🌿 ESMERALDA Project Summary: Mapping Ecosystem Services
The ESMERALDA project (Enhancing ecoSysteM sERvices mApping for poLicy and Decision mAking) aimed to develop guidance and a flexible methodology for Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES). The project’s main goal was to support EU Member States in implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s Target 2 Action 5.
🎯 Overall Objectives and Approach
The core objective was to provide guidance for integrated ES mapping and assessment that could be used for sustainable decision-making across policy, business, society, and science at EU, national, and regional levels.
Four Project Strands
ESMERALDA organized its work along four activity phases:
- Networking: Creation of a strong network and stakeholder support groups.
- Developing Flexible Tools: Enhancing ES mapping and assessment methods.
- Testing Tools: Applying tools in case studies across multiple scales.
- Guidance and Methodologies: Providing tailored solutions for policy implementation.
Network Strength
A significant achievement was the creation of a vast cross-disciplinary network. The consortium grew to 37 partners covering all 28 EU Member States, plus Switzerland, Norway, and Israel. This extensive network was instrumental in sharing knowledge and expertise across Europe.
💡 Main Results and Impact
The project successfully delivered on its objective to create a flexible, integrated approach to MAES.
Flexible Methodology
The project successfully identified, systematized, and integrated biophysical, socio-cultural, and economic methods for ES mapping and assessment.
- Tiered Methodology: Flexibility was achieved through the creation of a tiered methodology that allows different approaches and complexity levels to be integrated based on local needs and resources.
- Conceptual Work: Advanced conceptual work on the CICES (Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services) classification scheme.
- Case Studies: Case studies across Europe were highly successful in engaging stakeholders and testing methods.
Key Products and Dissemination
ESMERALDA ensured open access and broad dissemination of its findings:
- ESMERALDA MAES Explorer: An easy-to-access online open access interface providing diverse end products.
- Publications: Included project reports, open access scientific publications, a textbook on mapping ES, and a glossary of ES mapping terminology.
- Guidance Tools: Created methods application cards and country/case study fact sheets illustrating MAES implementation.
Socio-Economic and Policy Impact
The project had a significant impact by directly supporting EU Member States in the challenging MAES implementation process:
- Policy Legitimacy: Provided external legitimacy for MAES, helping stakeholders approach policy-makers and governments.
- Dialogue and Awareness: Facilitated dialogue about MAES challenges and obstacles for policy uptake, and improved awareness for MAES among local authorities and people.
- Capacity Building: Helped strengthen capacity for carrying out MAES activities on both local and national levels, especially for countries lacking resources, by providing precise methodologies and real-life examples.
