IEEP is at the forefront of developing ways to integrate environmentally-sound socio-economic signals into decision making, to recognise the true value of environmental resources and ecosystems, and thereby encourage resource efficiency. We are developing tools to assess, quantify and take up the multiple values of nature, biodiversity and ecosystem services. IEEP experts are making substantial contributions to the international TEEB initiative (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity), particularly through leading and contributing to the TEEB for policy makers, and TEEB Water reports, and advancing national and regional initiatives, for example in the Nordic countries, Finland, and the Danube Basin.

IEEP is promoting ways of assessing the complete benefits provided by protected areas, including estimates of the costs and benefits of Natura 2000. We have carried out major assessments of the costs of biodiversity actions in the EU (including the costs of restoring 15% of degraded ecosystems in accordance with Target 2 of the Biodiversity Strategy, and the costs of maintaining High Nature Value farmland, and the far greater costs of failing to protect biodiversity. We also look at the opportunities of using biodiversity conservation to advance social inclusion and create jobs.

Highlights

Socio-economic benefits of EU Marine Protected Areas

They are more than just a nature conservation tool – a study by IEEP shows how EU Marine Protected Areas help to maintain and improve the provision of a wide range of ecosystem services and related socio-economic benefits.

Wildlife crime and the EU

Wildlife crime threatens global biodiversity. The EU is both a destination and a transit region for illegally-traded products. A new study for the European Parliament summarises the situation in Europe and offers policy recommendations in view of the upcoming EU Action Plan. A set of in-depth case studies outline the situation in five EU countries.

New report: assessing the benefits of marine protected areas

Marine Protected Areas provide a range of benefits to human wellbeing, including providing food, mitigating climate change and creating opportunities for recreation and tourism. Further steps are needed to assess and communicate these benefits, this way supporting marine conservation both globally and in the EU.

Nature, Health and Jobs: IEEP at Green Week 2015

Drawing on recent work by the Institute, IEEP’s Patrick ten Brink will present at Green Week 2015 on Jobs & Growth through Green Infrastructure (3 June 2015 - 16:30-18:00, Session 2.2) and on Health and Social Benefits of Nature and Biodiversity Protection (4 June 2015 - 09:30-11:00, Session 3.3).

Transforming our approach to water and wetlands

Thursday 12th December: IEEP and UNEP are hosting two webinar discussions on the values of water and wetlands and how to mainstream these values into policy-making in order to promote wise use and management.

Sectoral resource mobilisation to implement global biodiversity targets

There is an urgent need to find sufficient resources to enable developing countries to implement the global targets for biodiversity by 2020. Financing the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity from different sectoral funding flows can complement global biodiversity financing.

Ecosystem services of boreal mires and peatlands in Finland

Mire ecosystems are well-known for their unique species and habitats of high conservation value and they also provide a range of benefits to our societies and economies. This publication outlines the results of a pioneering project that aimed to identify and valuate ecosystem services provided by pristine mires and managed peatlands in Finland.