A hierarchical approach to the examination of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem service flows across coastal margins.

Lead Research Organisation: Bangor University
Department Name: Sch of Ocean Sciences

Abstract

CBESS Summary:

The health of the UK's coastlines is inextricably linked to our success as an island nation, and resonates through our economy, our recreation, and our culture. Most pressingly, of all the UK's many and varied landscapes, its coastal systems are the ones most immediately sensitive to climate change. As temperatures increase, sea levels will rise and the forces experienced where land and sea meet will become more destructive. Salt marshes, mudflats, beaches and rocky shores will all be affected but, of these areas, the most sensitive are the mudflats and salt marshes that are common features of coastal systems, and which comprise just over half of the UK's total estuarine area. Not only do these landscapes support a wide range of economically valuable animal and plant species, they also act as sites of carbon storage, nutrient recycling, and pollutant capture and destruction. Their preservation is, therefore, of the utmost importance, requiring active and informed management to save them for future generations. The Natural Environment Research Council's call to help understand the landscape-scale links between the functions that these systems provide (ecosystem service flows) and the organisms that help provide these services (biodiversity stocks) offers an important opportunity to move beyond most previous work in this field, which has been conducted at small or laboratory scales. While of foundational scientific importance, the implications of laboratory studies can be hard to translate into policy, and coastal managers require a clearer evidence base to understand how ecosystem service flows operate at much larger spatial scales, e.g. entire salt marshes or regions of intertidal flat and salt marshes. The programme we are proposing 'A hierarchical approach to the examination of the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem service flows across coastal margins' (CBESS) will provide such a large scale understanding. Our consortium of UK experts ranges from microbial ecologists, through environmental economists, to mathematical modellers, including organisations like the BTO and the RSPB, who have immediate and vested interest in the sustainable use of coastal wetlands.

Together, CBESS will create a study that spans the landscape scale, investigating how biodiversity stocks provide the following ecosystem services (cf. National Ecosystem Assessment).

- Supporting services: nutrient cycling, healthy habitat
- Provisioning services; goods obtained from the landscape
- Regulating services: coastal protection, climate regulation (greenhouse gas exchange, carbon sequestration)
- Cultural services: Recreation (walking, canoeing, angling, birding, hunting and beauty)

CBESS will combine the detailed study of two regional landscapes with a broad-scale UK-wide study to allow both specific and general conclusions to be drawn. The Regional study will compare two areas of great local and national importance: Morecambe Bay on the west coast and the Essex coastline on the east coast. We will carry out biological and physical surveys at more than 600 stations and use these results to clarify how biodiversity can provide these important ecosystem functions. This information will be shared with those interested in using and managing coastal systems and, after our analysis; we will propose practical methods and improved tools for the future analysis, management, and sustainability of the UK's coastal wetlands.

Planned Impact

CBESS Impact Summary:

Who will benefit from this research, and how?

Commercial private sector and the knowledge economy: CBESS provides new knowledge, new data, and tools to assist the sustainable management of coastal landscapes. Theme 5 of CBESS will also deliver new and innovative methodologies, equipment, techniques, and technologies to assess the role of biodiversity in the provision of ecosystems services. This framework is based on the HiMOM (Hierarchical monitoring of marine systems) EU programme, in providing a 'tool kit' and case studies for use by coastal managers. The research itself is based on an interdisciplinary framework that will provide a model for future programmes in the UK and abroad, through initiatives such as the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, the world's largest cluster of conservation organisations that focus on biodiversity research, policy and practice. Since many commercial interests rely on sustainable wetland socio-ecosystem service flows, beneficiaries will be correspondingly varied: Recreation (e.g. wildfowling, angling, walking) and commerce (e.g. fisheries, farming, cafes, museums, exhibits) that uses the local landscape will see long-term benefits.

Policy professionals, governmental and devolved governmental organisations: The CBESS consortium hinges on the full involvement (see attached Letters of Support) of a wide range of partner organisations with an explicit interest in policy and the management of coastal wetlands. Members will disseminate information far beyond the immediate circle of CBESS. Our Partners include the Government Office for Science, the Environment Agency and its devolved counterparts (NIEA, SEPA), the Freshwater Biological Association, the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and The James Hutton Institute. In addition, through the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology for Scotland (MASTS), the Consortium has access to the Scottish Marine Forum, Marine Scotland, Marine Science Scotland, The Centre of Expertise for Waters, and the Centre of Expertise for Climate Change; a constituency of several thousand members.

