Ecosystem Services: a Method for Sustainable Development
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Approx. 18 hours to complete
Course Summary
This course will introduce you to the concept of ecosystem services and how they are essential to sustaining life on Earth. You will learn about the different types of ecosystem services and the economic and social benefits they provide.Key Learning Points
- Understand the importance of ecosystem services for human well-being.
- Identify the different types of ecosystem services and their benefits.
- Learn about the economic and social implications of ecosystem services.
Related Topics for further study
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the concept of ecosystem services and their importance for human well-being.
- Identify the different types of ecosystem services and their benefits.
- Evaluate the economic and social implications of ecosystem services.
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of environmental science concepts.
- Interest in ecosystem services and their impact on human life.
Course Difficulty Level
BeginnerCourse Format
- Online self-paced
- Video lectures
- Quizzes and assignments
Similar Courses
- Environmental Management
- Sustainability, Society and You
Related Education Paths
Related Books
Description
Ecosystem services are a way of thinking about – and evaluating – the goods and services provided by nature that contribute to the well-being of humans.
Outline
- Module 1: Frontiers in Ecosystem Services
- 1.0 General introduction
- 1.1 Introduction to module 1
- 1.2.1 Trade-off game (https://esgame.unige.ch/) - Part A
- 1.2.2 Trade-off game - Part B
- 1.3 Introductory round table
- 1.4 Why bother with the ecosystem services method?
- 1.5 In what context can the ecosystem services method be used?
- 1.6 What are some weakness and drawbacks of the ecosystem services method?
- 1.7 What is the link between biodiversity, ecosystem services and sustainable development?
- 1.8 Defining and measuring ecosystem services
- 1.9 True cost of hydro-electric dams (feat. Samuel Vionnet)
- 1.10 RIOS - Making efficient investments in watershed (feat. Adrian Vogl)
- 1.11 Interview with Prof Bradley J. Cardinale (University of Michigan)
- 1.12 Interview with Prof Emeritus Harold Mooney (Stanford University)
- 1.13 Conclusion of module 1
- Syllabus
- Course Plan
- Key references
- Acronym List
- Glossary
- Acknowledgments
- Reading: A Safe and Just Space for Humanity
- Take the quiz of module 1!
- Module 2: Valuation of Ecosystem Services
- 2.1 Introduction to module 2
- 2.2 What is valuation? (feat. Pavan Sukhdev)
- 2.3 What is monetization? (feat. Pavan Sukhdev)
- 2.4 The importance of discount rates (feat. Pavan Sukhdev)
- 2.5.1 Economic valuation theory - part A
- 2.5.2 Economic valuation theory - part B
- 2.6 Critique, dangers and biases in favor of monetisable services (feat. Mike Hannis)
- 2.7 Indigenous and local communities cultural values (feat. Brigitte Baptiste)
- 2.8 Indigenous and local systems of knowledge (feat. Brigitte Baptiste)
- 2.9 Valuation of marine conservation zones and implementation into the UK Marine and Coastal Access Bill (feat. Salman Hussain)
- 2.10 A case on non-monetary valuation - Impact of water scarcity on riots in Sub-Saharan Africa (feat. Jeremy Lucchetti)
- 2.11 Hedonic evaluation: a case study on landscape beauty and noise
- 2.12 The impact of climate change in agriculture
- 2.13 Could we put a price tag on nature? Interviews with Dr Ken Bagstad (USGS) and Prof Ian Bateman (Exeter University)
- 2.14 Debate between Dr Mike Hannis and Pavan Sukhdev
- 2.15 Interview with Dr Ken Bagstad (USGS)
- 2.16 Interview with Prof Ian Bateman (Exeter University)
- 2.17 Conclusion of module 2
- Take the quiz of module 2!
- Module 3: Understanding the Normative Dimensions of Ecosystem Services
- 3.1 Introduction to module 3
- 3.2 Ecosystem services as boundary objects
- 3.3 Critical view on the history of the concept - When concepts are taken for granted
- 3.4 Critical view of the history of the concept - (feat. Christian Kull)
- 3.5 Ideological underpinnings - What is neoliberalism?
