Ecosystem service valuation to involve local communities in Scotland
Posted: 01 Feb 2012 09:30 AM PST
THE HIGHLAND COUNCIL "Talking About Our Place" – Rural Communities Toolkit.
A summary report published by the Highland Council reveals plans for two initial pilot studies in the Highlands, taking place in April and July this year. Residents will be asked to consider the benefits they derive from their local environment and to assign a value to natural processes such as provision of food, soil enrichment and purification of air and water.
This new scheme signals a novel approach to ecosystem service valuation as, despite much interest in natural capital in both international and national policy, localised action has so far been relatively limited.
2. The Devon Maritime Forum October 2011 Newsletter www.devonmaritimeforum.org.uk has news of new projects in development which seek to make significant contributions in the fields of ecosystem valuations, integrated visions and action plans for the marine space of Devon and improving the science/policy interface. More information on the dmf website.
3. June 2011 The Urban Forum Online have published a New Handy Guide to Community Resiliance - a timely and practical guide to strengthening your community and making the best use of its assets - available for £7.95 from info@unrbanforum.org.uk
Toby Blume from the Urban Forum http://www.urbanforum.org.uk/ comments on how in the past regeneration has been dominated by government sponsored programmes. Now that that money is no longer on the table and there is no immediate prospect of it returning, what is the future of regeneration?
The government's approach appears to assume that by creating the right levers and opportunities (New Homes Bonus, Community Infrastrcuture Levy, and neighbourhood plans) there will be sufficient incentives for the private sector to deliver regeneration and development.
Urban forum - aided in part by work by partners at the Centre for Local Economic Strategies http://www.cles.org.uk/ - are increasingly focussing on the idea of resiliance. Resiliance suggests strength to withstand shocks and bounce back from external pressures and buffeting. It can accommodate physical development, building things and encompasses the idea of communities taking control of the means of production - local energy production, community finance, co-operatives, food growing schemes and building on the substantial skills, enthusiasm, assets and creativity that sits unused within all communities.
The Urban forum is celebrating the arrival of a new era of resiliance that offers lasting benefits and sustainable livelihoods for deprived communities.
CLES pioneered research in 2010 on place resiliance to understand what makes places strong, resiliant and able to respond effectively to economic, social and environmental shocks. This report reflects on the results of the research to date and on how economic development, plannng and regeneration need to change in order to support stronger place resiliance in the future. Download the whole CLES report Productive local economies: creating resiliant places.
www.swo.org.uk/local-economic-development/local-enterprise-partnerships/ This link to the main South West Observatory provides uptodate information on the LEPs in the South West and further links to individual LEP sites.