The British public: The intrinsic value of publically accessible wetland is widely recognised, enhancing our culture, quality of life, and health. Given that most people experience their surroundings at, and live their daily lives within, the 'landscape' scale, CBESS will enhance evidence based policy-making and support robust legislation at a local, regional, national and international level (see Pathways to Impact).
Voluntary sectors and wider public: Wetland wildlife habitats attract dedicated support from the voluntary sector (e.g The British Trust for Ornithology, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Essex Wildlife Trust). CBESS's econometric approach will examine the scale-dependence of wetland use by public, recreational (e.g fishing, birdwatching) and voluntary groups (Litter clearance, nature guides), adding to our Partners' understanding of overall wetland service provision. Through our Partners, new groups will become part of the CBESS constituency and informed about the project.

Skills training. Three areas of benefit arise from CBESS. In addition to academic progression, early career researchers will gain experience in planning and conducting a large and complex programme. PhDs associated with CBESS will gain from the interdisciplinary, and highly cooperative, nature of the work. Finally, areas of CBESS work lie in the traditional skills of sampling and taxonomy (cf. floral and infaunal biodiversity) which will be supported within CBESS and staff encourage to develop skills (taxonomy courses include in costings).

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description One of our most exciting preliminary findings is that vegetation biodiversity appears to boost the stability of coastal saltmarsh soils against erosion. Experiments in hydrological flumes show that cores of saltmarsh turf and soil that are exposed to strong currents and waves take a longer time to erode when they have a high number of vegetation species than when they have a low number of species in them. These experimental results are preliminary and we are in the process of exploring the source of this apparent biodiversity effect.
Exploitation Route Ouf findings will be of signicant use to the wider scientific community interested in understanding the role of biodiversity to the way our ecosystem operate. Governments and environmental managers are seeking to balance the exploitation of coastal resources against the needs to conserve biodiversity. We hope to assist this community by providing increased research evidence regarding the relative importance of biodiversity to the benefits that society reaps from ecosystems. We hope to work closely with government agencies to ensure that our main project findings will inform into future management strategies. One way in which we are seeking to do that is by providing tools for predicting the distribution of ecosystem benefits across the coastal landscape.
Sectors Agriculture

Food and Drink

Environment

Leisure Activities

including Sports

Recreation and Tourism

URL http://synergy.st-andrews.ac.uk/cbess/
 
Description We are in the final stages of developing our decision support tool - a saltmarsh ecosystem service predictor - with Natural Resources Wales. Already, we have seen some notable changes in the practical operations of NRW: NRW has overview of carbon stocks in their marshes (they didn't have that before) and, importantly, they have overview of spatial changes in the extent of salt marshes in Wales. The latter work shows marshes have expanded markedly, which puts into question current management interventions, such as compensatory habitat creation founded on the assumption of habitat loss.
First Year Of Impact 2016
Sector Environment
Impact Types Cultural

Societal

Policy & public services

 
Description Advisor to EA Coastal Squeeze R&D project
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
 
Description Contributed to Welsh State of Natural Resources Report (SONARR)
Geographic Reach Local/Municipal/Regional 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
 
Description Contribution to the Welsh State of Natural Recources Report (SoNaRR)
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to a national consultation/review
URL http://werh.org/SoNaRR/SoNaRR
 
Description Member and main Scientific advisor for the Welsh Biodiversity Partnership Coastal Ecosystem Group - Skov
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Participation in a guidance/advisory committee
URL http://www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/Coastal
 
Description Member of the UK's Blue Carbon Forum
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Contribution to new or Improved professional practice
URL https://www.bluemarinefoundation.com/2021/11/05/uk-blue-carbon-forum-to-raise-profile-of-blue-carbon...
 
