services Partnership in September 2016. The MCES assessments were used to (1) address multiple policy objectives simultaneously, (2) interpret EU-wide policies to smaller scales and (3) inform local decision-making. Most of the studies did inform decision makers, but only in a few cases, the outputs were applied or informed decision-making. Significant limitations among the 11 assessments were the absence of shared understanding of the ES concept, data and knowledge gaps, difficulties in accounting for marine social-ecological systems complexity and partial stakeholder involvement. The findings of the expert panel call for continuous involvement of MCES ‘end users’, integrated knowledge on marine social-ecological systems, defining thresholds to MCES use and raising awareness to the general public. Such improvements at the intersection of science, policy and practice are essential starting points toward building a stronger science foundation supporting management of European marine ecosystems.
AB - We compared and contrasted 11 European case studies to identify challenges and opportunities toward the operationalization of marine and coastal ecosystem service (MCES) assessments in Europe. This work is the output of a panel convened by the Marine Working Group of the Ecosystem Services Partnership in September 2016. The MCES assessments were used to (1) address multiple policy objectives simultaneously, (2) interpret EU-wide policies to smaller scales and (3) inform local decision-making. Most of the studies did inform decision makers, but only in a few cases, the outputs were applied or informed decision-making. Significant limitations among the 11 assessments were the absence of shared understanding of the ES concept, data and knowledge gaps, difficulties in accounting for marine social-ecological systems complexity and partial stakeholder involvement. The findings of the expert panel call for continuous involvement of MCES ‘end users’, integrated knowledge on marine social-ecological systems, defining thresholds to MCES use and raising awareness to the general public. Such improvements at the intersection of science, policy and practice are essential starting points toward building a stronger science foundation supporting management of European marine ecosystems.
KW - Bottom-up approach
KW - Data gaps
KW - Ocean literacy
KW - Pan-European approach
KW - Policy relevance
KW - Uncertainty
U2 - 10.1080/21513732.2017.1417330
DO - 10.1080/21513732.2017.1417330
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85045853442
SN - 2151-3732
VL - 13
SP - 51
EP - 67
JO - International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management
JF - International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management
IS - 3
ER -