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| The ecosystemservicesconcept(ES)isbecomingacornerstoneofcontemporarysustainabilitythought.
Challenges withthisconceptanditsapplicationsarewelldocumented,buthavenotyetbeensystem-
atically assessedalongsidestrengthsandexternalfactorsthatinfluence uptake.Suchanassessment
could formthebasisforimprovingESthinking,furtherembeddingitintoenvironmentaldecisionsand
management.
The YoungEcosystemServicesSpecialists(YESS)completedaStrengths–Weaknesses–Opportunities–
Threats (SWOT)analysisofESthroughYESSmembersurveys.Strengthsincludetheapproachbeing
interdisciplinary,andausefulcommunicationtool.Weaknessesincludeanincompletescientific basis,
frameworksbeinginconsistentlyapplied,andaccountingfornature'sintrinsicvalue.Opportunitiesin-
clude alignmentwithexistingpoliciesandestablishedmethodologies,andincreasingenvironmental
awareness.Threatsincluderesistancetochange,anddifficulty withinterdisciplinarycollaboration.
Consideration ofSWOTthemessuggested five strategicareasfordevelopingandimplementingES.
The ESconceptcouldimprovedecision-makingrelatedtonaturalresourceuse,andinterpretationof
the complexitiesofhuman-natureinteractions.Itiscontradictory – valuedasasimplemeansofcom-
municating theimportanceofconservation,whilstalsoconsideredanoversimplification characterised
by ambiguouslanguage.Nonetheless,givensufficient fundingandpoliticalwill,theESframeworkcould
facilitate interdisciplinaryresearch,ensuringdecision-makingthatsupportssustainabledevelopment. | |
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