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CICES going local: Ecosystem services classification adapted for a highly populated country
Book Contribution - Chapter
As CICES was proposed in the MAES working group as a new standard for classifying ecosystem services (ESS ), staff of INBO and FUNDP attempted to modify the latest CICES classification (v.3) to Belgian conditions (CICES-Be). This list was sent to Belgian experts who showed interest in this topic. Their feedback and suggestions greatly helped to improve the Belgian CICES classification, and what you find below is the third version of CICES-Be.
The purpose of this exercise is to come with an ESS classification, which can be used as a basis for several applications, such as the upcoming ecosystem services (ESS) mapping exercise for Flanders and Walloon regions, valuations, PES-schemes, ... Depending on the need, the classification can be simplified (by adding certain classes together) or complicated (by splitting ESS in more detailed ESS). However, the purpose is that - at the end of the day - all the applications in Belgium can refer to the original CICES-Be classification. This classification will also be published in the forthcoming BEES book.
There is concern with many that we run the risk to end up with a classification that is not compatible with the European one. The proposed classification shows quite a number of deviations with the original CICES classification, especially regarding 'Regulation and Maintenance' and 'Cultural' services. As this stage, this is not yet considered as a problem though, as CICES is still in development, and as we are in contact with the CICES coordinators (University of Nottingham and EEA). The Belgian input will also be considered for the next version of CICES. When there is a final CICES version (this means accepted for the European 2014 reporting goal), the service classes and groups of CICES-Be will be adjusted to the international accepted CICES.
When there is consensus for a Belgian CICES, there will be an explanatory text for each service type, and the list will be translated into French and Flemish.
The purpose of this exercise is to come with an ESS classification, which can be used as a basis for several applications, such as the upcoming ecosystem services (ESS) mapping exercise for Flanders and Walloon regions, valuations, PES-schemes, ... Depending on the need, the classification can be simplified (by adding certain classes together) or complicated (by splitting ESS in more detailed ESS). However, the purpose is that - at the end of the day - all the applications in Belgium can refer to the original CICES-Be classification. This classification will also be published in the forthcoming BEES book.
There is concern with many that we run the risk to end up with a classification that is not compatible with the European one. The proposed classification shows quite a number of deviations with the original CICES classification, especially regarding 'Regulation and Maintenance' and 'Cultural' services. As this stage, this is not yet considered as a problem though, as CICES is still in development, and as we are in contact with the CICES coordinators (University of Nottingham and EEA). The Belgian input will also be considered for the next version of CICES. When there is a final CICES version (this means accepted for the European 2014 reporting goal), the service classes and groups of CICES-Be will be adjusted to the international accepted CICES.
When there is consensus for a Belgian CICES, there will be an explanatory text for each service type, and the list will be translated into French and Flemish.
Book: Ecosystem Services
Pages: 223-247
Number of pages: 25
ISBN:978-0-12-419964-4
Publication year:2013
Keywords:ecosystem services, classification, environmental accounting