Papers by Rudolf de Groot
Routledge Handbook of Ecosystem Services, 2016
SPECIAL ISSUE: The Dynamics and Value of Ecosystem Services: Integrating Economic and Ecological Perspectives A typology for the classification, description and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services
An increasing amount of information is being collected on the ecological and socio-economic value... more An increasing amount of information is being collected on the ecological and socio-economic value of goods and services provided by natural and semi-natural ecosystems. However, much of this information appears scattered throughout a disciplinary academic literature, unpublished government agency reports, and across the World Wide Web. In addition, data on ecosystem goods and services often appears at incompatible scales of analysis and is classified differently by different authors. In order to make comparative ecological economic analysis possible, a standardized framework for the comprehensive assessment of ecosystem functions, goods and services is needed. In response to this challenge, this paper presents a conceptual framework and typology for describing, classifying and valuing ecosystem functions, goods and services in a clear and consistent manner. In the following analysis, a classification is given for the fullest possible range of 23 ecosystem functions that provide a mu...
The general objective of this session is to contribute to the current debate on guidelines, tools... more The general objective of this session is to contribute to the current debate on guidelines, tools, databases and standards for implementing integrated ecosystem service assessments. Today, many public and private initiatives demand environmental impact assessment and encourage comprehensive ecosystem foot printing analyses, valuation and standardization as tools to improve decision-making on ecosystem conservation, restoration and sustainable use. While high data collection and monitoring costs hinder these tasks, proven techniques for optimal ecosystem services assessment (ESA) and governance exist and innovative solutions are emerging. Building on previous ESP conferences, notably ESP 9 World conference in Shenzhen, China (December 2017), and the ESP10 World Conference in Hannover, Germany (October 2019) four main instruments are included in this session to allow cross-fertilizations between state-of-the-art practices, methods and tools for incorporating ESA in decision-making: 1)...
Ecosystem Services are Nature’s Contributions to People: Response to: Assessing nature's contributions to people
Science Progress, 2018
Ecosystem services or nature’s contributions? Reasons behind different interpretations in Latin America
Ecosystem Services, 2020
Abstract People depend on nature in multiple ways and there is increasing concern about how the c... more Abstract People depend on nature in multiple ways and there is increasing concern about how the current unsustainable use of natural resources will compromise human well-being. In this context, there is a debate about the usefulness of the terms ecosystem services (ES) and nature’s contributions to people (NCP) in addressing this problem, but so far no research has been dedicated to investigating the reasons behind this. We, therefore, performed a data-based study to explore the potential explanations for the use and perceptions of the differences between the ES and NCP terms. Based on a questionnaire among 150 participants in the ESP Latin America and the Caribbean conference in 2018, we demonstrate that the choice for using one or both terms is related to the perception of the differences between them and to specific professional traits. We detected that researchers that use quantitative methods are predominantly inclined to use ES while researchers using qualitative methods use the NCP-term. Despite the predominant preference for one of the two terms, a considerable percentage of researchers used both. Our results suggest that rather than emphasizing perceived conflicts between ES and NCP terms, they can be used in a complementary way and have the potential to reach multiple audiences.
Ecosystem Services, 2018
This publication is distributed under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act (Auteu... more This publication is distributed under the terms of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act (Auteurswet) with explicit consent by the author. Dutch law entitles the maker of a short scientific work funded either wholly or partially by Dutch public funds to make that work publicly available for no consideration following a reasonable period of time after the work was first published, provided that clear reference is made to the source of the first publication of the work. This publication is distributed under The Association of Universities in the Netherlands (VSNU) 'Article 25fa implementation' pilot project. In this pilot research outputs of researchers employed by Dutch Universities that comply with the legal requirements of Article 25fa of the Dutch Copyright Act are distributed online and free of cost or other barriers in institutional repositories. Research outputs are distributed six months after their first online publication in the original published version and with proper attribution to the source of the original publication.
Ecosystem Services, 2019
Being open to multiple interpretations allows the ecosystem services concept to operate as a boun... more Being open to multiple interpretations allows the ecosystem services concept to operate as a boundary object, facilitating communication and cooperation between different user groups. Yet there is a risk the resultant pluralism limits the capacity of ecosystem services assessments to directly inform decision and policy making, and that the concept could be used to support environmentally or socially harmful activities. Here, we report results from a large mixed methods survey conducted among academics, policymakers and practitioners working in the field of ecosystem services across Europe. We use these results to explore the trade-off that exists between the role of ecosystem services as a boundary object and the needs of policy and decision makers of more standardisation. We conclude this can be done by working towards the standardisation of ecosystem service assessments within specific jurisdictions, whilst maintaining forums for debate, collaboration, and critical reflection within the broader ecosystem services community. We also aim to deduce guiding principles to ensure the ecosystem services concept is not used to support detrimental activities. The consideration of shared and cultural values, the expansion of inter-and transdisciplinary work and the integration of the concept of sustainability are identified as valuable guiding principles to this end.
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Papers by Rudolf de Groot