Paulo A.L.D. Nunes, Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (DEPI)

UN Environmental Programme (UNEP)

ESPA Annual Science Conference 2015

Success Stories in Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services into Macro‐economic Policy and Land Use Planning: Evidence 

from Chile, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa and Viet Nam

Project for Ecosystem Services (ProEcoServ)

Objectivevaluation and mainstreaming of ecosystem services into macro economic policy design and land use planning within the larger ambit of sustainable development (WWW.PROECOSERV.ORG) 

Components of ProEcoServ1. Development and application of multi‐scale and locally valid 

tools and decision‐support models; 2. Support application of ecosystem service management 

approaches at national/international levels; 3. Strengthen science‐policy interface

Pilot countries and Partners

Implemented by CEAZA

• San Pedro Atacama, Salt flat closed watershed in the Andes

CHILE

Implemented by Univ. W. Indies

• Nariva Swamp • Northern Range• Buccoo Reef

TRINIDADTOBAGO

Implemented by CSIR

• Eden District• Olifants

Grasslands Cathment

S.AFRICALESOTHO

Implemented byISPONRE

• Ca Mau Province, mangrove forests

VIETNAM

Pilot countries and Partners

Implemented by CEAZA

• San Pedro Atacama, Salt flat closed watershed in the Andes

CHILE

Implemented by Univ. W. Indies

• Nariva Swamp • Northern Range• Buccoo Reef

TRINIDADTOBAGO

Implemented by CSIR

• Eden District• Olifants

Grasslands Cathment

S.AFRICALESOTHO

Implemented byISPONRE

• Ca Mau Province, mangrove forests

VIETNAM

Implementation Arrangement

• National Teams – Main Partner Organizations– The Centre for Advanced Studies in Arid Zones (CEAZA), Chile– The Council for Scientific Research (CSIR), South Africa– University of West Indies (UWI), Trinidad and Tobago – The Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment (ISPONRE), 

VietNam

• Global Steering Committee– Guidance and advice on technical work of the project;– Guidance to link the project to Ecosystem Services developments and initiatives – Support dissemination of project outputs

Project Management & Partnership 

ProEcoServ Activities

Data collection

Modelling, Valuation, Natural Capital Accounting

Capacity Building Consensus Building

Dissemination

Ca Mau province• Total area: 62,436 ha, Largest

mangrove area in the country• Mui Ca Mau National Park was

approved by UNESCO to become Mui Ca Mau International Biosphere Reserve on 26/05/2009.

• It was recognized as the 5th Ramsar of Viet Nam and the 2088th of the world on 13/12/2012

Vietnam

Intervention strategy

• Quantification of ecosystems– Modeling to understand the 

potential changes in the ecosystem services

• Valuation of Ecosystem Services– Determining the economic value 

of ecosystem services

• Linking Ecosystem with Development– Creating feedback mechanism at 

national and sub‐national levels. 

Ecosystem: forest mangroves

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Market‐based approach

Replacement costContingent Valuation

Travel cost method

Valuation of Ecosystem Services provided by mangroves

Estimation results

• Party Resolution no. 24-NQ/TW on responding to Climate Change, natural resources management and environmental protection

• The National Strategy for Green Growth

• National Strategy for Environmental Protection to 2020

Mainstreaming Process

Joint Ministerial Statement, Greater Mekong Subregion 4th Environment Ministers’ Meeting

“We recognize that the natural capital/resources lie at the heart of economic development, underpins inclusive and sustainable development and sustains the livelihoods and wellbeing of all people in the GMS, especially the rural poor”

Mainstreaming Process

1. Introduced GIS‐based ES maps and an associated Decision Support System into Spatial Development Planning in T&T

• National Spatial Development Strategy

2. Introduced Natural Capital Accounting into the T&T National Accounts

• Land use and land cover, water, carbon, biodiversity

3. Developed a pilot Eco‐finance scheme (e.g. PES)• T&T Green Fund

Trinidad and Tobago

Case study approach

Case study approach

Valuation Methods

Plum Mitan• Value of agricultural output attributable to insect pollination

Nariva Swamp• Social cost of carbon

Northern Range• Replacement cost

Southwest Tobago• Damage cost avoided

Natural Capital Accounting

Step 1•Method: Proposed Approach to Development of Natural Capital Accounting in T&T

Step 2•Demonstration Exercise (banking on the estimation values)

Step 3• Scoping Study: Feasibility of Implementing Natural Capital Accounts in T&T

At each pilot: intervention strategy

Chile: Local ScaleSan Pedro de Atacama Municipality

Two ES: Water provisioning & Ecotourism

Work strategy (1)

Work strategy (2)

South Africa

South AfricaNational policy and planning

Eden DistrictLocal level planning & management

Olifants catchmentCatchment level planning & management

Implementation Approach: Multiscale

South Africa: creation of jobs

South Africa: policy uptake

Involved Events and Initiatives (e.g. 2013)

ESP Workshop08/13

2nd SC meeting

IWR Workshop2013

Ca Mau Workshop12/13

Vantage Workshop12/13 ELD Workshop

06/2013

May 2014 (Hanoi): Policy Dialogue onMainstreaming Natural Capital intoDevelopment Decision (ISPONRE,UNEP, GEF, ADB, HSF)

December 2014 (Hanoi): Workshop on GMS Natural Capital Partnership (ISPONRE & ADB/CEP)

January 2015 (Naypyidaw): GMS Environment Ministers Meeting (ADB/CEP)

For better linking and coordinating on-going and future work on Natural Capital (Accounting) in Viet Nam, a national level Natural Capital Partnershiphas been recently proposed by ISPONRE.

Involved Events and Initiatives (e.g. Viet Nam)

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• Maximize the impact and visibilityof the work's contribution towards the implementation of the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals, where the linkages between ecosystems, human health and human wellbeing are explicitly accepted by the decision makers. 

This activity is not only confined to the four‐pilot countries but also extended to other countries exploring the potential for a follow‐up ProEcoServ work, including the Project Concept Note: Building Development and Finance Planning Frameworks for Effective Management of Ecosystem Services that the ESEU is submitting to the GEF; 

Next:

Develop coherent follow‐up plan exploring inter alia the role of: (1) the creation of private‐public‐partnershipsaimed at having a sustainable impact on ecosystem management; (2) natural capital and ecosystem services as part of ecological infrastructure (i.e. policy instrument) in National Development Plan; (3) information on the economic value of selected ecosystem services (e.g. shore protection and carbon sequestration) in the development of market based mechanisms notably Payment for Ecosystem Services; (4) new data ecosystem services in building consensus among the different stakeholders in the region/country and therefore in the alignment of their positions.

Next:

Bringing partnerships in place with similar global intentions to develop policy up‐take of the work, including the identification of the road to upscale towards National/Regional scales the findings of the work as well as bringing the actions from a pilot based implementation towards a global, systematic approach in the implementation and mainstreaming of NCA and ES valuation policy, and this way facilitating us in transitioning  towards a green economy and the implementation of the sustainable development goals.

Next:

Thank you