Description
The the main goal of the project ValueEcoServ is to improve knowledge and provide decision making tools in order to elaborate policies regarding ecosystems’ contribution to economic sectors, became necessary. This is in line with the objectives of the EU strategy on Biodiversity towards 2020 (Objective 2, action 5). ValueEcoServ will provide 3 studies on the contribution of natural and semi-natural ecosystems from protected areas to the main economic sectors in Romania (forestry, agriculture, energy, tourism) and the economic evaluation of risk reduction associated to natural disasters and their implication on economic sectors. One of the activity gives the multiplication potential of the project, referring to the extrapolation of results with respect to the values of ecosystem services from protected pilot areas in other similar areas.ValueEcoServ will provide thus a rapid integrated methodology for evaluating ecosystem services in Romanian protected areas and will be a robust tool for a wide range of beneficiaries - Central government and subordinate entities, Local Public administrations, Scientific Community, NGOs, etc.
Summary of project results
Nowadays there is a significant European and global engagement for developing methods of assessment and mapping of ecosystem services; at the European/world level the assessment of ecosystem services is not carried out according to a unitary methodology. It is more likely to be used a set of mapping and assessment tools that will largely depend on the type and quality of data available for each area. In this context, the ValueEcoServ Project provided a number of 3 studies on the contribution of natural and semi-natural ecosystems (forests, grasslands and meadows, lotic and lentic ecosystems) in protected areas to the main economic sectors (forests, agriculture, energy, tourism) and the economic assessment of the reduction of risks associated with natural disasters. Through its specific actions, the project analyzed the mapping and assessment methods of ecosystem services and provided a flexible methodology that integrated biophysical, social and economic aspects. Project was implemented during a period of 14 months in 3 pilot areas: ROSCI0002 - Apuseni, ROSCI0067 – Deniz Tepe, ROSCI0224 – Scroviștea. Further on the project was enlarged to 10 more Sites of Community Importance, based on the similarity of the structural configuration with the pilot areas. ValueEcoServ has provided an integrated methodology for assessing ecosystem services in protected areas in Romania (closely related to similar processes in Europe) (7 workshops with stakeholders; 1 Synthetic Report on ecosystem services supply and demand). A geo-referenced database (approx. 100000 entries) was developed, 2 Synthetic Reports on the use/non-use value of ecosystem services from the pilot protected areas and 3 reports regarding the evaluation and mapping of services provided by natural and semi-natural ecosystems were delivered. Project activities analyzed the extrapolation potential of the results to similar areas (1 Methodology Guide), the contribution of natural and semi-natural ecosystems in selected protected areas to the main economic sectors and identified possible payment mechanisms for ecosystem services (5 reports delivered). Main results are presented on project website (
http://valueecoserv.cndd.ro/). The project achievements furthered the integration of ecosystem values in the accounting and reporting systems to the EU by 2020 (will support Romania in fulfilling its obligations) by creating a useful informational database, usable also for the subsequent period of reporting.
Summary of bilateral results