Description Membership of the UKCP18 User Group
Geographic Reach National 
Policy Influence Type Membership of a guideline committee
URL http://ukclimateprojections.metoffice.gov.uk/24125
 
Description A case for a UK saltmarsh Carbon Code: evidence, intervention and investment. Natural Environment Investment Readiness Fund
Amount £100,000 (GBP)
Organisation Environment Agency 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2021 
End 09/2022
 
Description NERC - Understanding the Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems in South East Asia (South East Asia Plastics)
Amount £696,213 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/V009427/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2020 
End 11/2023
 
Description Sêr Cymru National Research Network for Low carbon Energy and the Environment (NRN-LCEE) (http://www.nrn-lcee.ac.uk/)
Amount £568,000 (GBP)
Organisation Government of Wales 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2014 
End 12/2018
 
Description Valuing Nature Programme
Amount £1,346,511 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/N013573/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 07/2016 
End 07/2019
 
Description ASSESSA 
Organisation University of Rennes 1
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We built a new proposal to the European community entitled ASSESSA, on saltmarsh ecosystem functioning and management. Built on the global SaltmarshNET network that i lead. Proposal details: EU H2020; Type of action: MSCA-RISE; Proposal number: 101008211; Proposal acronym: ASSESSA.
Collaborator Contribution Core to building the science, bringing in the SaltmarshNET group to the collaboration.
Impact Proposal to the EU, March 2020. Not funded.
Start Year 2020
 
Description C-SIDE project - NERC 
Organisation University of St Andrews
Department School of Biology
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Co-wrote the proposal that eventually actracted NERC standard grant funding. New partner at St Andrews, Paleo-Oceanography.
Collaborator Contribution Paleo-oceaongraphical expertise, especially radio istope dating of sedimentary cores.
Impact Still emerging. Early days.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Collaboration with Blanes CEAB-CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) 
Organisation Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes
Country Spain 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Centre for Advanced Studies of Blanes (CEAB-CSIC, Spanish National Research Council
Collaborator Contribution CEAB-CSIC allowed my postdoc, Dr Jordi Pages, to work at the institute, using their core-scanning faclity. The in-kind contribution includes use of the scanner a well as accomodating jordi with office facilities.
Impact We led a workshop at the recent ASLO conference in the USA. A paper is emerging from this work, to be submitted spring 2019.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Collaboration with WCMC of UN-Environment 
Organisation United Nations (UN)
Department UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution Discussed global research needs in support of WCMC coastal wetland management, including human wellbeing associations.
Collaborator Contribution WCMC joined as partner in outline bid for a large grant proposal to NERC, March 2018.
Impact WCMC joined as partner in March 2018 outline bid for a NERC large grant.
Start Year 2017
 
Description GreenCoast 
Organisation Utrecht University
Country Netherlands 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution We built a new proposal and emerging associated cross-Europe network on nature based solutions, with focus on saltmarshes. My team brought in the UK saltmarsh side, plus stakeholders (Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales).
Collaborator Contribution This is a network of several partners across Europe, with whom i have not prevously collaborated. Utrecht University (Maarten Kleinhans) brought me in and facilitated this link.
Impact Horizon 2020 proposal, details: Call: H2020-LC-GD-2020. , Topic: LC-GD-7-1-2020. Proposal number: 101036374. Proposal acronym: GreenCoasts.
Start Year 2020
 
Description Partnership with CoastWEB project (NERC, NE/N013573/1) 
Organisation Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution The CoastWEB project build on a new collaboration, via the CBESS and the RESICOAST projects, focusing on human wellbeing associated with Saltmarshes. This is a close partnership, with Bangor having a key role in the CoastWEB project. Specific input: expertise, intellectual input, training of researhc staff, data.
Collaborator Contribution collaboration is both ways: collaborators contributing expertise, intellectual input towards my personal researhc, as well as the other way round.
Impact No outputs yet, early days.
Start Year 2016
 
Description Partnership with RESILCOAST 
Organisation Swansea University
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution New consortium, RESILCOAST, formed in partnership with Swansea and Cardiff Universities, CEH (Bangor), Plymouth Marine Laboratory and Nioz (Netherlands). Partnership has research focus similar to CBESS, and is a build-on from CBESS research.
Collaborator Contribution Equal contributions form all partners.
Impact Funding of the RESILCOAST consortium, from the Ser Cwmry NRN-LCEE framework (http://www.nrn-lcee.ac.uk/)
Start Year 2015
 
