Abstract
Through changes in policy and practice, the inherent intent of the ecosystem services (ES) concept is to safeguard ecosystems for human wellbeing. While impact is intrinsic to the concept, little is known about how and whether ES science leads to impact. Evidence of impact is needed. Given the lack of consensus on what constitutes impact, we differentiate between attributional impacts (transitional impacts on policy, practice, awareness or other drivers) and consequential impacts (real, on-the-ground impacts on biodiversity, ES, ecosystem functions and human wellbeing) impacts. We conduct rigorous statistical analyses on three extensive databases for evidence of attributional impact (the form most prevalently reported): the IPBES catalogue (n = 102), the Lautenbach systematic review (n = 504) and a 5-year in-depth survey of the OPERAs Exemplars (n = 13). To understand the drivers of impacts, we statistically analyse associations between study characteristics and impacts. Our findings show that there exists much confusion with regard to defining ES science impacts, and that evidence of attributional impact is scarce: only 25% of the IPBES assessments self-reported impact (7% with evidence); in our meta-analysis of Lautenbach’s systematic review, 33% of studies provided recommendations indicating intent of impacts. Systematic impact reporting was imposed by design on the OPERAs Exemplars: 100% reported impacts, suggesting the importance of formal impact reporting. The generalised linear models and correlations between study characteristics and attributional impact dimensions highlight four characteristics as minimum baseline for impact: study robustness, integration of policy instruments into study design, stakeholder involvement and type of stakeholders involved. Further in depth examination of the OPERAs Exemplars showed that study characteristics associated with impact on awareness and practice differ from those associated with impact on policy: to achieve impact along specific dimensions, bespoke study designs are recommended. These results inform targeted recommendations for ES science to break its impact glass ceiling.
Highlights
Westman (1977) first argued that to sustainably manage our global natural resources, we need to formally recognise how nature’s diverse services support human wellbeing
Discrete: number of ecosystem service categories per case study for provisioning, regulating, supporting and cultural services
We define ecosystem services (ES) science impact as the attributional and consequential, positive and negative, long-term effects generated through ES science foreseen or unforeseen, intended or unintended
Summary
Westman (1977) first argued that to sustainably manage our global natural resources, we need to formally recognise how nature’s diverse services support human wellbeing. The concept has seen a dramatic evolution and underpins research that views ecological, economic and social systems as inextricable social-ecological systems (Anderies et al 2004; Balvanera et al 2017; Berkes et al 2003; Folke 2006). The activities driving this field internationally include the MA (2005a), TEEB (Kumar 2010; ten Brink 2011) and more recently, the IPBES (2015) and the WAVES partnership ( 2017). The intellectual community is converging towards a clarification of definitions, standards, tools and methods
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