The Action Group ESE - Ecosystem Services for Europe - aims to develop a consensual and agreed methodology to assess the tangible and intangible benefits from natural and constructed ecosystems in environment and monetary terms. This methodology will be tested, adapted and implemented in a range of European and non-European demo sites as European, national and local (RTD) projects. Expected is the development of a unique set of economic indicators (in monetary values), allowing economic comparisons among diverse areas and different scenarios. The AG ESE has a multidisciplinary background, in the sense of incorporating a wide spectrum of ecological, territorial, management and economic research issues that will be integrated in the proposal of that new methodology.

1. EIP Water Action Group
Ecosystem Services
for Europe (ESE)
21 November 2013
EU Parliament, Brussels

2. Participants
•
19 members from 10 countries including US
•
Lead:
CIRCE, Spain
Participants:
IRSA Research Institute, Geological Survey of Finland, EUrice network – Network of the European rice production
areas, Lulea University of Technology, CREAF, Institute for
Science, Innovation & Society, Coventry University, Decagon
Devices INC, Centre Assessoria Dr. Ferrer S.L., UMS GmbH,
IWW, Ecologic, Sintef, Kwrwater, Cetaqua and UDE.
•

3. Main Goals
1.
Methodologies for valuation of and payment for
ecosystem services, including tangible and intangible
services.
2.
Innovative management schemes addressing water
related ecosystem services in Europe and non-European
countries.
To deliver a consensual and agreed methodology to assess the
tangible and intangible benefits that humans obtain from
natural and constructed ecosystems in environment and
monetary terms

4. Selection of more
specific goal
•
Identification of more urgent issues; Case of study
•
•
Set up a NEW and added value approach
•
•
What is different compared to other European initiatives?
To enlarge the role of ES and its link to ecological studies
•
•
What would be the hydric ecosystem to be focused on?
How might the ESE AG help strengthening the assessment of
both matters in different ways?
To what extent could the ESE AG contribute to a better and
easier implementation of the WFD
•
How can ESE AG add value?
•
What are the barriers and solutions to support the WFD?
What are the better implementation measurement plans?
•

5. Approach & value added
No funds available yet - How to proceed at this stage?
•
Information and data already available
Not devote new sources/equipment. “In-kind” contributions
•
Further measurement campaigns are not foreseen at this stage
•
“Be realistic and ambitious at the same time” while providing good
information and outcomes
•
Show a commitment and interest by the participants. “Act as a
feasible and trustful network” towards European Water community.
•
What added value could the ESE AG partners offer?
•
Something different, beyond the state of the art
•
•
•
Of interest for policy makers
Gathering a wide range of experts from different fields
Set up a robust network that allows us to become the “ES contact point”

6. Selecting more specific goal
•
Identification of more urgent issues; Case of study
•
•
Set up a NEW and added value approach
•
•
What is different from other existing European initiatives?
To enlarge the role of ES and its link to ecological studies
•
•
What would be the hydric ecosystem to be focused on?
How might the ESE AG help strengthen the assessment of
both matters in different ways?
To what extent ESE AG could contribute to a better and
easier implementation of the WFD
•
How can ESE AG add value?
•
What are the barriers and solutions to support the WFD?
What are the better implementation measurement plans?
•

7. Key messages from the EC
1.
There is lack of concrete information with regard
measurement plans and its impact in the cost analysis
to
2.
ES can serve as a trigger to largely implement the WFD
3.
Multifunctional evaluations instrumental to come up with cost
and benefits analysis (further elaboration is urged)
4.
ES is still a not very well known area of knowledge. IT is
crucial to avoid misunderstandings and communicate clear
messages to water management authorities/bodies
5.
Neither the importance of ecological studies within the ES
domain nor the other way around are generally agreed on.
6.
Interaction of linked European directive. A clear interpretation
of Directives is encouraged

8. THANK YOU
Tel.: [+34] 976 761 863 · circe@unizar.es
www.fcirce.es
Ecosystem Services
for Europe (ESE)
More information on
www.eip-water.eu/working-groups/ese-ecosystem-services-europe