Ecosystem Services Review
For Public Sector Decision Makers

Ecosystem Services Review: Resources

The following resources are available to help managers conduct certain steps of the ESR or go in depth on certain issues. The list is not exhaustive and focuses on those that may be of direct relevance to corporate managers.

Scientific Assessments

Extensive research by the scientific community on issues relating to ecosystems, ecosystem services, and drivers of ecosystem change.

Issue-Specific

Resources to assist with in-depth analysis of particular ecosystem services, drivers of ecosystem change, or business strategies to manage risks and opportunities.

Sector-Specific

Resources focused on particular sectors.

Valuation

Tools to help managers assign quantitative values to ecosystem services.


Scientific Assessments

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Reports
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Description & Use. State-of-the-art scientific audit of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and ecosystem services, as well as a review of the drivers of ecosystem change.

  • Understand science of ecosystem services
  • Understand trends in ecosystem services and drivers of ecosystem change

Climate Change Assessment Reports
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Description & Use. Latest scientific and technical assessments of human-induced climate change, including its observed and projected impacts on the world’s ecosystems and ecosystem services.

  • Understand how climate change will drive ecosystem service trends

Plenary Documents
International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development

Description & Use. Reviews global trends in demographics, economics, water use, land cover change, and technology in relation to agriculture.

  • Understand risks and trends in agriculture
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Issue-Specific Resources

Business and Biodiversity Offsets Program
Forest Trends & Conservation International

Description & Use. Toolkit for designing and implementing biodiversity offsets that compensate for the unavoidable impact on biodiversity caused by infrastructure projects.

  • Develop offsets as a strategy for minimizing risks associated with ecosystem impacts

Global Water Tool
World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Description & Use. Excel workbook with on-line mapping features.

  • Identify dependence and impact your firm has on the ecosystem service of freshwater
  • Assess trends in fresh water
  • Identify fresh water business risks and opportunities

GS Sustain
Goldman Sachs

Description & Use. Framework for analyzing competitive advantage in mature industries and the identification of winners in emerging industries with attention to environmental issues.

  • Better understand your firm’s potential financing risks relative to industry best practices in environmental management

Nutrient Net
World Resources Institute

Description & Use. Web-based tools used to facilitate market-based approaches to improving water quality through trading and reverse auctions.

  • Understand and engage water quality or nutrient trading markets

Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-Based Products
World Resources Institute & World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Description & Use. An information and decision making tool to help companies develop their own sustainable procurement policies for wood and paper-based products.

  • Develop sourcing strategies related to wood products

TruCost
TruCost PLC

Description & Use. Provides companies with an independent analysis of their environmental performance using measures that allow for a ranking of their environmental impacts by external damage costs.

  • Better understand risks related to ecosystem services


Water Efficiency Clearinghouse
American Water Works Association

Description & Use. Interactive website that provides conservation, efficiency, and demand management information resources.

  • Obtain data on conservation, efficiency and demand management strategies

Water Sustainability Tool
Global Environmental Management Initiative

Description & Use. Methodology for developing strategies related to fresh water.

  • Identify dependence and impact your firm has on the ecosystem service of freshwater
  • Assess trends in freshwater
  • Identify freshwater business risks and opportunities
  • Develop and implement strategies for managing these risks and opportunities
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Sector-Specific Resources

FishSource
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership

Description & Use. Web interface providing information on the sustainability and environmental performance of fish stocks and fisheries around the globe.

  • Identify status and trends of fish stock and fisheries
  • Understand risks of fish stocks and fisheries

Good Practices Guidance for Mining and Biodiversity
International Council on Mining & Metals

Description & Use. Tools to review impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services of mining operations and to develop projects for offsetting impacts when they cannot be mitigated.

  • Better incorporate biodiversity considerations into projects

Initial Biodiversity & Assessment Planning
Center for Environmental Leadership in Business at Conservation International

Description & Use. Tool that integrates biodiversity information and conservation planning into the earliest stages of a mining or oil and gas project.

  • Understand biodiversity issues early in the project planning phase

Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-Based Products
World Resources Institute & World Business Council for Sustainable Development

Description & Use. An information and decision-making resource guide to help companies develop their own sustainable procurement policies for wood and paper-based products.

  • Develop sourcing strategies related to wood products
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Valuation Resources

Ecosystem Valuation.org
University of Maryland and U.S. Department of Agriculture

Description & Use. An introduction to ecosystem valuation including the rationale and variety of valuation techniques.

  • Gain a basic understand of valuation

EcoValue Project
Gund Institute at the University of Vermont

Description & Use. Web-based, mapping tool for assessing and reporting the economic value of ecosystem goods and services.

  • Understand the value of ecosystem services

CaseBase
Foundation for Sustainable Development

Description & Use. Information source for ecosystem service research and implementation including tools and examples for valuation.

  • Understand and identify valuation and market based strategies

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