1. The Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook nespguidebook.com ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK ACES Workshop 2014 Dean Urban, PhD Professor of Landscape Ecology Senior Associate Dean Nicholas School of the Environment Duke University

2. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Purpose of the Framework  Show what an ecosystem services approach looks like – How the pieces fit together  Help agencies incorporate services into range of decisions – to select among sites, management options, projects, or policies  Provide a consistent approach that can be used in different places and decision contexts across agencies

3. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com When to Use an ES Approach Key questions to think about: What services are important? Are they already considered in planning processes? Would including ecosystem services….. Help resolve or reduce conflicts? Create opportunities for partnerships? Potentially lead to a different decision? An ecosystem services approach is not helpful in all contexts or situations.

4. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Alignment with Existing Processes

5. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com General Assessment Steps Management alternatives or project options Alternatives matrix comparing options Set of desired outcomes and key indicators Data on actions and outcomes Combine information on the decision context with analytical results to make a choice

6. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Engaging Stakeholders Identifying stakeholders Determining ecosystem services or nature’s benefits stakeholders value Scoping Clarifying how stakeholders use and benefit from services Identifying additional stakeholders Prioritizing stakeholder preferences for outcomes Assessment and Analysis Including stakeholders in the decision process (if appropriate) Identifying opportunities for partnering Communicating the decision process Decision Collaborating on development of implementation and monitoring plans Incorporating stakeholder perspectives on how well outcomes were achieved Reaction

7. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Goal of the Assessment Process To create an alternatives matrix that feeds into the decision process Ecosystem Service Status Quo Downstream Dam Upstream Release Protection of at-risk species Wildlife watching Flood risk reduction Cost Predicted change in uses and where possible, a weight or value indicating importance to people. Cost of each alternative

8. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Goal of the Assessment Process Kovacs et al.2013

9. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Ecological Analysis: Means-Ends Diagrams Flow regime Wetland structure Vegetation (sp. counts) Depth to water table (m) Open water area (km 2 ) Total area (km 2 ) Max. water depth (m) Freq. of inundation (per yr) Anoxia (% O 2 ) Flood zone (km 2 ) flow duration curves species distribution models Species habitats Bird habitat (km 2 ) Fish habitat (km 2 ) BLM Montana Office Species pop. est. pop. models Bird pop. (#) Fish pop. (#) At-risk sp. pop. (#) George Gentry, FWS Shannon Bauer, USACE

10. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Ecological Analysis: Means-Ends Diagrams Flow regime Wetland structure Vegetation types Depth to water table Open water area Total area Max. water depth Freq. of inundation Anoxia Flood zone Species habitats Bird habitat Fish habitat George Gentry, FWS BLM Montana Office Species pop. est. Bird pop. Fish pop. At-risk sp. pop. Shannon Bauer, USACE

11. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Social Impact Analysis Ecological changes Human interaction with and preferences for changes # of beneficiaries Access to service Substitutes to service Reliability of service 3 focal approaches: 1.Monetary valuation 2.Non-monetary valuation (MCDA) 3.Benefit relevant indicators

12. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Social Impact Analysis: Choosing a Method Benefit Cost Analysis desired or required by mandate All services can be monetized Monetary Valuation Inappropriate, or difficult to monetize all services Benefit Cost Analysis not required Stakeholder preferences available or obtainable Non-Monetary Valuation Decision scope does not require full analysis Stakeholder preferences inaccessible Benefit Relevant Indicators Choose this approach when:

13. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Making a Decision Other Information: Agency mandates Fiscal constraints Job creation Sustainability Equity Decision with

14. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Evaluating the Process Other Information: Agency mandates Fiscal constraints Job creation Sustainability Equity Decision with Reaction: Monitoring to re-evaluate status and trends Using outcomes to inform future decisions

15. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com In Summary, the Framework:  Focuses on decision support – choosing among alternatives  Integrates ecological and social analysis  Incorporates multiple evaluation methods to span agency needs – Ecological qualitative – Ecological quantitative – Socially enriched measures of ecological change – Non-monetary Valuation – Monetary valuation  Provides a common framework and suite of methods that can be used across geographies and decision contexts  Consistent with other frameworks and methods in use or under development with agencies  Provides a high-level (workflow) overview, guidance on approaches, and points to more in-depth resources and technical support

16. nespguidebook.com For more information, contact Lydia Olander: lydia.olander@duke.edu Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook nespguidebook.com