2.3.2.7 Triage sequence 3.1: Which metrics would be meaningful as regards the factors of change to be considered?

Social and economic assessment of ecosystem services methods are a way to implement sequence 3 of the triage process .  .

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

Question 7
Which metrics would be meaningful as regards the factors of change to be considered?

In most cases stakeholders will be expecting a mix of indicators from different categories.

Depending on the factors of change, different types of metrics could be meaningful:

• changes related to ecological status will require biophysical metrics
• changes affecting human activities may be expressed in terms of monetary values or jobs
• changes related to trade-offs may require an assessment of social perceptions

The key determinant for meaningfulness is to clearly express what each indicator is referring to with regards to the various possible characteristics of one ecosystem services (effective or potential, supply, demand or perception by a given social group).