Nordic Countries

Project Description:

Following in the footsteps of the global initiative, the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) and the NCM Finnish Presidency decided in 2011 to initiate a TEEB inspired synthesis in the Nordic context (TEEB Nordic). The aim of this synthesis was to bring together existing information on the socio-economic role and significance of biodiversity and ecosystem services for the Nordic countries (i.e. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden).

Based on the existing information available, the study identified the range of ecosystem services maintained by healthy, well functioning ecosystems and synthesizes existing information on the present status, trends and socio-economic importance of these services. Finally, the study explored key opportunities and priorities for future policy action to integrate the true value of nature into decision-making processes, including possible areas for Nordic cooperation.

An overarching aim of TEEB Nordic was also to complement the global TEEB initiative with interesting insights and concrete evidence from the Nordic countries. For this purpose six stand-alone case studies were developed together with relevant Nordic experts. In addition, a range of illustrative case examples are identified and documented.

Finally, it is to be noted that TEEB Nordic has been an independent synthesis, separate from the national ecosystem assessment currently taking place in or being initiated by the individual Nordic countries. It is hoped that TEEB Nordic will provide a useful source of information for these national in-depth assessments.

The TEEB Nordic scoping report was initiated in May 2011 and it will be published in January 2013.

Implementers and Donors: Nordic Council of Ministers (in the context of the Finnish presidency 2011), Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP), Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), supported by contributions from a range of Nordic experts and researchers.

Resources

Socio-economic importance of ecosystem services in the Nordic Countries – Synthesis in the context of The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)

2013- This study presents the outcomes of this Nordic synthesis on the socio-economic role and significance of biodiversity and ecosystem services for the Nordic countries (i.e. Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden)

  TEEB Nordic – Technical Summary

2013-  An executive summary of the Synthesis of the socio-economic importance of ecosystem services in the Nordic countries -TEEB Nordic.

TEEB Nordic – Policy Makers Summary

2013- A summary of the Synthesis of the socio-economic importance of ecosystem services in the Nordic countries -TEEB Nordic.

More Information:

http://www.norden.org/en/theme/rio-20-1/ecosystems-and-biodiversity

http://www.ieep.eu/work-areas/biodiversity/2013/01/socio-economic-socio-economic-importance-of-ecosystem-services-in-the-nordic-countries-synthesis

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