A team from the Nexus Network and the Valuing Nature Partnership ran a session on ‘Natural Capital: data, valuation and decision implementation‘ on 4 November 2015, as part of the Defra #OpenEnvironment 2 day consultation.
Rory Stewart MP, Defra Minister with responsibility for the natural environment, floods and water, resource and environmental management and rural affairs, opened the day with an outline of the Open Environment aspirations for developing a 25 year plan for the environment and invited challenges from the audience of academics, NGOs and practitioners.
Stimulus talks
- The Natural Capital: data, valuation and decision implementation workshop session was opened by Helen Dunn from Defra talking on the ‘Policy Context and Decision Imperative’. Download Helen’s slides here as a pdf HelenDunn_4Nov2015_Defra
- Dr Pete Henrys from the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology then spoke on how ongoing environmental monitoring and data collection is important to feed into tools. Download his slides here as a pdf PeteHenrys_4Nov2015_Defra
- In the section on ‘Valuation: From evidence to decision inputs’ Dr Amy Binner, from the University of Exeter outlined an example of woodland valuation, being developed for the Forestry Commission AmyBinner_4Nov2015_Defra
- Professor Ian Bateman, from the University of Exeter, talked about tools for integrated modelling and valuation with a policy appraisal example of where to put more trees in Britain for maximum benefits IanBateman_4Nov2015_Defraweb
- Dr Rob Fish, from the University of Kent introduced the concepts of qualitative valuation as an important companion to monetary valuation, to put valuation on a participatory footing. This is not just procedurally important but can lead to better decisions. RobFish_4Nov2015_Defra
- Professor Brett Day, from the University of Exeter outlined the balance between markets, such as examples of water companies paying farmers for clean water, and governance structures needed. BrettDay_4Nov2015_Defra
- The session talks concluded with Professor Michael Winter from the University of Exeter with reflections on the importance of land managers as critical to the delivery of the 25 year plan.
Workshop questions
Participants split into three groups to consider the following questions
- What are the evidence needs for natural capital management?
- What are the decision-support needs for management of natural capital systems?
- How to govern, implement and finance the management of natural capital systems?
- What are the top priority actions to build into the 25 year plan in the short term and longer term for practical use in decision making at all levels?
- What are the immediate next steps during 2016 as part of the development of the plan?
Outputs from the discussion sessions will be fed back to Defra.
Photo credit: with thanks to Lynn Rainard on flickr.
