There is a growing body of evidence and research on the importance of the natural environment to society and using an ecosystems approach.

This section includes details of:

• Landmark studies
• Defra’s own research programme
• Case studies

Landmark studies:

• The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
  The first global study on the state of the natural environment and the benefits it gives to society in terms of ecosystem services.
• The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
  International project, led by Pavan Sukhdev, on valuing the natural environment.
• The UK National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA)
  The first analysis of the UK’s natural environment in terms of the benefits it provides to society and continuing economic prosperity.
• The Countryside Survey  
  Largely funded by Defra and NERC. A long term study of the natural resources of the UK’s The first analysis of the UK’s countryside. The Survey has been carried out at regular intervals since 1978 and helped to inform the UK NEA. A land cover map of the most recent survey was published in July 2011. 

Defra research programme:

The key findings of two phases of Defra research into ecosystem services thinking and application have been brought together in a synthesis report.

During 2010, we have reviewed our evidence on the value of the natural environment and produced a report which includes a summary of our findings and invites people to cooperate to fill current evidence gaps:

• Towards a deeper understanding of nature’s value: Encouraging an interdisciplinary approach towards evidence about the value of the natural environment (PDF 300 KB)

Current research

Our current research projects include:

• NR0126 – National Ecosystem Assessment scenarios development

Completed research

We have completed a range of research projects on the areas below as well as putting the theory into practice in a number of case studies.

Valuation of ecosystem services

• NR0103 – Collating and evaluating research on the value of the environment
• NR0108 – An assessment of the economic value of England’s terrestrial ecosystem services

Environmental limits

• NR0102 – Defining and identifying environmental limits

Availability of data relating to ecosytems and ecosystem services

• NR0101 – Inventory and assessment of existing resources
• NR0106 – Inventory study on natural environment data 2
• NR0118 – Scoping the potential benefits of undertaking an ‘MA style’ ecosystem assessment for England
• NR0104 – Identification and characterisation of pressures on natural resources, including the effects of cumulative pressures
• NR0133 – Scoping studies for systematic reviews

Application of an ecosystems approach for policy development

• NR0107 – England’s terrestrial ecosystem services and the rationale for an ecosystem-based approach
• NR0105 – Characterising the Policy Framework
• NR0120 – Applying the ecosystems approach to air quality policy
• NR0121 – Provision of Ecosystem Services through the Environmental Stewardship Scheme
• NR0139 – Study of registered town and village greens and the attitudes towards applications

Indicators and targets relating to the Natural Environment

• NR0115 – Public understanding of the concepts and language around ecosystem services and the natural environment
• NR0119 – Reviewing targets and indicators for an ecosystems approach

Horizon scanning / futures

• SD0314 – Future trends – work on horizon-scanning to identify future trends and pressures that will affect the natural environment and the policy framework

Case studies

Defra funded case-studies:

• NR0109 – Guiding development in the Kent Thameside development area
• NR0110 – The selection of the M6-Heysham link road route, Lancashire
• NR0111 – Management of the Parrett Catchment Somerset
• NR0112 – Management of the Otmoor protected area (Oxfordshire)

Natural England’s ecosystem services pilot projects:

Natural England recently launched three projects to demonstrate the way in which Ecosystem Services can be placed at the heart of land and water management in the landscape. Working with a wide range of partners they will trial the potential for delivering  ecosystem services using existing agri-environment schemes together with new and innovative funding streams. The partners already signed up to the pilots include water companies, national parks, the Environment Agency, British Waterways, regional government offices and tourism development initiatives.

• Natural England’s pilot projects to apply an ecosystem approach

Value transfer case studies

The case studies below demonstrate a range of approaches to value transfer, including ‘low’ to ‘high’ effort applications. They also cover a range of policy contexts, sectors and changes in provision of market and non-market goods.

• Case study 1: Valuing improvements in facilities at a forest recreation site via unit value transfer (PDF 447KB)
• Case study 2: Valuing environment benefits of changes in upland land use management via adjusted unit value transfer (PDF 181KB)
• Case study 3: Valuing environmental benefits of a flood risk management scheme via application of a meta-analysis function (PDF 1.3MB)
• Case study 4: Valuing improvements in river water quality via a function transfer approach accounting for spatial variation in unit values (PDF 917KB)
• Case study 5: The benefits of designation of marine conservation sites (PDF 197KB)
• Case study 6: Valuing the benefits of expenditure in a National Park (PDF 650KB)
• Case study 7: Using GIS in valuing ecosystem impacts (PDF 660KB).

Reporting in each case study includes some detailed explanations of assumptions and approaches to aid the understanding of the reader. In a practical value transfer application, analysts will not necessarily need to replicate this level of exposition.