Worldwide network to enhance the science, policy and practice of ecosystem services for conservation and sustainable development

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IUCN publishes new guide to identifying ecosystem services in protected areas

by Categories: News, Publications

The Protected Area Benefits Assessment Tool Plus (PA-BAT+) – a users’ guide to identifying ecosystem services from protected areas, in collaboration with local communities and Indigenous People, has just been published by the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas.

This assessment tool aims to collate and assess information about the overall benefits from conservation and protection in protected areas. It can also be used in other area-based conservation sites. This technical guidance provides a quick overview of why understanding the benefits from protected areas is important, provides a detailed guide to using the PA-BAT+ and explains how to understand and use the results. [Read more…] about IUCN publishes new guide to identifying ecosystem services in protected areas

New paper: Pervasive gender bias in editorial boards of biodiversity conservation journals

by Categories: News, Publications

A group of Brazilian researchers assessed the gender balance composition in editorial boards of 31 biodiversity conservation journals. The results demonstrated that only 28.7% were composed by women. Their projection indicates that BC journals may achieve gender balance in their editorial boards by the year 2038. The full paper can be accessed here. [Read more…] about New paper: Pervasive gender bias in editorial boards of biodiversity conservation journals

ESP establishes national network in Lebanon

by Categories: News

We are happy to announce the establishment of ESP’s newest national network – Lebanon. The ESP Lebanon network is led by Dr. Salma Talhouk and hosted by the Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management at the American University of Beirut. The network has two ongoing projects and is actively recruiting members.

The objectives of our national network are 1) Introduce and apply ecosystem services in teaching, research, project planning and implementation, and policies, 2) Develop and promote ecosystem services based activities and collaborations and, 3) Create a critical mass of individuals and institutions that use tools to value Lebanon’s landscapes and shed light on the ecosystem services they offer. Read more.

New ESP thematic working group on biomimetic solutions

by Categories: News

A new working (sub)group was recently established under the TWG 13 – Role ES in Ecosystem Restoration. The new group TWG 13A – Biomimetic Solutions is focused on biomimetic, aiming to get a deeper knowledge and to extend practical application all over the world as a possible, efficient, affordable and sustainable solutions to improve ecosystems health and human well-being.

Тhe objective of this working group is to provide a platform for researches and practitioners to exchange ideas, information, and experiences on biomimetics and make the information available to a wider community of users. The group is lead by Teresa López-Armentia and Gorka Cubero from Zabalketa Association and Ibone Ametzaga, UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Development and Environmental Education, at the University of the Basque Country. Read more.

Updates from SWG 5 – ES in Water Management

by Categories: News

Dr. Nidhi Nagabhatla, co-lead of the SWG 5 made keynote remarks at the International E-Conference “Trends and Recent Advances in Civil Engineering – TRACE 2020 – Amity University, India (August 2020). Her presentation titled “Water Security in the Fast-Changing World and the Circular Economy Discourse” elaborated on the relevance of nature-based solutions and circularity (beyond recycled and reuse) in managing water systems. The talk focused on various dimensions that apply in transforming these concepts to action and reiterated the significance of interdisciplinary thinking as the key to sustainable water futures. The video of the talk is available here.