Impressions from Module 1 of the ‘Nature Benefits: from Theory to Practice (TUNE IT)’ course

Following the motto of the Wageningen University & Research: ‘To explore the potential of nature to improve the quality of life’, the first part of the Erasmus+ course ‘Nature Benefits: from Theory to Practice’ took place from 30th January to 1st February 2024. On this very inspirational and sustainable Campus, ‘Life’ is following you everywhere, shining on every building, as a constant reminder to us all that life is embedded into and dependent on nature.

Afbeelding

Loredana Enachescu

Dr. Rudolf S. de Groot, Chair of the Foundation for Sustainable Development and Chair of the Ecosystem Services Partnership, was one of the keynote speakers and trainers in the course. He thinks that ‘In spite of all the international conventions and agreements related to biodiversity conservation we still lose ecosystems, plants and animals on a large scale and at unprecedented rate. We are still ‘plundering the planet’ because of outdated economics that largely ignores the importance of nature to our wellbeing. We need systemic change to integrate the full value of ecosystem services structurally into the economic system otherwise we will continue treating symptoms, not the causes of ecosystem degradation and species loss. Money spent on nature conservation should not be seen as a cost, but as an investment with a high return, ecologically and economically.’

In this state of mind, we have launched and fully engaged into the English version of the course aiming to better understand Ecosystem Services and Nature Benefits and to get the skills necessary to be able to use these concepts in our day to day work, be it as conservationists, site managers, communicators or fund raisers.

The course is structured in three parts, building up knowledge and expertise from a theoretical level, continuing through hands-on assignments on specific topics relevant for Nature Benefits and Ecosystem Services and finalising the training with applying all information acquired to practical real-life situations in the work environment of each participant.

General overview of the training course, Course guide Nature Benefits from Theory to practice (TUNE- IT)

What have we learned?

• Theoretical basis of Ecosystem Services and Nature Benefits;
• Ecosystem Services in the context of national, EU and global policies;
• Methods, instruments, tools and best practices in analysing Ecosystem Services;
• Use of different Nature Benefits in the management of natural areas and apply them in real-life examples;
• Exchange of information and discussion on specific elements relevant to Ecosystem Services such as: communication, restoration, site management and management planning, financial applications;
• Map Ecosystem Services for a specific geographic area of interest (participants worked on one of the four case studies in Belgium, Croatia, Italy and The Netherlands).

Afbeelding

Loredana Enachescu

Afbeelding

Loredana Enachescu

The next phase of the course is the delivery of Module 2 which will take place online from the 8th  to the 11th of April 2024. 

The course was organised with financing by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme. Twenty-eight participants with different professional background from eleven European countries took part in this course. Their wide-ranging experiences made the discussions relevant and the exchanges of views enriching.