Wageningen UR Research Programme on Ecosystem & Landscape Services (SELS)
There is a growing interest in the science of ecosystem and landscape functions and services. However, this rarely takes a regional approach or is spatially explicit, and is still seldom used in decision-making for regional development. The difficulty to translate the effects of investments in development, conservation and management of semi-natural and rural landscapes into socio-cultural and economic costs and benefits is considered a major obstacle in achieving sustainable multi-functional use of the “green and blue” space.
SELS is an initiative of the KB1 programme on "Sustainable development of the green-blue space" (led by Paul Opdam) and KB2 programme on "Climate change adaptation and spatial planning" (Pavel Kabat/Pier Vellinga). Its objective is to further develop the (WUR) knowledge base on the concept of ecosystem and landscape services, in particular on the practical implementation in integrated local planning, landscape design and ecosystem management.
On 8 November 2007 SELS will organize a half-day symposium (13:00-17:00) to present and discuss its ongoing research and the plans for 2008.
The following five themes will be discussed in parallel sessions:
Theme 1: Identifying and quantifying ecosystem/landscape services
Theme 2: Values and perceptions of ecosystem/landscape services
Theme 3: Ecosystem and landscape services in trade-off analysis and decision-making
Theme 4: Ecosystem/landscape services in Planning, Management, and Design
Theme 5: Financing Instruments for sustainable use of ecosystem/landscape services
For more information on SELS and the five themes, and for the symposium programme and registration form, please visit our website on www.ecosystemservices.nl.