WORK PACKAGES
The OpenNESS work programme will integrate methodological innovation and empirical analysis in an iterative cycle of application and refinement that draws on experience from real-world case studies (figure 1 below). The work is divided in eight work packages (WPs):
WP 1 Key challenges and conceptual frameworks
The overall objective for this work package is to advance the conceptual understanding of ES and NC and provide operational frameworks for the application of the concepts in real-world management and decision-making situations.
An important output of the work package is the so-called OpenNESS ecosystem services reference book. The reference book represents an agreed basis on different topics essential to the project. It is made up of individual Synthesis Papers (SPs) generated by the OpenNESS members.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- Marion Potschin, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Kurt Jax (OpenNESS Deputy Coordinator), Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Germany
WP 2 Regulatory frameworks and drivers of change
The overall objective for this work package is to examine how existing and forthcoming EU regulatory frameworks can enhance or restore the benefits derived from ES and NC using multi-scale scenario approaches.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- Christoph Görg, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research, Germany
- Allan Watt, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, United Kingdom
WP 3 Biophysical control of ecosystem services
The overall objective for this work package is to develop and refine approaches for mapping and modelling the biophysical control of ES which can be used to assess the effectiveness of mechanisms, instruments and best management practices for sustaining ES delivery in the face of multiple uncertain drivers whilst conserving biodiversity.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- Paula Harrison, University of Oxford, United Kingdom
- Joachim Maes, Joint Research Centre, Italy
WP 4 Valuation of the demand for ecosystem services
The overall objective of this work package is to develop hybrid methodologies that address trade-offs, synergies, and conflicting interests and values in the use of ES through a combination of monetary, non-monetary and deliberative methods within multi-criteria and Bayesian approaches to decision support.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- David Barton, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Norway
- Erik Gomez-Baggethun, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain
WP 5 Place-based exploration of ES and NC concepts
The overall objective for this work package is to apply the concepts and methods developed and refined in WP1 to WP4 to concrete, place-based case studies in a range of social-ecological systems with stakeholders and analyse the implications of local, regional and EU level decisions on ES flows and use in other parts of the world.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- Jan Dick, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, United Kingdom
- Francis Turkelboom, Research Institute for Nature and Forest, Belgium
WP 6 Integration: Synthesis and Menu of Multi-Scale Solutions
The overall objective of this work package is to translate the results into policy recommendations and integrate the outputs in a Menu of Multi-Scale Solutions and associated datasets that are available for ES users and managers as well as decision-makers.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- Marta Peres-Soba, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Netherlands
- Heli Saarikoski (OpenNESS Deputy Coordinator), Finnish Environment Institute, Finland
WP 7 Impact and dissemination
The overall objective of this work package is to disseminate the project’s results using advanced information and communications technology to reach a broad audience, and promote science policy-dialogue on the use of the concepts of ES and NC in sustainable land, water and urban management.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- Rob Wolters, ECNC-European Centre for Nature Conservation
- Jiska van Dijk, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Norway
WP 8 Management and coordination
The overall objective for this work package is to deliver a strong, coherent and transparent management structure which ensures that OpenNESS reaches its overall goal and that the various objectives are integrated and their deliverables produced in a timely manner.
Work Package Leader and Deputy Leader:
- Eeva Furman (Project Coordinator), Finnish Environment Institute, Finland
- Heli Saarikoski (OpenNESS Deputy Coordinator), Finnish Environment Institute, Finland
Figure 1. Overview of the OpenNESS work package structure