Evaluation of the upland ecosystem service pilots: Annex 3. South Pennines.
Abstract
This report presents the findings from an evaluation of the South Pennines (England, UK) pilot project. The pilots were innovative in nature and were intended: to provide practical examples demonstrating how the ecosystem approach could be applied on the ground; to use a consultative ecosystem approach to define land and water management based upon stakeholders perceptions of the best options; to demonstrate that investment in the natural environment can result in multiple benefits (carbon, water, food, biodiversity, recreational and landscape benefits); and to work in partnership to deliver a range of ecosystem services in a cost-effective way and link these services to the beneficiaries. The research evaluation included a review of project documentation and a series of in-depth interviews with ten individuals involved in the pilot (at the local level) and four Natural England staff involved in the management of the overall upland ecosystem services pilot programme between the summer of 2009 and March 2011. The pilot provided examples of how the ecosystem approach could be applied, although these examples were at a much smaller scale (two catchments) than originally intended. It also adopted a consultative ecosystem approach and engaged a very wide range of stakeholder organisations from a wide range of sectors. The pilot, particularly through its work on economic valuation, demonstrated that investment in the natural environment can result in multiple benefits. Finally, the pilot did not work in partnership to deliver a range of ecosystem services in a cost effective way and link these services to the beneficiaries.