Action C.3: Assessment of the LIFE Integrated Project’s impact on the Ecosystems Services
Monitoring action
OBJECTIVE
In line with the current work that is being undertaken as part of Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2020 for the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES), the LIFE Project Management Team has identified the preliminary list of ecosystem services which are relevant to the implementation of LIFE IP actions, using the CICES classification. Changes in this preliminary list may be necessary following further discussions on the matter at EU level and at national level vis-a-vis Malta’s national assessment.
- LEAD BENEFICIARYEnergy and Water Agency (EWA)
- LOCATIONMaltese Islands
- STATUSOngoing
- KEYWORDS mapping, ASSESSMENT, ecosystems,
- RELATED ACTIONS
The ecosystem services to which LIFE IP actions shall contribute are considered to be preliminary and shall be revised by the external consultant undertaking the assessment of the LIFE Integrated Project’s action throughout the implementation of the project
under this action. The development of the targets for the improvement of ecosystems, and ecosystem services as relevant, will be undertaken by the external consultant in consultation with the individual actions or group of actions achieving similar objectives, such as actions targeting improvement in the quantitative status of groundwater. Similarly, the indicators to be used to monitor the contribution of the actions towards the improvement of ecosystem services functions will be developed by the external consultant during project implementation and in consultation with the individual actions. The external consultant shall also be required to make reference to the guidance from the European Commission (developed through the MAES process) so as to ensure synergies with the National Assessment on ecosystems and their services.
The external consultant can also propose alternative methods of how the monitoring of the impact of the LIFE IP on ecosystems services can be monitored. In the assessment of the project’s contribution towards ecosystem services, consideration shall be given to payment for ecosystem services (PES) as a means to promote the conservation of the existing natural resources both during the implementation of the project. This will be particularly important for actions dealing with the rehabilitation of natural environmental systems such as Action C.9 and C.13.