The forum brought together scientists and practitioners from public and non-governmental sector. Objectives of the forum: commencement of a comprehensive discussion about the use of a mapping and assessment approach to ecosystem services in Latvia and sharing of experience of former efforts in the assessment of ecosystem services in various territories of Latvia with an aim to more purposefully and better integrate the approach to ecosystem services into the planning of the development policy of Latvia.
During the forum, representatives of various organisations shared their experiences in relation to use of methods of biophysical mapping and assessment, as well as economic and social assessment for various researches of nationwide and international scale.
The process of mapping and assessment of ecosystem services (MAES) in Europe and Latvia was outlined by Ilona Mendziņa, Deputy Director of the Nature Protection Department of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development. I Mendziņa also emphassed that it should be understood in Latvia that biodiversity means not only protected species, habitats, and specially protected nature areas; this notion includes ecosystems and the related environmental processes. For example, a broad range of ecosystem services providing various benefits necessary for the society is available also in managed forests.
Read more about the cognitions of the forum: http://ekosistemas.daba.gov.lv/public/lat/jaunumi1/2064/
