During the summer, the Natural Capital Project (NatCap) at Stanford University launched the inaugural InVEST Virtual Workshop summer series. The 3-part live digital training engaged over 1,200+ students highlighting NatCap’s InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) software suite. The training included an overview of some of the popular InVEST models and deep dives; spotlighting real-world case studies and demonstrate how the models and cases link back to the Natural Capital Project’s overall ecosystem services analysis approach. You can find all the slides here.
ESP connects over 3000 ecosystem services scientists, policy makers and practitioners who work together in more than 40 Working Groups and a growing number of National Networks on all continents. ESP regularly organises World and Regional conferences and provides many Services to further enhance the application of ecosystem services for nature conservation, ecosystem restoration and sustainable management. Partner up with ESP and join in the global effort for the future of our Natural Capital!
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MOOC: Introduction to the Natural Capital Project Approach
The Natural Captial Project at Stanford University recently released a new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), Introduction to the Natural Capital Project Approach. The MOOC is divided into four modules exploring NatCap’s approach to using ecosystem service information to inform decisions. The course uses specific examples to illustrate how the approach has worked in each case and highlights key methods and tools used in the implementation.
Instructors include Gretchen Daily, Stacie Wolny, Jess Silver, Roy Remme, Sara Cafasso, Anne Guerry and Lori Avila. Register here.
BIOTA-FAPESP Program celebrates 20 years of contributing to public policy
Launched in March 1999, BIOTA-FAPESP is one of Brazil’s most ambitious programs of research on biodiversity. In the 20 years since its inception, it has not only increased knowledge and understanding of biodiversity but also built a scientific foundation for the formulation of guidelines and policies governing biodiversity conservation and restoration.
In commemoration of the twentieth anniversary the program launched a series of 8 webinars aiming to synthesize BIOTA’s impact over the past two decades. [Read more…] about BIOTA-FAPESP Program celebrates 20 years of contributing to public policy
IUCN publishes new guide to identifying ecosystem services in protected areas
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
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