Fully implementing ecosystem services concepts and approaches requires capacity building and communication across bureaus and offices, disciplines, and programs. For example a fully quantitative ecosystem service assessment requires specialized technical skills. A critically important aspect of building capacity is facilitating connections between social and natural scientists at the beginning of a project rather than at the end so the link from biophysical observation to human well-being is complete. This is particularly important in agencies where the majority of staff are biophysical scientists not trained in social science. It is also critical to demonstrate the added value of an ecosystem service approach to decision makers. [...]
Summary
Fully implementing ecosystem services concepts and approaches requires capacity building and communication across bureaus and offices, disciplines, and programs. For example a fully quantitative ecosystem service assessment requires specialized technical skills. A critically important aspect of building capacity is facilitating connections between social and natural scientists at the beginning of a project rather than at the end so the link from biophysical observation to human well-being is complete. This is particularly important in agencies where the majority of staff are biophysical scientists not trained in social science.
It is also critical to demonstrate the added value of an ecosystem service approach to decision makers. Ideally, early use of the ecosystem service approach will help identify gaps in knowledge and skills, shed light on where and when this approach will provide the most value, and inform when and how to build capacity and awareness of ecosystem service analyses in the future.
Within agencies, there is an opportunity to improve the flow of information from the project level to decision-makers, and the flow of policy direction from decision-makers to the project level. Working across agencies, Interior could also strengthen communication and coordination with other Federal agencies working within the ecosystem services framework at the project level and at the policy level (for example, through existing groups like such as the Climate Science Centers and the Landscape Conservation Cooperative Network).
To achieve this goal, a subgroup of the Ecosystem Service Community of Practice will be established to develop a strategy to address both internal training and capacity building, and external communication. The Ecosystem Service Community of Practice will seek strategic partnership with the Sustaining Environmental Capital Initiative to coordinate and leverage resources of their online Dashboard.
This effort is scheduled to begin during the winter of 2017.
