Tutorial Ecomindmap

Goal Ecomindmap

First step in each project phase understand the system!

Ecomindmap helps:• Mapping the ecosystem, while considering the socio-

economic and governance system, using ecosystem services

Usage skills:• Ecological knowledge and knowledge on the system at

hand (ecosystem)• Different people who have knowledge on the three

systems (in workshop)

BwN interest

Get an overview of the natural system and its links to the socio-economic and governance system in a limited amount of time

Expand project-objective from technical to nature-inclusive, add value for nature and society

Applicable in all phases of a project, level of detail differs

Framework

Requirements: Mindmapping software, eg. Prezi, or a whiteboard

Prezi Ecomindmap

Step 1 – Project objective and location

Step 1:

Define the project objective (the problem definition) and define the project location

Who:

Project team or project leader

Example:

The water in the Markermeer is characterized by a high turbidity. This causes threats to the nature quality and to several ecosystem services, such as fisheries and recreation. This project aims to contribute to solving the turbidity problem in the Markermeer

Step 2 – The ecosystem

Step 2:

Map the ecosystem using the 6S model in the Ecomindmap framework

Who:

Ecologist

Step 2 – The ecosystem

For each component, fill in the characteristics that describe the ecosystem best

• these can be intact or degraded natural characteristics • use only clear words or short sentences• if possible insert pictures or graphs • a zoom function – as in Prezi - can help focusing on more

detailed characteristics of the system.

Step 2 – example

Structures

• dikes prevent water to reach lake shores• hard shore substrate• change in time from clay substrate to fine silty substrate (water bed)• 700 km2 surface area

Substances

• change from salt water to fresh water• high silt concentrations• low light level in water• decline in nutrients because of construction Houtribdijk

Step 3 – Ecosystem services

The links between the ecosystem and the socio-economic system are the ecosystem services categorised as:

• Provisioning• Regulating• Cultural• Supporting

Click for explanation

Who:

Workshop with an environmental economist (trained in defining ecosystem services) an ecologist, a technically trained person and a person who knows the project site

Step 3 – Example

Provisioning services

• fish• water for agriculture, drinking water and cooling water• transportation connection• energy (wind)• sand

cultural services

• various forms of water recreation, eg. sailing, fishing, surfing, motor boats• nature viewing• aesthetics

Step 4 – Governance and Society

Three categories of actors / interest groups are distinguished:

• Stakeholders: Organizations, networks and individuals that have an interest in the project (area)

• Legislators: The legislators set legislative boundaries relevant to the project

• Decision makers: The organizations or individuals who take the crucial decisions in the project (area)

Who:

Same workshop setting as in step 3, preferably added with someone with knowledge on local stakeholders and governance setting

Step 4 – Example

Stakeholders

• people living nearby• nature organizations• interest groups• fishermen• companies

Decision makers

• national government of the Netherlands• local governments: provinces and municipalities• water boards and Rijkswaterstaat (RWS)• EU

Step 5 – Make connections

Make connections between the different components• draw only the arrows representing the most important

connections• the more arrows (beyond a certain minimum), the more

unclear the Ecomindmap becomes• a connector (arrow) can be accompanied by a brief

explanatory text, or by a ‘+’ or ‘-‘ sign

Who: In workshop as in step 4

Step 5 – Example

Step 6 – Discussing the outcome

The resulting Ecomindmap gives an overview of • the most important ecological characteristics linked to

ecosystem services and socio-economic characteristics• which ecological factors provide opportunities for the

design; fragile ecological characteristics that can be strengthened or strong characteristics that can be used to drive natural processes supporting the project realisation

The Ecomindmap shows opportunities to add objectives and values and indicates which organizations or individuals should be involved in the project. Moreover, it helps identifying important gaps in the system knowledge.

Prezi mindmap Markermeer

See for further information

Ecomindmap tool on BwN wiki