Training school sui servizi ecosistemici

Summer School Mapping and Valuating Ecosystem Services for Better Decision Making 7 – 11 September 2015 Mapping and modelling ecosystem services (ES) can help uncover hidden costs and benefits of different natural resource management options. One tool to map and evaluate ES is the InVEST (Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) software, developed by the Natural Capital Project (NatCap). This toolkit allows decision makers to integrate nature’s benefits into policy, business and management decisions. “InVEST” Summer school will provide an intensive training on NatCap Approach and InVEST Models, including practical exercises and application to real case studies with special focus on Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems. Training sessions will also provide basic knowledge of other Analysis Tools developed by NatCap team such as RIOS (Resource Investment Optimization System) and OPAL (Offset Portfolio Analyzer and Locator). Contents •Overview on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services concepts and classification according to Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), The Economy of Ecosystem and Biodiversity (TEEB) and Common International Classification (CICES). •Potentiality and Limitation of Quantification and Economic Evaluation of ES. •Overview of existing tools for Mapping and Evaluating ES and the key role of scenarios and simulation models. •Presentation of significant projects •Natural Capital Approach and InVEST Models for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystem assessment: models description, scenarios development, data preparation using GIS software, running the models, presenting results in decision-making simulation. Objectives •Analyse the latest development of ES Classification, Valuation and Modelling. •Disseminate in depth knowledge on the Natural Capital Approach and developing technical skills among participants for a proficient use of InVEST software (http://www.naturalcapitalproject.org/InVEST.html). •Train researchers, consultants and public officials on InVEST Models applications including recommendations for how to effectively summarize and communicate model outputs to stakeholders and other audiences. Who can participate This course is intended for those interested in ES mapping and evaluation to influence decisions in governments, public bodies, the private and finance sectors, and NGOs. It can be a resource also for practitioners interested in using NatCap tools to assess outcomes of different land use plans and natural resource management options as well as for students and researchers working to quantifying and valuating ecosystem services provision under different development scenarios.Participants are expected to have basic to intermediate knowledge of GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS and to bring a laptop computer with one of them installed. Enrolment The application form must be submitted before the 15th of August. Registration fee is 600 euro (VAT incl.). Students and PhDs regularly enrolled will benefit of a 30% discount if they apply before the 30th of July. A maximum of 25 participants will be accepted according to CV and expressed motivation. Contatti Raul Polato raul.polato@etifor.com +39 349 31 91 662 ETIFOR Srl Viale dell’Università, 16 – c/o Dip. TESAF Università di Padova – AGRIPOLIS – 35020 Legnaro (PD) www.etifor.com Teachers Davide Pettenella Full Professor of Forest Economics at Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF) of the University of Padova. Paola Gatto Associate Professor of Rural Economy and Evaluation at the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF) of the University of Padova. Gregg Verutes Training Program Manager, InVEST Specialist at Natural Capital Project and WWF US. Henry Borrebach InVEST Training Coordinator at Natural Capital Project and Standford University Benjamin P. Bryant Economist at Freshwater and Terrestrial Ecosystems team at Natural Capital Project and Stanford University. Mauro Masiero Researcher at the Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry (TESAF) of the University of Padova, specialized in identification, classification, mapping and economic evaluation of Ecosystem Services. Lorenzo Sallustio Researcher at Department of Bioscience and Territory of the University of Molise with expertise in Land Use and Land Cover Change at different scales and related effects on ecosystem services.