Evaluation of Upland Ecosystem Services Pilot Projects

Tender description

Initiated by Natural England in 2009, the Upland Ecosystem Service Pilot Projects aim to demonstrate how the ecosystem approach can be applied in a place. The ecosystem approach is defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity as “a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way” and is an integral part of Natural England’s Conservation Strategy. The three pilots were established in the South Pennines, South West Uplands and Bassenthwaite Catchment, in the Lake District. The Bassenthwaite pilot is being evaluated internally by Natural England. This project relates to the evaluation of the two pilots in the South Pennines and South West. It also includes a synthesis of the findings of all three pilots into one evaluation report, incorporating the in-house evaluation of Bassenthwaite. The aim of the evaluation is to assess how effective the Ecosystem Services Pilot Projects have been in achieving the original aims of: • Providing practical examples demonstrating how the ecosystem approach can be applied on the ground. • Using an ecosystem approach to define land and water management based upon consultation with stakeholders and their perceptions of the best options. • Demonstrating that investment in the natural environment can result in multiple benefits (carbon, water, food, biodiversity, recreational and landscape benefits). • Working in partnership to deliver a range of ecosystem services in a cost effective way and link these services to the beneficiaries.