Training Workshop on Planning Management for Ecosystem Services

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is promoting Integrated Ecosystem Management in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region through its Transboundary Landscape Initiatives (TBL). To facilitate communication, harmonise approaches, and enhance the capacity of the TBL partners, a ‘Framework for Integrated Ecosystem Management’ (FIEM) and a ‘Framework  for Long Term Environmental and Socio-ecological Monitoring’ (LTESM) have been developed by ICIMOD with UNEP-WCMC. The operational manual and supporting workbooks have been tested through partner trainings in the Kailash Sacred Landscape Initiative in 2014 and 2015.

ICIMOD will organise and deliver with UNEP-WCMC a training workshop on Management for Ecosystem Services for its partners in its Transboundary Landscape Initiatives. The training will be conducted in a participatory manner with partners, to support their specific natural resource management planning and programmes. It will build capacity of partner institutions in ecosystem management, as well as train ICIMOD staff to support future national trainings.

Objective

• Partners of ICIMOD’s Transboundary Landscape Initiatives are familiar with the LTESM and FIEM and the related operational manual.
• Partners of ICIMOD’s Transboundary Landscape Initiatives have the skills and knowledge to practice and promote ‘Management for Ecosystem Services based on Ecosystem Functioning’
• ICIMOD has the knowledge to conduct training and technical support in ‘Management for Ecosystem Services based on Ecosystem Functioning’
• The basis for a community of practice and strategy for further development of ‘Management for Ecosystem Services based on Ecosystem Functioning’, is established.

Expected outcome

By the end of the training course participants will:

• Have the capacity and willingness to adopt the FIEM and LTESM and use the Operational Manual in their management.
• Be able to understand and examine the natural environment as an ecosystem with a holistic perspective, rapidly describing its functioning and supply of ecosystem services in terms of core ecosystem processes, structure and key ecological interactions;
• Be able to follow six steps in planning management for ecosystem services at the site or landscape scale, including describing current and desired ecosystem functioning, and consideration of resilience to climate change;
• Be able to select activities and indicators to promote the supply of ecosystem services as part of existing livelihoods and development activities, addressing management problems using clear ecosystem functioning criteria;
• Have preliminary descriptions of current and desired ecosystem functioning for ecosystem services for at least one ecosystem type in an area that they manage or work with;
• Have formed relationships with individuals and organisations who can provide mutual support in practising and developing Management for Ecosystem Services.