2.3.2.8 Triage sequence 3.2: Which methods and tools could be used to obtain such metrics?

TRIAGE SEQUENCE 3
Choice of methods, tools and means for ecosystem services assessment in response to management needs

Question 8
Which methods and tools could be used to obtain such metrics?

Once metrics and indicators for estimating the changes in ecosystem services have been chosen, valuation methods should be selected accordingly

The method is also linked to the aim of the assessment and the stage of the management process it is intended to support. Broad objectives associated with early management stages like initial diagnosis and policy design may require large-scope assessment methods while more operational objectives such as management option comparison could require more focused methods.

Valuation methodologies using ecological, economic and social indicators are numerous , and can provide single indicators, multicriteria assessment or integrated assessment. They are more or less powerful depending of the number of ecosystem services to be included in the assessment.

Example

Example of the methods identified during a Triage process. It deals with the methods that could be used to assess marine ecosystem services in the French study sites of the VALMER sites.

Although at that stage, the factors of changes still needed to be clearly defined and sorted on the three French study site, some choices have been made regarding possible valuation methods which could be used in relation to the aim of the assessment and the policy issues.

• In order to feed the initial diagnosis of marine ecosystem services in the Golfe Normand-Breton study site, a spatial representation of habitats has been developed in order to develop INVEST models on habitat vulnerability and overlapping activities, and a system of ecological accounting has also been developed in order to link the main ecosystem services and the local economy. In addition, the importance of fishing and shellfish farming activities in the Golfe Normand-Breton will lead to the building of multicriteria assessment frameworks for these typesof provisioning services.
• In the Parc Naturel Marin d’Iroise study site, the focus on the need for controlling the increase in kelp exploitation intensity will lead to the building of a system dynamic model of kelp ecosystem services under human pressures in order to simulate management options.
• Finally, in the Golfe du Morbihan, the role of social perception of seagrass bed contribution to various ecosystem services in the design of future management options has lead to the implementation of survey methods based on choice experiment.

The methods and results obtained in these sites are presented in the case study section .