Title Saltmarsh Carbon tool 
Description With the CBESS team we produced a GIS-interface tool for predicting saltmarshes in Welsh and English Salt marshes. The tool was launched the 1st of July 2016. As an output, we produced a full spatial predition of saltmarsh carbon for all of Wales. The tool uses NVC (National Vegetation Community) plant type and soil type (sandy or silt-clay) to predict soil organic carbon stock (vegetation type within site) with between 40 and 60 % accuracy. So far, the tool has been downloaded by more than 25 UK national linstitutions, from national agencies (NE, EA, NRW), 3rd sector (RSPB, etc), schools and Universities (excluding own institutions) 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact Allows user to produce very quick assesments of carbon stock and compare the value of salt marshes for carbon to other grassland habitats such as peat bogs.A website interactive site allows for users to interact with national findings. 
URL https://www.saltmarshapp.com/saltmarsh-tool/
 
Title The Saltmarsh app 
Description An app was developed to allow users, the general public, educational units and 3rd mission institutions, to identify common saltmarsh plants, birds, invertebrates and soil types and in addition submit a soil carbon stock measurement using predominant vegetation type and soil type. The app is also linked to a website where people that submit results can see their results and further information. The app was launched the first of July 2017. It has currently just under 100 active users, in the UK and Netherlands. We have had enquiries to whether a Dutch institution can produce a Dutch-language version of the App. 
Type Of Technology Webtool/Application 
Year Produced 2016 
Impact The App permits extremely easy predictions of soil carbon stock in salt marshes, from observations that the general public can easily do. So far, schools and individuals report they enjoy the educational nature of the App. National agency personnel (NRW) have used it for predicting carbon stock in protected sites and Aberrystwyth University (as well as our own institutions) are using the App as part of undergraduate field training. 
URL https://www.saltmarshapp.com/
 
Description 'Hidden Worlds' general public Science Day, Bangor University, 12th March 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Major event for the general public to broadcast activities and messages of scientific research. I presented the CBESS project, and relevant research, with particular focus on flood protection by coastal salt marshes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.bangor.ac.uk/bangorsciencefestival/events/hidden-worlds-exhibition-11585
 
Description Cafe Scientifique, Robert Gillow pub, Lancaster 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact 30-40 people attending to hear about ecosystem services of saltmarsh to mudflat systems and the remit of the BESS programme and the CBESS project. Stimulated intese discussion about management of the coastal region, with MOrecambe bay being subject to multi-user impacts.

A few email correspondances from those attending the talk.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Coastal Ecology Workshop (CEW), France 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Postgraduate students
Results and Impact Promotion of CBESS project, sharing research ideas with other saltmarsh and coastal researchers throughout Europe

Consolidated information sharing and collaborations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description ECSA meeting (Bangor) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Promotion of CBESS project, stimulated interest from members of NRW (Natural Resources Wales)

None
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description ESPA Social Surveys Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Gave presentation about the implications for ecosystem service frameworks in social science research and practice.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
URL http://www.espa.ac.uk/news-events/events/thu-2014-10-23-1000/espa-social-surveys-event
 
Description Engaging with MCCIP (Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership) to generate synthesis of state of saltmarshes 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact MCCIP has approached me to generate a synthesis publication for the state of salt marshes in the UK, and their mitigative management, in relation to climate change.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
 
Description INTECOL conference (London) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Participants in your research and patient groups
Results and Impact Promoted the CBESS project, results were only preliminary at this stage

