Sustaining Coastal Landscapes and Community Benefits: Ecosystem Service Valuation to Improve the Use of Science in Policy

28 National Estuarine Research Reserves Mission: To practice and promote coastal and estuarine stewardship through

innovative research and education, using a system of protected areas.

2014 2009

Riparian Buffer Ecosystem Service Valuation

The Stakeholder Network working to sustain Riparian Buffers in the Little River Watershed

Maine Geological Survey Maine Coastal Program Maine Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Maine Sea Grant Maine Drinking Water Program Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Maine Department of Environmental Protection Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission Mt A to the Sea Conservation Initiative Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge University of New England Laudholm Trust Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership Town of Wells, Planning Department Town of Sanford, Planning Department Town of Kennebunk Planning Department

Applying Social Science Tools

Moving Knowledge to Action

Using knowledge of ecosystem service values and tradeoffs to inform decision making to sustain what people care about

Stakeholder Analysis

PRODUCTS OF SCIENCE Data/Models

Ecosystem Assessments Choice Experiments

Ecosystem Service Valuation

POLICY

AND MANAGEMENT Actions to sustain &

restore Riparian Buffer

Ecosystem services

Perceptual Barriers

Disciplinary Barriers

Institutional Barriers

Institutional Analysis

Cultural Analysis

Collaborative Learning

(Feurt, 2007)

1. Ecological Assessment of Riparian Buffer Structure and Function to Assess Ecosystem Services of Riparian Buffers – Dr. Kristin Wilson

2. Using Mental Modeling and Communication Audits to Link Ecosystem Service Valuation to Restoration Goals – Dr. Verna Delauer

3. Challenges and rewards of trans-disciplinary collaboration to sustain ecosystem services Dr. Christine Feurt

4. Interdisciplinary Panel & Audience Engagement – Benefits and barriers of ecosystem service valuation for ecosystem restoration practice and policy