Diversity in Upland Rivers for Ecosystem Service Sustainability - DURESS
Lead Research Organisation:
Aberystwyth University
Department Name: IBERS
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Mike Christie (Principal Investigator) |
| Description | This research involved in this WP aimed to estimate the economic value of upland river ecosystem services (ESS). To do this, we utilised the 'choice experiment' method, which required survey respondents to choose between alternative future scenarios for the provision of river ESS. In total we interviewed 1200 people across four Welsh rivers. Our initial analysis suggests that people most high value management that reduces the health risks from contact with river water and improvements to water quality. People also valued protection of endangered fish, fishing and river birds. River invertebrates were not considered valuable to people. The next step in the analysis is (i) to better understand people's motivations for valuing river ESS and (ii) explore the value of alternative river catchment management scenarios. |
| Exploitation Route | The economic valuation will be combined with the future scenarios developed for DURESS. This will enable an assessment of the economic and social impact of alternative upland management scenarios of river ecosystems. We have also estimated marginal values for river ecosystem services (e.g. £ / fish, or £ / m river). These may be used in future value transfer work, which might allow our economic values for river ESS to be transferred to over case study sites. |
| Sectors | Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice |
| Description | The results from DURESS have been presented to various stakeholders including Welsh Government, Welsh Water, natural Resources Wales, and it is likely that they will utilise our results to feed into their future policies. |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | Irish EPA - Water Research Call 2014 - theme 2 Ecosystem services and sustainability |
| Amount | € 417,828 (EUR) |
| Organisation | Government of Ireland |
| Department | Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Ireland |
| Start | 01/2015 |
| End | 12/2017 |
| Description | DURESS stakeholder event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The event involved poster displays, presentations of interim research findings, and a 3D video-audio display. Discussions were predominantly aimed to disseminate interim results, as well as explore opportunities where the DURESS results might directly feed into policy decision making. Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales were interested in further exploring opportunities to incorporate results into decision making. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |
| Description | Public survey on the value of upland river ecosystem services |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The activity involved interview surveys with 1200 members of the public on their use of and values for upland river ecosystem services. People were interviewed within 4 river catchments within Wales, as well as at the Royal Welsh Show and in Cardiff. The surveys involved members of the public outlining how they used and benefitted from upland rivers, and then asked them to undertake a choice experiment that was used to estimate the economic value of river ecosystem services. The survey raised people's understanding of river ecosystem services and the interactions between land use and river biodiversity and water quality. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014 |