Value of Ecosystem Services

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/AM_468024

Course Objective

One of the hot topics in environmental management today is the concept of "ecosystem services". This concept can be defined as the benefits that people obtain from natural ecosystems. By putting ecosystem services central in the debate on nature conservation, the societal benefits of nature conservation and the need to align conservation and development goals are stressed. Quantification and identifying beneficiaries of ecosystem services and biodiversity are major challenges in this respect. This course aims to assess the importance of ecosystem services and biodiversity for nature, the economy and people.

Course Content

The course focuses on an understanding of what specific services are provided by ecosystems, and how these are linked to biodiversity. It also extensively addresses the economics of ecosystem services, the use of (economic) valuation methods to measure these values, and the use of decision support tools to structure and inform decision making. Various ecosystems (e.g. forests, coral reefs, wetlands, rivers) and forms of biodiversity are covered (e.g. wildlife, flora). Next to main and guest lectures and debates, the course contains a six-week case study carried out in groups of 3-4 students. Potential subjects addressed in this group assignment will be provided by the main lecturer, and are generally linked to ongoing research projects. Topics may also be developed by the students themselves. The main objective of the assignment is to apply the skills taught in the course in a real-life example, and to develop skills in academic writing, effective communication and working in a diverse group. After having participated in this module, students should be able to do the following:Understand how ecosystems produce ecosystem services and how ecosystems change over time and space.Describe how biodiversity relates to ecosystem services, what services ecosystems and biodiversity provide, and how these services can be quantified and mapped.Discuss the social and economic importance of ecosystem services and biodiversity and what drives these economic and cultural values.Understand the main characteristics and elements of different (economic) valuation methods and their applications.Understand and discuss the differences between classic economic monetary valuation, and alternative approaches to valuation and values.Discuss decision making tools and methods for appraisal of ecosystem services, from both a public and a private sector perspective, and conduct an appraisal.Understand and discuss differences and similarities between different decision support tools.

Teaching Methods

- General lectures
- Prerecorded clips and quizzes
- Debate
- Group paper and discussions.

Method of Assessment

- Closed book exam (T: 60%).
- Group paper and paper presentation (V+Pres: 40%); Students must pass both elements (5.5 or higher).

Literature

The main written source is a book (i.e. Bouma and Van Beukering 2015) which is written especially for this specialization in Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity. Bouma, J.A. and P.J.H. van Beukering (2015). Ecosystem services: from concept to practice. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. In addition, several freely downloadable journal articles and papers are part of the reading material.

Target Audience

Students with an interest in the link between the natural environment and society. This interest may vary widely, possibly including topics such as nature conservation, tourism, food production, poverty, international trade, education, and landscapes.

Additional Information

The course is coordinated by Dr. Mark Koetse. Teachers involved are Dr. Mark Koetse, Prof. Dr. Peter Verburg, Dr. Nynke Schulp, Dr. Pieter van Beukering and Dr. Liselotte Hagendoorn. Guest lecturers in this course may include:
- Dr. Ben ten Brink (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency);
- Dr. Niek Mouter (Delft University).

Entry Requirements

Students do not require a specific disciplinary background, although affinity with ecology and economics is useful.