3.4.1. How to do an assessment of ES for the WEFe Framework?
The assessment of ES is split into two steps:
Assessment of ES based on a survey
The validation of ES which will be done in a participatory activity (workshop/online meeting…).
This step can be combined/integrated into the workshop for participatory system mapping (see 2.3).
Assessment of ES
Description
The aim of this method is to get a broad understanding of the ecosystems and landscapes that are important to local stakeholders; the benefits they perceive and associate with these ecosystems and landscapes; the ecosystem services they associate with the WEFe components; the socio-environmental problems and challenges they perceive; and the possible links with other social, ecological, economic, political, and cultural factors in the focal area. This will be done by implementing detailed surveys to stakeholders.
Methods and Data Collection
Data will be collected through a survey. Ideally, this will be done before the stakeholder workshop. Depending on the possibilities and needs of the case study, the survey can be done:
Through a google form that is shared by email with participants of the stakeholder workshop, and which must be answered before this activity (see example of the ES survey) (preferred option).
Alternatively, the survey can be conducted face-to-face with participants, depending on the case study needs.
Face to face with the workshop participants.
The results of the ES survey need to be revised and summarized for validation in the next step. Based on these results, the aim is to identify the key conclusions regarding the ecosystem services, possible conflicts or synergies, and the social-ecological context of the area. The results will be used as background material to conduct the participatory activity with stakeholders.
Validation of ES assessment
This method validates the Ecosystem Services (ES) assessment by integrating stakeholders' knowledge, refining the socio-ecological characterization of the focal area. The goal is to identify and validate the WEFe nexus and related ES, highlighting their interactions, trade-offs, and synergies, with a focus on local perspectives and including both visible and less obvious ES.
Proposed methodology for the participatory activity (Validation ES)
Understand the steps for a proposed methodology for the participatory activity.
Download FREE methodology