This elective is given by NRM, UPM and GFM staff.
Ecosystem services i.e., the contributions of nature to human well-being, are increasingly used to describe human-nature interactions in an inclusive way. The ecosystem services concept addresses management objectives that go beyond natural resources or human practices alone, as it focuses on the interactions between nature and society. Geo-information (from earth observation, citizen science, to existing GIS maps) is inherent to ecosystem service assessments since the supply (from ecosystems) and demand (from society) for ecosystem services are spatially explicit. Understanding the ecosystem service concept, selecting and using mapping methods for specific management objectives is therefore essential for incorporating human-nature interactions into environmental management from cities to rural areas and hence the key objective of this course. Managing natural resources in a sustainable way by taking into account human well-being is also at the core of the Sustainable Development Goals as set by the United Nations. After completing this course, the student will have obtained knowledge in the theoretical aspects of the concept of ecosystem services. The student will also be able to select and apply mapping methods and data for ecosystem service assessments on real-life applications in the context of diverse management objectives.