Implementing an Ecosystem Services Approach in Alberta

Posted October 10, 2017 by LSC

Land Stewardship Centre is a partner in the Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Network which is a multidisciplinary group of experts working to build the knowledge required to assist with the implementation of an ecosystem services (ES) approach in Alberta.

What are ecosystem services?

Ecosystem services (also referred to as “ES”) are the benefits that humans receive from nature including provisioning (e.g. food, fuel, fibre, fresh water), regulating (e.g. air quality, climate regulation, erosion control, water quality), cultural (e.g. spiritual enrichment, recreation, aesthetic experiences) and supporting services (e.g. production of oxygen, soil formation).

Why are we looking into this?

Over the past several years many organizations, various levels of government, academia and industry have been exploring ways to integrate ES into planning and decision-making on working landscapes in Alberta. An important element of this approach is to identify current and future information needs. To meet these needs, solutions need to be developed that are practical, science-based, easy to understand and communicate.

How can we move an ES-approach forward?

In direct response to this need, LSC lead a series of sector-based workshops and outreach sessions across Alberta in an effort to help support the development of a recognized, comprehensive ES approach that can be adopted by governments, resource-based industries, landowners and land managers, and conservation organizations.

Summary reports for individual sector workshops and a final report for the workshop series are available for download here:

• ESBN Sector Workshops and Outreach Sessions: Final Report
• ESBN Sector Workshops and Outreach Sessions: Municipal Sector Workshop Summary
• ESBN Sector Workshops and Outreach Sessions: Forest Sector Workshop Summary
• ESBN Sector Workshops and Outreach Sessions: Non-Government Sector Workshop Summary
• ESBN Sector Workshops and Outreach Sessions: Agriculture Sector Workshop Summary