None
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Invited participation in Coastal Practitioners Conference, Wednesday 27th & Thursday 28th April 2016, Llandudno, Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Skov was invited to attend the annual Coastal Practitioners Conference, normally organised by the Environment Agency, England, but this year coordinated by NRW. The two day event, 27-28 April 2016, was attended by governmental and non-governmental environmental managers and NGOs, which Martin interacted with, particularly with respect to saltmarsh management and flood protection.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Invited presentation at IUCN international Blue Carbon meeting (Blue Natura), Malaga, Spain: 21-22nd November 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Martin Skov was invited to speak about coastal resilience, in a carbon-sequestration context, at the IUCN-organised 'BlueNatura , 21-22nd November 2016, in Malaga, Spain. The meeting was attended by a wide collective of global stakeholders in management of blue carbon systems (salt marshes, mangroves, seagrasses, kelp beds), including the IUCNs Global Blue Carbon Working Group that sets many policy directions to marine carbon research. Martin did two keynote presentations and spent considerable time discussing resilience research gaps in the blue carbon, with delegates, politicians and colleague researchers from around the world.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL https://www.iucn.org/news/conference-coastal-carbon-sinks-conservation-21-22-november-malaga-spain
 
Description Liaison meeting with Natural Resources Wales (NRW) 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The meeting centered on gaining an understanding of how NRW practitioners perceive and use the concept of Ecosystem services in decision making and management of the Welsh natural environment. The CBESS team gained a good insight into the use of the ecosystem approach to natural management in Wales, including underpinning policy drivers. cusseNRW gained an insight to what the CBESS project has achieve so far. NRW staff were very interested in utilising CBESS project data for making future projectsion of the distribtion of ecosystem services in the coastal environment of Wales. The potential for complying with NRW wishes were discussed.

The CBESS team is currently exploring the potential for generating a decision-support tool for NRW specifically minded at mapping the distribution of ecosystem services in wales.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Meeting with European Commission units, Brussels, 13 July 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Visited institutions of the European Commission and associated third sector bodies to discuss the outcome of our saltmarsh research, and potential of future collaboration. Groups met with: DG-Climate Action, JPI-Oceans and JPI-Climate Change, Birdlife International, Conference of Peripheral and Maritime Regions and Wetlands International.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description NRW Ecosystem Service Tool Workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Workshop with Natural Resources Wales staff, to discuss a) their evidence needs and ways of using evidence b) specifically the ecosystem service prediction tool that has been developed through CBESS.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description National Saltmarsh Specialists meeting (Oct 2012) 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Meeting led to discussion of managing saltmarshes for ecosystem service benefits. Delegates from the UK national environmental agencies were present, as well as municipal councils and 3rd sector bodies.

More regular email correspondance with stakeholders.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2012
 
Description Natural Resources Wales - CBESS workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Skov Organised the CBESS-NRW Workshop for the 23rd September 2013 to disseminate CBESS outputs and to open a dialogue about management and research activities in marsh-mudflat environments. The meeting attracted 25 delegates, mainly from NRW (EA Wales, Welsh Forestry Commission and CCW) and the Fisheries Department of Welsh Assembly Government. Ten talks were given on science outputs by the CBESS team, followed by 3 presentations by NRW on their remits concerned with coastal biodiversity-ecosystem services management and policy. A very lively discussion ensued.

Bangor CBESS team has been asked to participate in a number of subsequent NRW-led meetings. A follow-on meeting is due to be held on November 7, 2014.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2013
 
Description Natural Resources Wales, Tool generating workshops 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Third sector organisations
Results and Impact Close collaboration with Natural Resources Wales to transfer knowledge obtained by CBESS research to environmental managers. Including, discussing and refining the development of a saltmarsh ecosystem service predictor, by which NRW can predict the distribution of carbon stocks across Welsh marshes.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015,2016
 
Description Organised workshop on Coastal Grazing Landscapes - Exploring the diverse preferences for saltmarsh livestock grazing 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact We organised a workshop on saltmarsh grazing to develop a clearer understanding of how Welsh saltmarshes are used by the farming community, and to determine how multiple uses and values can be supported. Paticipants came from councils, environmental agencies (Natural England, NRW), the farming community and NGOs.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://interests.me/org/cardiff-info/story/95059
 
Description Participation in meeting of the Welsh Biodiversity Partnership, Coastal Ecology Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Annual meeting of the Coastal Ecology Group to direct biodiversity conservation. I act as the scientific advisor to the group, and contribute expertise on saltmarsh research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
URL http://www.biodiversitywales.org.uk/WBP-Evidence-Gaps-Project
 
