Humans, Ecosystems and WellbeingA new ICSU research programme

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Humans, Ecosystems and Well-beingA new ICSU
research programme

• Patricia Ocampo-Thomason
• International Council for Science
• March 10, 2009

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Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA)
ICSU was an institutional partner in MA, with
FAO, GEF, IUCN, WHO and Several UN organizations
and conventions (UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP)
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The MA

• assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for
  human well-being
• Involved (for 4 years) the work of more than
  1,360 experts worldwide
• provided a state-of-the-art scientific appraisal
  of the condition and trends in the worlds
  ecosystems and the services they provide
• provided scientific basis for action to conserve
  and use ecosystems sustainably

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The ICSU-UNESCO-UNU Ad hoc Group

• Set-up following MA partners recommendation
• Part of the MA Follow-up Advisory Group
  activities
• Goal to assess the gaps in scientific knowledge
  identified through the MA process
• 18 worldwide experts worked 2006-2008

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Results from the group work
http//www.icsu.org/2_resourcecentre/RESOURCE_list
_base.php4?rub2
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A new research programme

• fundamental research challenge the need to
  understand the integrative and dynamic nature of
  the interactions of drivers, ecosystems, and
  human well-being.
• The gaps in understanding that exist today are
  evidence that the fundamental research challenge
  remains
• This challenge cannot be adequately addressed
  through uncoordinated studies of individual
  components human-ecosystem interactions in an ad
  hoc set of research sites scattered across the
  globe.

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Proposal

• The establishment of a global research initiative
  building upon and strengthen existing global
  change research programmes (DIVERSITAS, IHDP,
  IGBP)
• Mission of fostering coordinated research to
  understand the dynamics of the relationship
  between humans and ecosystems

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The MA Conceptual Framework

• Human Wellbeing and
• Poverty Reduction
• Material minimum for a good life
• Health
• Good Social Relations
• Security
• Freedom and Choice

• Indirect Drivers of Change
• Demographic
• Economic (globalization, trade, market and policy
  framework)
• Sociopolitical (governance and institutional
  framework)
• Science and Technology
• Cultural and Religious

• Direct Drivers of Change
• Changes in land use or land cover
• Species introductions or removals
• Technology adaptation and use
• External inputs (e.g., irrigation, fertilizer
  use, pest control)
• Harvest and Resource Consumption
• Climate Change
• Natural physical and biological drivers (e.g.,
  volcanoes, evolution)

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Focus

• to build a body of empirical research on issues
  such as valuation, regulating services,
  thresholds, drivers and other topics
• to enhance the ability of the scientific
  community to inform policy and management
  decisions related to ecosystem services.
• the research questions are highlighted in the
  ICSU-UNESCO-UNU report

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Research foci

• Regional foci research teams would undertake
  coordinated work in a set of five to ten core
  regions
• Global issues research teams would undertake
  work at the global scale, in partnership with
  DIVERSITAS and other global change programmes

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The new Programme

• Humans, Ecosystems and Well-being
• Approved by ICSU GA (October, 2008)
• 10 year bound
• Co-sponsor by UNESCO (MAB), UNU
• Scientific Committee is been appointed (Chair
  Stephen Carpenter, Wisconsin University)
• ICSU is receiving proposals for the International
  Programme Office

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Strengthening international science for the
benefit of society www.icsu.org