Ecosystem services, which refer to the benefits that humans receive from nature, are increasingly being recognized and incorporated into public sector policies and practices. Here are five key trends in the public sector regarding ecosystem services:
Integration of Ecosystem Services into Policy and Planning: Public sectors are increasingly integrating ecosystem services into environmental, urban, and regional planning policies. This involves recognizing the value of natural systems and incorporating these values into decision-making processes to promote sustainable development.
Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES): Governments are adopting PES schemes, which involve compensating landowners or resource users for managing their land or resources in ways that provide ecological benefits, such as carbon sequestration, water purification, or biodiversity conservation.
- World Bank – Payment for Ecosystem Services
- UNEP – Payments for Ecosystem Services
Natural Capital Accounting: Public sectors are incorporating natural capital accounting to measure and value the stocks and flows of natural resources and ecosystem services. This helps to better integrate the value of natural assets into national accounting systems and policy-making.
- United Nations – Natural Capital Accounting
- World Bank – Wealth Accounting and the Valuation of Ecosystem Services
Urban Ecosystem Services: Urban areas are increasingly focusing on enhancing and preserving ecosystem services to improve urban resilience, livability, and sustainability. This includes green infrastructure projects, such as parks, green roofs, and urban forests, which provide various ecosystem services.
- ICLEI – Urban Ecosystem Services
- Nature-Based Solutions for Cities – Ecosystem Services
Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation: Ecosystem services are being recognized for their role in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Governments are leveraging natural systems to enhance carbon sequestration, protect against extreme weather events, and support biodiversity, which in turn supports human resilience.
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – Ecosystem Services and Climate Change
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – Ecosystem Services and Climate
These trends highlight the growing awareness and incorporation of ecosystem services into public sector policies and practices, promoting sustainability and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.