Ecosystem Services Assessment for Environmental Innovation and Competitiveness
Geographical coverage
| Geographical scale of the assessment | Sub-national |
|---|---|
| Country or countries covered | Canada |
| Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name |
Alberta |
Geographical scale of the assessment
Sub-national
Country or countries covered
Canada
Any other necessary information or explanation for identifying the location of the assessment, including site or region name
Alberta
Conceptual framework, methodology and scope
Assessment objectives
This project has two principal objectives:
1) Develop models to estimate and map the provision and value of a selection of ecosystem services across Alberta.
2) Evaluate tools for applying ecosystem service information to environmental markets and land-use management. Applications include
Ecosystem service scorecards generated for Alberta’s natural resource and agricultural industries
Design of conservation offsets in which ecosystem services can be exchanged in a market
Scenario modelling in which future levels of ecosystem services and economic indicators can be estimated for a range of alternative land-use policies or scenarios
Mandate for the assessment
The Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute (abmi.ca) conducts world-class monitoring of more than 2000 species and habitats to support decision making about provincial biodiversity. Managing natural resources requires trustworthy and scientific information on the health of our environment. We tell the factual story of Alberta’s wildlife and ecosystems through the highest quality data and information. Our data and knowledge products are value-neutral, arm’s-length, and publicly accessible.
Conceptual framework and/or methodology used for the assessment
URL or copy of conceptual framework developed or adapted
System(s) assessed
- Inland water
- Forest and woodland
- Cultivated/Agricultural land
- Grassland
- Mountain
Species groups assessed
Biodiversity (see abmi.ca for details on biodiversity monitoring program)
Ecosystem services/functions assessed
Provisioning
- Food
- Water
- Timber/fibres
- Energy/fuel
Regulating
- Regulation of water quality
- Pollination
Supporting Services/Functions
Cultural Services
Scope of assessment includes
Drivers of change in systems and services
Yes
Impacts of change in services on human well-being
Yes
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
No
Timing of the assessment
Year assessment started
2012
Year assessment finished
If ongoing, year assessment is anticipated to finish
2015
Periodicity of assessment
Unknown
Assessment outputs
Website(s)
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
- Modelling
- Trade-off analysis
- Scenarios
- Economic valuation
Process used for stakeholder engagement in the assessment process and which component
Stakeholder engagement will consist of a "User Needs Assessment" to derive targeted feedback from a selection of representative decision makers (i.e., “users” of ES information) and use that to inform the design and delivery of the ecosystem service tools/applications.
We will also seek input from technical experts to review all models that are developed.
Key stakeholder groups engaged
The number of people directly involved in the assessment process
Incorporation of scientific and other types of knowledge
- Scientific information only
- Resource experts (e.g. foresters etc)
- Traditional/local knowledge
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
Publicly available data will be used
Policy impact
Impacts the assessment has had on policy and/or decision making, as evidenced through policy references and actions
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
Network and sharing experiences, Sharing of data/repatriation of data, Developing/promoting and providing access to support tools, Communication and awareness raising
