Ecosystems and Human Wellbeing: A Manual for Assessment Practitioners

The Manual is intended to be a “how to” guide for undertaking ecosystem assessments. The Manual contains detailed guidance on conceptual frameworks, assessing status and trends of ecosystems, developing and using scenarios, assessing policy options, and the process for establishing, designing and running an ecosystem assessment, including communications and outreach. The priority audience for the Manual are individuals who are responsible for designing and carrying out environmental or developmental assessments, and individuals responsible for building capacity for ecosystem assessments, either through structured training (such as through developing curricula relating to ecosystem services and development) or assistance in conducting assessments on the ground. New and emerging ecosystem assessment practitioners should use this Manual to: familiarize themselves with the concept of ecosystem assessment; understand how and why an ecosystem assessment can benefit decision making at their scale of interest and what steps are involved; improve capacity to undertake an assessment where the need for one has already been identified; and act as a guide for practitioners who are undertaking an assessment to obtain more background information and identify sources of potential assistance with challenging areas.