Ecosystem Services

This course aims to increase your knowledge and understanding of ecosystems and biodiversity governance. In this course, conceptual frameworks to assess ecosystem services are discussed. Moreover, the course introduces the complexities regarding ecosystem governance, followed by the available policy instruments for managing ecosystem services.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

After completion of this course, participants will be able to.

• Define ecosystem services
• Understand conceptual frameworks to assess ecosystem services
• Discuss the complexities of sustainable ecosystem governance
• Identify several policy and economic instruments to govern ecosystem services

ABOUT INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Marije Schaafsma is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Economics Department of the Institute of Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She specializes in analysing the well-being and welfare effects of ecosystem service changes, using monetary and non-monetary valuation methods. She is a Lead Author on the IPBES values assessment.

Dr. Mark Koetse is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Economics at the Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His research focuses on environmental and public good economics and bio-economic modelling. He works amongst others on the valuation of ecosystem services and public good provision, with a focus on behavioral and experimental economics.

Certification

This course is part of the certificate programs ‘WE are Water Eduction (Myanmar)’ and ‘WE are Water Eduction (Indonesia)’.