How can scenarios frame ecosystem service studies to be policy relevant?
Scenarios can increase the impact of ecosystem service analyses on decisions. They enable proactive, forward-looking, comparative assessments. Scenarios can frame studies to explore the potential impacts of uncertain changes that may occur in the future. Scenarios can also frame studies to understand the likely consequences of alternative decisions, policies and plans. Through scenarios, one can elucidate how the many drivers of environmental change interact. To enable those conducting ecosystem service assessments to develop policy-relevant and robust scenarios, the Natural Capital Project is developing guidance materials and tools for scenario developers and users. These tools will draw on best practice in the academic literature and international experience using scenarios in the context of ecosystem service analyses in the field. Together with partners, we are developing a primer on developing scenarios for ecosystem service analyses that support decision making. The primer will he
