Integrating ecosystem services into environmental decision‐making

Integration of biophysical connectivity in the spatial optimization of coastal ecosystem services

“…The incorporation of societies' values into conservation proposals (Martín-López et al, 2012;de Juan et al, 2017;Ban et al, 2019) has been slow in terrestrial and marine habitats worldwide (Daily et al, 2009;Bennett et al, 2015). The implementation of scientifically-based decision making that considers feedback between ecosystems and social well-being remains a major challenge (Congreve and Cross, 2019;Norström et al, 2020). An additional challenge is posed by the generally small spatial scales of management schemes, given that ecosystem services are not always demanded in the same geographic location as the ecological processes that support them (van Jaarsveld et al, 2005;Rodríguez et al, 2006).…”

“…For example, biological communities produce larvae that can migrate long distances to recruit and replenish fished populations (Ospina-Alvarez et al, 2015), providing resources to local fishers. Also, carbon storage by seagrasses benefits society at a global scale, and thus, the beneficiaries might be very distant from the ecosystem service providers (Congreve and Cross, 2019). These processes are not embedded in current spatial planning practices that often overlook the open nature of marine ecosystems (Maxwell et al, 2020), e.g., by establishing artificial frontiers in the coastal habitat continuum.…”

Challenges and opportunities to scale up sustainable finance after the COVID-19 crisis: Lessons and promising innovations from science and practice

“… Negra et al 2019 Scope ESG “An investment product's sustainability hinges on two main factors: the issuer and the underlying” Vontobel 2019 Scope ESG “Fitch states that these scores do not reflect judgments as to whether an entity has positive or negative ESG practices” Huber and Zilberberg 2019 Scope Indices “Decision-making should be done on scales comparable with the ecosystem service. [...] The use and provision of ecosystem services varies over time as well as space” Congreve and Cross, 2019 Scope VSS “Shortcomings concerning market access barriers that are brought to light by the utilization of VSS must not be overlooked” UNFSS 2018 Scope VSS “There are no basic methodologies, certifications or standards to identify and assess impact investing funds, or to distinguish ESG investing from impact investing” PRI 2018 Scope VSS “While the promise of ‘scaling impacts’ is enticing, how to achieve this in a credible and transparent way through landscape and jurisdictional initiatives remains an open question” ISEAL 2018b Scope ESG, Indices “The more superficial approach towards standardization of industry-building organizations such as the GIIN and the B Lab [...] ultimately results in difficulties to compare impact investments” Hofer 2017 Scope Indices “Addressing trade-offs is a fundamental aspect of the search for equitable and sustainable futures” Galafassi et al 2017 Scope ESG “ What gets measured and how it gets measured, matters. […] ESG data must improve if it is to meet its potential” Douglas et al 2017 Scope ESG “ESG factors bring lower volatility and therefore lower risk, and consequently higher risk-adjusted returns” Ashwin Kumar et al 2016 Scope VSS, Indices “Impacts need to be considered not only at the field level but also at the landscape, regional and global levels” IISD 2014 …”

The ecosystem services concept in freshwater conservation and restoration

“…In addition, some researchers have noted that market‐based approaches tend to favour single ESs rather than multiple benefits (Muradian & Rival, 2012) because marketization normally results in the itemization of services to create distinct, tradable ‘commodities’. In parallel, this could lead to a moral difficulty in making decisions for specific ESs because of the trade‐offs of ESs (Congreve & Cross, 2019). Although some researchers have proposed the concept of ES bundles (sets of ESs that repeatedly appear together across space or time) and assert that this would be a useful approach to manage multiple ESs (Kareiva et al, 2007; Raudsepp‐Hearne, Peterson & Bennett, 2010), there is still a high probability of inadvertent trade‐offs within bundles and some services being overlooked (Kosoy & Corbera, 2010).…”

“…for specific ESs because of the trade-offs of ESs(Congreve & Cross, 2019). Although some researchers have proposed the concept of ES bundles (sets of ESs that repeatedly appear together across space or time) and assert that this would be a useful approach to manage multiple ESs(Kareiva et al, 2007; …”