YESS is an initiative started by a group of early-career researchers (ECR) on the field of ecosystem services. The primary aim of the group is to stimulate an exchange of ideas, identify knowledge gaps and improve possibilities for training and capacity building in relation to ecosystem service science and practice. This network aims to achieve actual co-operation, explore ideas for innovative research and to gain experience in critical thinking and science communication.
Join YESS and get active!
To become a YESS member, you have to fill out this form and subsribe to our mailing list!
To date, YESS has over 800 members with a combination of post-graduate students, early-career scientists and practitioners.

YESS Executive Team
- Nina Kaiser, University Duisburg-Essen & University of Applied Science Trier, Germany
- Niklas Weins, FAPESP Fellow (Environment & Society) at NEPAM/IFCH, UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil
- Albaluz Ramos-Franco, Pedagogical and Technological University, Colombia.
- Shivani Rai, UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security, Germany.
- Adriana Bernal-Escobar, Osnabrück University, Germany.
Activities & Working groups (WG)
Activities within this group should be developed by YOU and can be manifold, e.g. share ideas about ‘hot topics’ within the ES-field that are in need of discussion, provide suggestions for summer schools (and maybe help organize them), inform each other of PhD-positions and other early-career opportunities, and anything else you can think of that would benefit our group.
WG Education & Training
YESS members have a wide range of knowledge and experience in different areas related to Ecosystem Services. The WG Training & Education facilitates knowledge exchange in the form of workshops and seminars, by YESS members for YESS members. In doing so we want to provide opportunities for young professionals and students to learn new skills and gain expertise in relevant topics regarding ES science and practice, free of charge and in a collegial atmosphere.
In our initial workshops series (2021), we hosted three workshops: on spatial data and R, Remote sensing basics and assessment of coastal/marine ES. The 2022 series is currently in planning. YESS members automatically receive an invitation as soon as workshops are programmed.
Contact us if you are interested in joining the working group or hosting a training session, all fields of expertise are welcome!
WG Coordinator: Lucia Benavides Mondragón, Technische Universität Berlin
[email protected]
WG YESS delegation to IPBES
- Niklas Weins, FAPESP Fellow (Environment & Society) at NEPAM/IFCH, UNICAMP, São Paulo, Brazil
WG External Relations
External Relations is dedicated to initiating and sustaining involvement with networks of researchers, NGOs and policymakers. The goal of the working group is to provide opportunities for YESSers to participate in initiatives with other young professionals from diverse backgrounds. These collaborations will enable YESSers to broaden their network and strengthen their skills in aspects such as science communication, team work, project management, or event preparation. YESS is an institutional member of INNGE – International Network of Next-Generation Ecologists. YESS is part of Future Earth’s Early Career Researchers Network of the Networks
- Nada Saidi, University of Dundee, UK (head of working group)
Outreach & Communications
Our Newsletter provides further information on our activities and the YESS network. You can follow us on Instagram (@yess_network), Twitter (@YESS_network), LinkedIn and Facebook (Young Ecosystem Service Specialists group)!
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- Nina Kaiser, University Duisburg-Essen & University of Applied Science Trier, Germany (Newsletter)
- Adriana Bernal-Escobar, Osnabrück University, Germany (Newsletter)
- Shivani Rai, UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security, Germany (Social Media)
ESP Conferences
You have a good idea for a YESS session proposal at an ESP conference? Or do you want to host a session at an ESP conference to gain experience as a chair? Get in touch with your peers via the mailing list or contact the Executive team for further assistance and help!