2.4.2.2 Lesson Learned 2: The relevant assessment method depends on the context of use

When conducting Ecosystem Service Assessments in practice it is crucial to select the right assessment methodology for the right purpose, taking into account the context of use.

Why

A pragmatic decision may be informed using quick straightforward methods while long-term assessment may justify more accurate but also expensive approaches. In the context of long-term purposes, methodological innovation may be seen as a start-up investment for future uses.

How

The objective of the Ecosystem Service Assessment was carefully considered at the start of the process and the methodologies selected accordingly and in discussion with the user.

For example, recreational activities were assessed in two different contexts:

• In Poole Harbour  the well documented Travel Cost Method  was applied providing tangible, directly useful, clear cut results.
• However, in the Golfe Normand-Breton , where a whole ecosystem accounting framework was developed, recreational activities assessment used an innovative methodology consisting of strictly separating ecosystem independent activities, but also in properly valuing the means dedicated to ecosystem-dependant activities by the whole population of users. The ecosystem accounting  was costly (it required a full-time researcher for 18months), but it should be now ‘ready to use’ for regular implementations in the future.

What next

Continued dialogue between academics undertaking Ecosystem Service Assessments and users of these methods is essential, with improved accessible documentation of the methods, the results and the actual use of the results.