TY - JOUR

T1 - Marine and coastal ecosystem services on the science-policy-practice nexus

T2 - Challenges and opportunities from 11 European case studies

AU - Drakou, Evangelia G.

AU - Kermagoret, Charlène

AU - Liquete, Camino

AU - Ruiz-Frau, Ana

AU - Burkhard, Kremena

AU - Lillebø, Ana I.

AU - van Oudenhoven, Alexander P.E.

AU - Ballé-Béganton, Johanna

AU - Rodrigues, João Garcia

AU - Nieminen, Emmi

AU - Oinonen, Soile

AU - Ziemba, Alex

AU - Gissi, Elena

AU - Depellegrin, Daniel

AU - Veidemane, Kristina

AU - Ruskule, Anda

AU - Delangue, Justine

AU - Böhnke-Henrichs, Anne

AU - Boon, Arjen

AU - Wenning, Richard

AU - Martino, Simone

AU - Hasler, Berit

AU - Termansen, Mette

AU - Rockel, Mark

AU - Hummel, Herman

AU - El Serafy, Ghada

AU - Peev, Plamen

PY - 2017

Y1 - 2017

N2 - We compared and contrasted 11 European case studies to identify challenges and opportunities toward the operationalization of marine and coastal ecosystem service (MCES) assessments in Europe. This work is the output of a panel convened by the Marine Working Group of the Ecosystem Services Partnership in September 2016. The MCES assessments were used to (1) address multiple policy objectives simultaneously, (2) interpret EU-wide policies to smaller scales and (3) inform local decision-making. Most of the studies did inform decision makers, but only in a few cases, the outputs were applied or informed decision-making. Significant limitations among the 11 assessments were the absence of shared understanding of the ES concept, data and knowledge gaps, difficulties in accounting for marine social-ecological systems complexity and partial stakeholder involvement. The findings of the expert panel call for continuous involvement of MCES ‘end users’, integrated knowledge on marine social-ecological systems, defining thresholds to MCES use and raising awareness to the general public. Such improvements at the intersection of science, policy and practice are essential starting points toward building a stronger science foundation supporting management of European marine ecosystems.

AB - We compared and contrasted 11 European case studies to identify challenges and opportunities toward the operationalization of marine and coastal ecosystem service (MCES) assessments in Europe. This work is the output of a panel convened by the Marine Working Group of the Ecosystem Services Partnership in September 2016. The MCES assessments were used to (1) address multiple policy objectives simultaneously, (2) interpret EU-wide policies to smaller scales and (3) inform local decision-making. Most of the studies did inform decision makers, but only in a few cases, the outputs were applied or informed decision-making. Significant limitations among the 11 assessments were the absence of shared understanding of the ES concept, data and knowledge gaps, difficulties in accounting for marine social-ecological systems complexity and partial stakeholder involvement. The findings of the expert panel call for continuous involvement of MCES ‘end users’, integrated knowledge on marine social-ecological systems, defining thresholds to MCES use and raising awareness to the general public. Such improvements at the intersection of science, policy and practice are essential starting points toward building a stronger science foundation supporting management of European marine ecosystems.

KW - Bottom-up approach

KW - Data gaps

KW - Ocean literacy

KW - Pan-European approach

KW - Policy relevance

KW - Uncertainty

U2 - 10.1080/21513732.2017.1417330

DO - 10.1080/21513732.2017.1417330

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85045853442

VL - 13

SP - 51

EP - 67

JO - International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management

JF - International Journal of Biodiversity Science and Management

SN - 2151-3732

IS - 3

ER -