The ecoSERVICES scientific strategy published in COSUST

Despite the vast amount of research generated on ecosystem services, progress in using this knowledge for sustainable resource management remains insufficient. The strategy proposes to answer three key research questions to redress this situation.

1. How are ecosystem services co-produced by social–ecological systems?
2. Who benefits from the provision of ecosystem services?
3. What are the best practices for the governance of ecosystem services?

These are the three overarching questions laid out in the scientific strategy of ecoSERVICES that was published in COSUST in June 2015.

The authors propose that the incorporation of ecosystem service research into decision-making will be improved if inter- and transdisciplinary research aims to answer these three questions. Their joint investigation will lay a holistic foundation for the sustainable use of natural resources and the improvement of human well-being as understood through the lens of ecosystem services science.

The paper examines the rationale behind each question and their related scientific challenges.

The aim of the publication is also to call for a globally coordinated effort via the activities of ecoSERVICES, of Future Earth more generally, and of partners (see our community of practice).

Read more about ecoSERVICES’ science here.