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

Iskra

Scientists reprimand EU decision-makers for rollback on the Green Deal and call for responsible decision-making

by Categories: News, Statements

In an open letter published on 29 May we join science associations and networks across Europe in criticising European decision-makers for a series of decisions that undermine the EU’s environmental agenda and international obligations, resulting in an overall attack on the Green Deal, on nature, and the future of EU citizens.

While EU policymakers claim that the measures are taken in response to farmers’ protests, we highlight that the decisions are poorly justified, do not address the problems they are claiming to solve, but at the same time, they go against substantive scientific evidence against them. We highlight the severity of rejecting the Sustainable Use Regulation (SUR), weakening basic environmental standards in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), halting the final approval of the Nature Restoration Law (NRL), as well as the Commission’s proposal for exemptions in the Nitrate Directive, and the Commission’s decision to shelve the Framework for Sustainable Food Systems (FSFS). [Read more…] about Scientists reprimand EU decision-makers for rollback on the Green Deal and call for responsible decision-making

Call to action: Europe for Nature

by Categories: Collaboration calls, News

Are you also deeply concerned by the decline of nature in Europe and worldwide, and its impact on current and future generations? Do you agree that it is important that people prioritise nature and sustainability in their decisions? If the answer to these questions is yes, then join your European colleagues in their communication to inform and inspire as many Europeans as possible to prioritise nature and sustainability in their decisions before the European elections.

You can easily support the EuropeForNature initiative by doing the following: [Read more…] about Call to action: Europe for Nature

OBSGESSION Project – Observation of Ecosystem Changes for Action

by Categories: News

2024 marked the beginning of another Horizon Europe project – OBSGESSION. Coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), the four-year project is going to monitor and predict biodiversity change and its drivers in both terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems through Earth Observation technologies. 

At the foreground of the project’s vision is to facilitate action on biodiversity change by integrating Earth Observation methods, in-situ data, ecological models, and uncertainty estimations, thereby fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. As such, OBSGESSION will strive to advance the understanding of direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity change through cutting-edge data integration and modeling. Moreover, the project is to address science-policy gaps, support conservation planning, and share knowledge for effective engagement of international and EU stakeholders in ecosystem and biodiversity management. [Read more…] about OBSGESSION Project – Observation of Ecosystem Changes for Action

REST-COAST project: Large scale restoration of coastal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity

by Categories: News

The Green Deal project REST-COAST funded by the EU Horizon2020 programme, demonstrates that large-scale restoration of river deltas, estuaries and coastal lagoons is necessary to sustain the delivery of vital ecosystem services (ESS).

Under the leadership of the Technical University of Catalonia, the 37 partnering organisations have centred their goals around the project’s nine Pilot Sites. Representing coastal areas across nine locations through Europe and Israel, these demonstration sites serve to demonstrate that large-scale coastal restoration is not only possible but vital for the adaptation to climate change.   [Read more…] about REST-COAST project: Large scale restoration of coastal ecosystems through rivers to sea connectivity

Join the ESP working group on ES indicators

by Categories: Collaboration calls, ESP Updates, News

Thematic working group on ecosystem services indicators (T3) is looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help lead the working group. To give you an indication of our previous ESP conference sessions activities, we focused on social-ecological ‘bridging indicators’ (socio-economic & biophysical indicators), ‘fit-for purpose indicators’, ‘big data’, and operationalizing ES indicators, respectively. We are excited to bring the working group to the next level, and to intensify communication and collaboration between group members. For the ESP Europe conference in Wageningen, we are going to look into indicators for monitoring (global) biodiversity frameworks (such as Kunming) as well as indicators for monitoring Nature-based Solutions.

Therefore, the following questions to ESP members:

  • Would you be interested to remain / become a member of TWG 3 on ES indicators?
  • Would you or a colleague / PhD candidate be interested in leading the TWG?
  • Do you have suggestions for the new / upcoming chairs to take with them?

Please send your email to Alexander van Oudenhoven, the current chair.