Ecosystem Services - Foundations

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the module, students will be familiar with key approaches to conceptualizing ecosystem services and will be acquainted with current scientific developments and sociopolitical strategies for the sustainable provision of ecosystem services. They will have an overview of various economic and social science methods for evaluating ecosystem services and will possess methodological, social, and personal competencies.

Content

The module provides an overview of the historical development and current manifestations of the concept of ecosystem services. The module examines the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services and covers various approaches to defining and categorizing ecosystem services. It provides insights into global, regional, and national ecosystem assessment processes such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and the UK National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA), as well as the fundamentals of approaches and methods for mapping and evaluating ecosystem services.