Advanced Course on Ecosystem Services: from concepts to applications

SHORT DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES:

Ecosystem services (ES), as the contributions of nature to people, are increasingly prominent in the research, political and business agendas. Through a collaboration between CIBIO and CBMA, this course will cover scientific, economic, and socio-political dimensions of ES through a mix of theory and hands-on sessions, and interactions with different specialists. The course is developed for students, post-doctoral researchers, and professionals. Participants will be able to:

• explore different tools and methods to evaluate and monitor ES;
• perform a valuation of the benefits and contributions from biodiversity to people;
• recognize the opportunities and risks of ES at the business-political-society interface.

SCHEDULE:

The course will have both online and in-class sessions. Days 1 and 4 will be online, using the ZOOM platform (link to be shared in advance). Days 2 and 3 will be in-class and will take place at BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO facilities (Vairão, Porto).

DAY 1 (November 22) – Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and services (Online)

09h30 – 10h15: Introduction to ecosystem services (theory) – Guest speaker: João Honrado (BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO)

10h15 – 11h00: Biophysical structure and ecosystem functioning (theory) – Guest speaker Cláudia Pascoal (CBMA)

11h00 – 11h15 Break

11h15 – 12h00: Evaluation and monitoring of ecosystems (theory)

12h00 – 13h30 Lunch break

13h30 – 15h30: Modelling ecosystem services’ supply on water: INVEST (applications 1)

15h30 – 15h45 Break

15h45 – 17h30: Modelling ecosystem services’ supply on water: SWAT (applications 2)

DAY 2 (November 23) – Ecosystem services, governance and corporate strategy (In-Class)

09h30 – 10h15: Ecosystem services in the political agenda (theory)

10h15 – 11h00: Market schemes for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (theory)

11h00 – 11h15 Break

11h15 – 12h00: Ecosystem services in the corporate strategy (theory) – Guest speaker: Mafalada Evangelista (BCSD; Online)

12h00 – 13h30 Lunch break

13h30 – 17h30 – Hands-on session: Natural Capital group challenge (applications 3)!

DAY 3 (November 24) – perceptions and values of ecosystem services (In-Class)

09h30 – 10h30: The social side of ecosystem services (theory)

10h30 – 11h00 Break

11h00 – 12h00: Ecosystem services values and valuation (theory)

12h00 – 13h00 Lunch break

13h30 – 15h30: Mapping ecosystem services’ supply and demand (applications 4)

15h30 – 15h45 Break

15h45 – 17h30: Socio-economic valuation of ecosystem services (applications 5)

DAY 4 (November 25) – Ecosystem services applications and initiatives (Online)

09h30 – 10h15: Earth observation of ecosystem services – Guest speaker: Domingo Alcaraz-Segura (Univ. Granada)

10h15 – 11h00: Ecosystem services and wildfires – Guest speaker: Jose V.- Roces-Diaz (CREAF)

11h00 – 11h30 Break

11h30 – 12h15: Ecosystem services of freshwater biodiversity – Guest speaker: Ronaldo Sousa (Univ. Minho)

12h15 – 14h00 Lunch break

14h00 – 14h45: The IPBES initiative – Guest speaker: Joana Vicente (BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO)

14h45 – 15h30: Nature Based Solutions and Ecosystem services – Guest speaker: Emmanuelle Cohen-Shacham (IUCN)

15h30 – 15h45 Break

15h45 – 16h30: Ecosystem services in the urban environment – Guest speaker: Marisa Graça (CITTA)

16h30 – 17h15: Ecosystem services in the private sector – Guest speaker: Nuno Oliveira (NBI)

17h15 – 17h30: Wrap-up!

Hours: 24

COURSE INSTRUCTORS

Ana Sofia Vaz | CIBIO-InBIO | ECOCHANGE
Cláudia Carvalho Santos | University of Minho

INTENDED AUDIENCE

The course will be open to a maximum number of  20 participants.

 Priority will be given to:
• 1st year and other PhD students attending the BIODIV Doctoral Program;
• PhD students attending other courses;
• Other post-graduate students and researchers.

4 slots are reserved for students of the Doctoral Program in Molecular and Environmental Biology (DPMEB) from the University of Minho.

REGISTRATION – HERE

Participation is free of charge for BIODIV and DPMEB students
80€ – students
150€ – other participants
CIBIO-InBIO members will have an additional discount of 20%.

Please note the rules apply for all BIODIV students

APPLICATIONS DATES

Registration deadline: November 04, 2021
All applicants will be notified about whether they are accepted until November 12, 2021