3.1
Ecosystem services
Keywords
Ecosystems, ecosystem dynamics, environmental
change, environmental goods and services,
environmental economics and valuation
Expertise
It is widely recognised that a healthy functioning ecosystem
underpins a wide range of human activities, including the
provision of food and forest products and even coastal
flood protection. The University has considerable expertise
in understanding the drivers of change in natural eco-
systems and the impact of human activity on ecosystems.
We have a diverse portfolio of expertise in the characteri-
sation of environmental services and in understanding
responses to environmental change. This fundamental
science underpins efforts to place economic values on
the natural world and the goods and services it provides.
Our ecology group works closely with environmental
economists and environmental impact specialists who
turn science into evidence to underpin policy and
economic development. To achieve this, we regularly
work in partnership with stakeholder groups, including
government, industry, commerce and NGOs.
Our staff have played major roles in the reform of the EU
Common Fisheries Policy, in developing UK marine spatial
planning and in the management of UK upland habitats.
We have also worked with the United Nations on the
development of environmental evaluation tools to guide
investment decisions in the developing world.
Our expertise has been sought by regulators (eg EU and
UK government bodies and agencies) to develop policies
and tools for environmental protection. These policies seek
to strike a balance between the needs and aspirations of
many different players while complying with international
policy commitments and legislation; we help policy-makers
to identify the needs of stakeholders and assess the
potential impact of policy decisions.
Coastal developments – from renewable energy sites
to new ports and urban infrastructure – all require an
assessment of their environmental impacts as part
of the planning and approval process. Our experts
collaborate with developers to support environmental
assessments, and to identify lower impact
alternatives for coastal developments. We also have
tools and models to estimate the full economic costs
of environmental interventions.
Capabilities and facilities
•
Research Vessel Marisa and associated coastal
survey capabilities and equipment
•
Liverpool Isotopes for Environmental Research
(
LIFER) laboratories offers bespoke production of
radioactive environmental tracers
•
Environmental reconstructions – techniques to
characterise past environmental conditions
•
Environmental change modelling and interpretation.
Relevant centres and groups
•
Centre for Marine Science and Climate Change.
Environment & Climate Change
62
3.
Environmental impacts on ecosystem
APPLICATION AREAS
•
Civil engineering
•
Energy
•
Food supply
•
Sustainability
•
Defence and security
•
Healthcare and pharmaceuticals
The University has
considerable expertise
in understanding the
drivers of change in
natural ecosystems and
the impact of human
activity on ecosystems.
For further information
on all our specialist
centres, facilities and
laboratories
go to page
179
