Give value to nature: learn how to measure what ecosystem services do for us Erasmus Project

Project Title

Give value to nature: learn how to measure what ecosystem services do for us

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for school education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions

Project Summary

The ecosystem services are all the benefits that nature provides to humans. If we are able to measure them, we will be able to put in value all that the environment does for us. The concept of ecosystem service thus underlines our dependence on nature. It is conceived as a new way of facing the relations between humans and nature, and focus on increasing our awareness to protect the environment. The concept has gained great relevance at the scientific level. Thus, the main platform of the UN for the protection of nature is the “Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services”. In addition, the EU has introduced criteria based on ecosystem services in its environmental and land management policies (e.g. green infrastructure strategy, forestry strategy, biodiversity conservation, etc.). However, ecosystem services remain largely unknown to the general public and have hardly reached European secondary school classes.

OBJECTIVE
ValuingNature project attempts to address this shortcoming by the creation of a multi-stakeholder partnership with universities and high-schools from the different biogeographical areas of Europe (Atlantic, Mediterranean, Alpine, Continental, Boreal, Arctic) aimed at generating high-quality intellectual outputs to provide the European students with new skills and competences about ecosystem services and all the benefits that humans obtain from nature in a context of climate change and under a cross-cultural and diachronic approach.

TARGET
Although all outputs can be certainly universally used, ValuingNature targets teachers and students in rural areas. It is in these areas, many of which are peripheral, ageing and depopulated, where links with nature are most palpable and where ecosystem servicies are the main force for development and a good basis for entrepreneurship and job creation. Furthermore, it is these same ecosystem servicies that provide human groups with a cultural identity through the ecological heritage received from their ancestors, a heritage that is being lost but which is also their best tool for tackling climate change.

RESULTS
ValuingNature offers a complete solution for teachers to include the ecosystem services framework in the classroom. It includes a MOOC specifically designed for teacher training. In addition, it also offers them a web platform with content and activities already successfully tested with students. It includes up to 24 activities, previously validated, explained in detail and with everything necessary for their implementation in the classroom. Each activity is accompanied by practical examples from the 7 main biogeographical areas of Europe (168 examples). Some of the activities are supported by the use of the PPP for economic valuation of ecosystem services also developed in this project. In addition, an eBook with a cross-cultural comparison of intergenerational dialogues on ecosystem services carried out by all school partners is available.

BENEFITS
Students who incorporate a vision of human-nature relations based on the ecosystem services framework will tend to be more aware of environmental protection, more appreciative of the ecological heritage received by their ancestors, and more determined to meet the challenge of adapting to climate change. But unlike previous environmental proposals, ecosystem service valuation, while raising awareness, also gives them tools to seek novel solutions.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 264548 Eur

Project Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD DE SALAMANCA & Country: ES

Project Partners

• Utena A.Sapoka gymnasium
• LICEUL KOROSI CSOMA SANDOR COVASNA
• Zespol Szkol w Zychlinie
• Srednja skola fra Andrije Kacica Miosica
• Ilisimatusarfik
• IES Aliste
• PLATON M.E.P.E