Description Policy Forum for Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact Meeting and seminar series on natural resources, climate adaptation and biodiversity policy in Wales. Skov participated with colleague from Cardiff; the latter gave a presentation for the CBESS-affiliated research project, RESILCOAST.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.policyforumforwales.co.uk/forums/agenda/natural-resources-wales-agenda.pdf
 
Description Provided advice to environmental consultancy (CIEEM) on road construction, re Gateway on the Wirral 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Met with the environmental consultants CIEEM (Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environment, Winchester. Consultant: Damien Smith). CIEEM oversees the environmental quality of the Mersey Gateway motorway bridge construction. The bridge constructions spans a saltmarsh restoration project at the Mersey Estuary. CIEEM asked for consultation and the associated saltmarsh team on technical aspects of the Gateway project
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Royal Metereological Society meeting on 'Risky Business', Bristol, 11th April 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact To evaluate environmental change, from a climatic perspective, and how this will impact on society and the natural environment. The meeting had input from NHS, geological society, research community and the Royal society itself. My presentation was entitled: Are Sudden Changes in the Cover of Valuable Saltmarshes Linked to Climate Change?
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
 
Description Science cafe, Blue Sky cafe, Bangor, Wales 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact Martin Skov talked to a packed cafe about payment for ecosystem service management, focusing on carbon sequestration by coastal wetlands.

Title: "50 bucks to stay away. Is it right to pay people to steward their ecosystems?" What is the merit of paying private land managers to protect biodiversity and thereby the ecosystem services arising from the land. Focusing on carbon sequestration in coastal wetlands, the presentation outlined the principle of biodiversity underpinning carbon sequestration, then moved on to talk about subsidising land management. A very lively discussion ensued

A very lively discussion ensued about the merits of paying people for land management, including subsidies to farmers, etc. Skov had many requests of further information after the presentation.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2014
 
Description Stakeholder workshop, Natural Resources Wales, 19th January 2016 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact This workshop involved CBESS researchers and 28 personnel of our main stakeholder in Wales, Natural Resources Wales. Delegates included environmental managers, environment agency personnel of NRW, legal and policy personnel. This workhop had three activities: (a) researchers conveyed the main research findings of CBESS to NRW, and took onboard requests and advice for futher research. (b) Researchers outlined to stakeholders the status and projected aims related to finalising a decision support tool: a spatial ecosystem service predictor for salt marshes. This process represents a 3 year contiual relationship with NRW in developing this tool. NRW staff fed back their requests for modifications of the tool. (3) Researchers assessed the policy and management drivers for research into coastal systems, specifically the use of the ecosystem services framework; Researchers also assessed the utility of CBESS research by the NRW delegates.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2016
 
Description Stand on natural flood protection at the Eisteddfod Yr Urdd, Brecon, 2018 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact We had a stall on natural flood protection and ecosystem services at at the Eisteddfod Yr Urdd, Brecon, 27-31/05/2018. The stall included a small flume, lego village and flodding display, chocolate coins to illustrate costs and valuation, and multiple colourful displays and posters. Interacted with hundreds of people over 5 days.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.urdd.cymru/en/news-press/brycheiniog-maesyfed-yn-gwahodd-eisteddfod-yr-urdd-yn-2018/
 
Description Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact I was contacted by Stan Townsend, the Secretary for the Wales Net Zero 2035 Challenge Group, to become a member of the advisory group on incorporating 'blue carbon' sequestration (carbon sequested by marine systems) into Wales' greenhouse gass inventory. Meetings involve generating advice and recommendations for Welsh Government.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2024
URL https://netzero2035.wales/2023/11/01/explainer-presentation/
 
Description Wetland Futures Conference 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact 14/15th October 2015 conference/workshop on Bridging the conservation gap between freshwater, saltwater and transitional wetlands. Included a variety of stakeholders: natural governmental enviornmental agencies (e.g., Natural England), large and small businesses (e.g., British Rail), NGOs (e.g., RSPB) and academics. Meeting sought to review current planning for integrating the management of catchment to coast environments, including drivers for manamgent and policy.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2015
URL http://www.wwt.org.uk/conservation/saving-wetlands-and-wildlife/wetland-futures/wetland-futures-2015...