Project Page Views: [ 674 ]
Project Metadata Element | Details |
Project Title | Targeting payments for ecosystem services to address the favourable conservation status of key freshwater habitats |
Research Area | Water |
Project Acronym | |
Principal Investigator or Lead Irish Partner | Helen Sheridan |
Lead Institution or Organisation | University College Dublin (UCD) |
Lead Country | Ireland |
Latitude, Longitude (of Lead Institution) | 53.30859, -6.22577 |
Lead Funding Entity | Environmental Protection Agency |
Approximate Project Start Date | 01/09/2013 |
Approximate Project Finishing Date | 01/09/2016 |
Project Website (if any) | |
Links to other Web-based resources | |
Project Keywords | Ecosystem Services; Conservation; Freshwater; Habitats |
Project Abstract | The primary aim of this project is to develop a framework for targeting payments for ecosystem services (PES) to address the favourable conservation status of key freshwater aquatic habitats and species. The research approach to is based on the detailed characterisation of catchments, with national and / or international priority freshwater aquatic habitats or species, through data gathering and mining of land- use, hydrological and economic parameters. A GIS multi-criteria decision analysis will be used to select a number of representative catchments for more detailed case studies of how best to target PES in return for the conservation of key freshwater aquatic habitats and species. There, relationship between the basic requirements of cross compliance regulations and PES will be explored. This study will also investigate how to spatially target PES within catchments, using high resolution digital terrain model data. The outputs of valuation analysis of key ecosystems services will be integrated with the hydrological connectivity analysis within a GIS framework to develop a risk based approach for the targeting of PES within selected catchments. Recommendations on institutional structures, mechanisms for implementation and a list of policy measures will be made, based on the research. |