1. The Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook nespguidebook.com

2. Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com T HE A SSESSMENT F RAMEWORK CONNECTING ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ANALYSES

3. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Purpose of the Framework  Show what an ecosystem services approach looks like – How the pieces fit together  Help agencies incorporate services into a range of decisions – to select among sites, management options, projects, or policies  Provide a consistent approach that can be used in different places and decision contexts across agencies

4. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com When to Use an ES Approach Key questions to think about: What services are important? Are they already considered in planning processes? Would including ecosystem services….. Help resolve or reduce conflicts? Create opportunities for partnerships? Potentially lead to a different decision? An ecosystem services approach is not helpful in all contexts or situations.

5. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Alignment with Existing Processes

6. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com General Assessment Steps Management alternatives or project options Alternatives matrix comparing options Set of desired outcomes and key indicators Data on actions and outcomes Combine information on the decision context with analytical results to make a choice

7. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Engaging Stakeholders Identifying stakeholders Determining ecosystem services or nature’s benefits stakeholders value Scoping Clarifying how stakeholders use and benefit from services Identifying additional stakeholders Prioritizing stakeholder preferences for outcomes Assessment and Analysis Including stakeholders in the decision process (if appropriate) Identifying opportunities for partnering Communicating the decision process Decision Collaborating on development of implementation and monitoring plans Incorporating stakeholder perspectives on how well outcomes were achieved Reaction

8. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Engaging Stakeholders BLM Montana Office versus U.S. EPA Shannon Bauer, USACE George Gentry, FWS Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net Alan Cressler, USGS U.S. EPA BLM Montana Office U.S. EPA Shannon Bauer, USACE George Gentry, FWS Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net George Gentry, FWS Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net George Gentry, FWS Shannon Bauer, USACE

9. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Scoping Desired ConditionsDesired Outcomes U.S. EPA Shannon Bauer, USACE BLM Montana Office George Gentry, FWS Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net

10. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Goal of the Assessment Process To create an alternatives matrix that feeds into the decision process Ecosystem Service Status Quo Downstream Dam Upstream Release Protection of at-risk species Wildlife watching Flood risk reduction Cost Predicted change in uses and where possible, a weight or value indicating importance to people. Cost of each alternative

11. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Goal of the Assessment Process Kovacs et al.2013

12. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Ecological Analysis: Means-Ends Diagrams Flow regime Wetland structure Species habitats George Gentry, FWS BLM Montana Office Species pop. est. Shannon Bauer, USACE

13. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Ecological Analysis: Means-Ends Diagrams Flow regime Wetland structure Vegetation types Depth to water table Open water area Total area Max. water depth Freq. of inundation Anoxia Flood zone Species habitats Bird habitat Fish habitat George Gentry, FWS BLM Montana Office Species pop. est. Bird pop. Fish pop. At-risk sp. pop. Shannon Bauer, USACE

14. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Ecological Analysis: Means-Ends Diagrams Flow regime Wetland structure Vegetation (sp. counts) Depth to water table (m) Open water area (km 2 ) Total area (km 2 ) Max. water depth (m) Freq. of inundation (per yr) Anoxia (% O 2 ) Flood zone (km 2 ) flow duration curves species distribution models Species habitats Bird habitat (km 2 ) Fish habitat (km 2 ) BLM Montana Office Species pop. est. pop. models Bird pop. (#) Fish pop. (#) At-risk sp. pop. (#) George Gentry, FWS Shannon Bauer, USACE

15. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Ecological Analysis: Means-Ends Diagrams Flow regime Wetland structure Vegetation types Depth to water table Open water area Total area Max. water depth Freq. of inundation Anoxia Flood zone Species habitats Bird habitat Fish habitat George Gentry, FWS BLM Montana Office Species pop. est. Bird pop. Fish pop. At-risk sp. pop. Shannon Bauer, USACE

16. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Ecosystem Service Status Quo Downstream Dam Upstream Release Protection of at-risk species 0+++ Wildlife watching 0+++ Flood risk reduction 0+0 Cost Ecosystem Service Status QuoDownstream DamUpstream Release Provision Δ Δ Protection of at-risk species 200 breeding bird pairs in forest 220 breeding bird pairs in forest + 20 205 breeding bird pairs in forest + 5 Wildlife watching 1 iconic species seen < 5 times 1 iconic species seen 5 times + 1 sp. seen > 5 times Both iconic species seen > 5 times + 1 sp. Seen > 5 times, > # sightings for other sp. Flood risk reduction 2 flood events per decade (on average) 1.5 flood events per decade (on average) 25% fewer flood events per decade 2 flood events per decade (on average) 0 Cost Ecological Analysis: Stopping Here

17. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Social Impact Analysis Ecological changes Human interaction with and preferences for changes # of beneficiaries Access to service Substitutes to service Reliability of service 3 focal approaches: 1.Monetary valuation 2.Non-monetary valuation (MCDA) 3.Benefit relevant indicators

18. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Monetary Valuation What is measured: Willingness to pay (WTP) Techniques: Revealed preference (Travel cost, property values) Stated preference (Surveys asking WTP) Production/profit function Yields: Dollar value of ES provided (or change in ES) Allows BCA Requires: Quantified ecological outcome to value Caveats: Some services difficult or deemed unsuitable to monetize Difficult but possible to transfer values Shannon Bauer, USACE BLM Montana Office Travel Costs Property values Survey for WTP Vera Kratovchil, PublicDomainPictures.net

19. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Non-Monetary Methods: Multi-Criteria Evaluation George Gentry, FWS What is expressed: Relative value for each service and overall value for each alternative Techniques: In-person elicitation Surveys Requires: Quantified ecological outcome and capacity to elicit stakeholder preferences Caveats: Elicitation can be time- consuming Results not transferable to different decision contexts

20. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Using Benefit Relevant Indicators Biophysical Indicator: Fish habitat + Social Information: # of fishing permits # of access points for fishing # of other fishing sites What is measured: Social factors that affect how a service is used or valued Techniques: # of beneficiaries, access, etc. Yields: Benefit relevant ecological indicators modified by social information Requires: Information on beneficiaries and how they interact with services Caveats: No stakeholder preference information Biases are less transparent BLM Montana Office

21. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Social Impact Analysis: Choosing a Method Benefit Cost Analysis desired or required by mandate All services can be monetized Monetary Valuation Inappropriate, or difficult to monetize all services Benefit Cost Analysis not required Stakeholder preferences available or obtainable Non-Monetary Valuation Decision scope does not require full analysis Stakeholder preferences inaccessible Benefit Relevant Indicators Choose this approach when:

22. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Equity/Distributional Implications Analysis of who has access and benefits from changes in services can be the basis for understanding distributional or equity implications Alex Chuman

23. A SSESSMENT ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com Making a Decision Other Information: Agency mandates Fiscal constraints Job creation Sustainability Equity Decision with

24. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com ScopingAssessment and AnalysisDecisionReaction Evaluating the Process Other Information: Agency mandates Fiscal constraints Job creation Sustainability Equity Decision with Reaction: Monitoring to re-evaluate status and trends Using outcomes to inform future decisions

25. A SSESSMENT Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook | nespguidebook.com In Summary, the Framework:  Focuses on decision support – choosing among alternatives  Integrates ecological and social analysis  Incorporates multiple evaluation methods to span agency needs – Ecological qualitative – Ecological quantitative – Socially enriched measures of ecological change – Non-monetary Valuation – Monetary valuation  Provides a common framework and suite of methods that can be used across geographies and decision contexts  Consistent with other frameworks and methods in use or under development with agencies  Provides a high-level overview that shows how the pieces fit together, along with guidance on approaches, and pointers to more in-depth resources and technical support

26. nespguidebook.com For more information, contact Lydia Olander: lydia.olander@duke.edu Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services Guidebook nespguidebook.com