RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTEGRATION ECOSYSTEM SERVICES APPROACH INTO SPATIAL PLANNING

Ecosystem services approach provides an opportunity to implement strategic approach and Knowledge-based Decision Making, as well as promotes balanced development and use of nature capital. This approach analyses the benefits and losses from the implementation of different development scenarios and serves as a planning and forecasting tool.

One of the objectives of the project is to develop a clear understanding about ecosystem services approach and its benefits using it in spatial and development planning. This objective has been gained by developing recommendations for integration of ecosystem services approach into planning processes.

The purpose of the recommendations is to promote the use of the new methodological approach in Latvia, as well as to facilitate integration of this approach into spatial planning.

The developed recommendations explain and raise the level of public awareness not only about ecosystem services but also the use of the approach in sustainable planning and modelling of spatial development scenarios.

The recommendations explain the historical development and classification of ecosystems and their services approach, describe the experience of other countries, and provide various tools for evaluating ecosystem services.

The recommendations are designed to integrate the ecosystem services approach into decision-making at different planning levels – national, regional and local.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTEGRATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES APPROACH INTO SPATIAL PLANNING (in Latvian, available printed)

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INTEGRATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES APPROACH INTO SPATIAL PLANNING (in Latvian, SUMMARY in English;extended version, available only electronically)

RECOMMENDATIONS INTEGRATED IN THE TOOLKIT

In the recommendations development process many key institutions are involved. An expert group is created and consists of representatives from institutions involved in spatial planning activities. Expert group consists of representatives from Nature Conservation Agency of Latvia, association "Baltic Coasts", Saulkrasti municipality, spatial planning company "METRUM", University of Latvia, Riga Planning Region Spatial Planning department, Ministry of Agriculture Rural development department and Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Nature protection department and Spatial planning department.

In order to create useful and applicable recommendations and ecosystem services evaluation tool, expert group meetings are held. During meetings expert opinions, suggestions and critics are taken into account and the recommendations development process are presented as well as discussions about best solutions are held.