Policy support tool
ECOPLAN - SE (Scenario Evaluator)
ECOPLAN-SE is a QGIS plugin for evaluating ecosystem services supply. It is able to calculate and evaluate quantitatively the effects of spatial scenarios on 18 different ecosystem services: 4 producing, 8 regulating, 3 supporting and 3 cultural services. The user can define and then evaluate the scenarios using quantitative models. The tool presents the results of the calculations in several, understandable ways.
Often, many alternative scenarios are considered for spatial development projects. However, scenarios can have unexpected effects on the delivery of ecosystem services. ECOPLAN-SE calculates the associated effects and presents the results in an understandable way. The analysis can help in the development of a more multi-functional project design and with the communication to the wider public.
The tool has been tested and evaluated by applying the tool to a diversity of projects during the ECOPLAN project (More information). Most of these cases were embedded in a broader participatory approach.
After the project ended the tool has been used to assess EU LIFE projects, Environmental Impact Assessments and Cost-benefit studies.
A bèta Version of the Tool was used to perform a comprehensive, large-scale, spatial explicit quantification and valuation of ES delivered by the NATURA 2000 network in the Flemish Region. The assessment focused on which services the existing network delivers and how these services are influenced after realisation of site-specific conservation objectives. The findings and methodological challenges of this application have been documented in the paper entitled "Quantification of the potential impact of nature conservation on ecosystem services supply in the Flemish Region: A cascade modelling approach" April 2017. Ecosystem Services 24:124-137 DOI 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.02.020
Beside further development of the tool for applications within the Flemish Region, we will also develop a functional version of the tool for the 2 SEAS region, including parts of the Netherlands and South of England throughout the PROWATER project.
The recently approved INTERREG 2 SEAS project PROWATER (‘Protecting and restoring raw water sources through actions at the landscape scale’), aims to strengthen the resilience against drought and extreme rainfall through ‘ecosystem-based-adaptation’. In other words: a spatially targeted restoration of infiltration (forest conversion and heathland creation) and retention (headwater wetlands) will help us to efficiently combat water scarcity and flooding, at the same time improving water quality. By identifying, quantifying and demonstrating the added benefits (ecosystem services) of this nature-based adaptation (with an adapted version of the ECOPLAN SE), the full range of advantages associated to the restoration measures will be known, which will strongly improve public support.
PROWATER kicks of in September 2018 and has a runtime of 4 years.