Natural benefits – on the values of ecosystem services

NOU 2013-10

Geographical coverage

Geographical scale of the assessment National
Country or countries covered Norway
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name

This is the national follow up of TEEB and MA. The report is a fully update on the knowledge on the state of biodiversity and ecosystem services in Norway. It discribes different methods for economic and non-economic valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Gaps in knowledge are described.

Conceptual framework, methodology and scope

Assessment objectives

The conceptual framework is based on CICES, MA, TEEB, and UN-statistical experimental handbook on ecosystem accounting. These frameworks are slightly revised to be relevant to the Norwegian society

Mandate for the assessment

In October 2011, the Norwegian Government appointed an expert Commission to assess and study the value of ecosystem services. The Commission was asked, among other things, to describe the consequences for society of the degradation of ecosystem services, to identify how relevant knowledge can best be communicated to decision-makers, and to make recommendations about how greater consideration can be given to ecosystem services in private and public decision-making. Stein Lier Hansen chaired the Commission. On 29 August 2013, the Commission submitted its recommendations to the Minister of the Environment in the form of a Norwegian Official Report entitled NOU 2013: 10 Natural benefits – on the values of ecosystem services (Naturens goder – om verdier av økosystemtjenester).

Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment

Other (please specify)

Further development of TEEB and MA

URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted

http://www.regjeringen.no/pages/38495570/PDFS/NOU201320130010000EN_PDFS.pdf http://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/md/Selected-topics/biodiversity/norwegian-expert-commission-on-values-of.html?id=671257 http://www.regjeringen.no/nn/dep/md/Tema/naturmangfold/ekspertutvalget-om-verdier-av-okosystemt.html?id=671257

System(s) assessed

  • Marine
  • Coastal
  • Inland water
  • Forest and woodland
  • Cultivated/Agricultural land
  • Grassland
  • Mountain
  • Polar
  • Urban

Species groups assessed

Ecosystem services/functions assessed

Provisioning

  • Food
  • Water
  • Timber/fibres
  • Genetic resources
  • Medicinal resources
  • Ornamental resources
  • Energy/fuel

Regulating

  • Air quality
  • Climate regulation
  • Moderation of extreme events
  • Regulation of water flows
  • Regulation of water quality
  • Waste treatment
  • Erosion prevention
  • Pollination
  • Pest and disease control

Supporting Services/Functions

  • Habitat maintenance
  • Nutrient cycling
  • Soil formation and fertility
  • Primary production
  • Biodiversity

Cultural Services

  • Recreation and tourism

Scope of assessment includes

Drivers of change in systems and services

Yes

Impacts of change in services on human well-being

No

Options for responding/interventions to the trends observed

Yes

Explicit consideration of the role of biodiversity in the systems and services covered by the assessment

Yes

Timing of the assessment

Year assessment started

2011

Year assessment finished

2013

If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish

Periodicity of assessment

One off

Assessment outputs

Website(s)

http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dep/md/tema/naturmangfold/ekspertutvalget-om-verdier-av-okosystemt.html?id=671257

The main report is in Norwegian, only a comprahensive summary is translated to english

Report(s)

Communication materials (e.g. brochure, presentations, posters, audio-visual media)

Journal publications

Training materials

Other documents/outputs

Tools and processes

Tools and approaches used in the assessment

  • Indicators
  • Economic valuation
  • Social (non-monetary) valuation

Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component

One open meeting where relevant stakeholders were invited to give their view

Key stakeholder groups engaged

The number of people directly involved in the assessment process

10-100

Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge

  • Scientific information only
  • Resource experts (e.g. foresters etc)

Supporting documentation for specific approaches, methodology or criteria developed and/or used to integrate knowledge systems into the assessment

Assessment reports peer reviewed

No

Data

Accessibility of data used in assessment

Policy impact

Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions

The report suggest several management and policy options. The Government decides what will actually be followed up in policy and management.

Independent or other review on policy impact of the assessment

No

Lessons learnt for future assessments from these reviews

Capacity building

Capacity building needs identified during the assessment

Actions taken by the assessment to build capacity

How have gaps in capacity been communicated to the different stakeholders

Knowledge generation

Gaps in knowledge identified from the assessment

How gaps in knowledge have been communicated to the different stakeholders

Additional relevant information

The main report is written in Norwegian, but there is a english version with main recommondations