- 3.6 Ideological underpinnings - Are ecosystem services neoliberal?
- 3.7 Issues of participation and social justice; stakeholder participation in ecosystem decision-making (feat. Mike Hannis)
- 3.8 Power issues and ideologies - Scenarios, prioritization and implementation (feat. Christian Kull)
- 3.9 Importance of scales and simplicity for policy implementation (feat. Christian Bréthault)
- 3.10 Interview with Prof Stephanie Pincetl (UCLA)
- 3.11 Conclusion of module 3
- Take the quiz of module 3!
- Module 4: Quantitative and Spatially-Explicit Assessment of Ecosystem Services
- 4.1 Introduction to module 4
- 4.2.1 Data and knowledge - part A (feat. Gregory Giuliani)
- 4.2.2 Data and knowledge - part B
- 4.3 Remote sensing for ecosystem services (feat. Gregory Giuliani)
- 4.4 Deriving ecosystem services values from your data: models and tools
- 4.5 Learn from the past and the future: scenarios
- 4.6 Integrating ecosystem services into decision-making (feat. Adrienne Grêt-Regamey)
- 4.7 Global - GEOBON essential biodiversity ecosystem services variables (feat. Gary Geller)
- 4.8 Regional - Black Sea catchment
- 4.9 National - Germany's ecosystem services maps (feat. Adrienne Grêt-Regamey)
- 4.10 Local - Seagrass and coral in Negril (Jamaica) (feat. Pascal Peduzzi)
- 4.11 Interview with Prof Walter Jetz (Yale University)
- 4.12 Interview with Dr Simon Ferrier (CSIRO & Water)
- 4.13 Conclusion of module 4
- Take the quiz of module 4!
- Module 5: Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services into Decision-Making Process
- 5.1 Introduction to module 5
- 5.2 What is mainstreaming?
- 5.3 Governance, rules, regulations and legislative context (feat. Constanza Martinez)
- 5.4 Factors that enable ecosystem service approaches to succeed (feat. Emily McKenzie)
- 5.5 Critical assessment
- 5.6 Mainstreaming ecosystem services into the private sector (feat. Samuel Vionnet)
- 5.7 Sustainable finance
- 5.8 Mainstreaming ecosystem services into the international organisations
- 5.9 The role of IPBES - interview with Dr Anne Larigauderie (Executive Secretary IPBES)
- 5.10 Ecosystem services in Europe and Central Asia: interview with Prof Markus Fischer (University of Bern)
- 5.11 Peru and the ecosystem services: interview with Luis Alberto Gonzales (The Nature Conservancy)
- 5.12 The Mekong River Basin and the ecosystem services - interview with Dr Nirmal Bhagabati (WWF Int.)
- 5.13 Future of the field (multiple speakers)
- 5.14 Conclusion of module 5
- 5.15 Conclusive round table
- Multiple Choice questions on Module 5
- Module 6: Create your own Ecosystem Services Case (optional)
- 6.1.1 Modeling ecosystem services with InVEST
- 6.1.2 The Natural Capital Project Toolbox
- 6.2 Getting data for assessing ecosystem services
- 6.3 Preprocessing in QGIS
- 6.4 Water yield model
- 6.5 Preparing Climate Change Scenarios
- 6.6 Interpreting the results with QGIS
Summary of User Reviews
Discover the importance of ecosystem services and their role in sustaining life on earth with this comprehensive course on Coursera. Users have rated this course highly for its engaging content and knowledgeable instructors.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
The course content is engaging and informative, making it easy to understand complex concepts.Pros from User Reviews
- The instructors are knowledgeable and provide clear explanations.
- The course covers a wide range of topics related to ecosystem services.
- The course is well-structured and easy to follow.
- The quizzes and assignments help reinforce the concepts learned in the course.
- The course provides real-world examples of ecosystem services in action.
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the course to be too basic and not challenging enough.
- The course could benefit from more interactive elements, such as group discussions or live sessions.
- The course may not be suitable for those with a strong background in ecology or environmental science.
- The course requires a significant time commitment, which may be difficult for some users.
- Some users experienced technical issues with the course platform.
Martin Schlaepfer
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