Ecosystem Services Peer-Learning Network

An Interactive Community of Conservation Projects

The Natural Capital Project is building a diverse network of conservation projects and people (NGO, academic, private, corporate, government, etc.) actively involved in developing and implementing ecosystem service-related projects.

This Natural Capital Project Learning Network (“NatCap Network”) will develop a global support system to advance the mapping, modeling, measuring, and valuing of ecosystem services as well as to promote incorporation of these values into decision-making. The Network will:

As an interactive peer group, the network will come together online; in meetings, workshops, and working groups; and annually at conferences to innovate, test, learn, share, and push our collective experience and know-how to new levels beyond what any project could do individually. We see this Network evolving based on members’ needs and guidance.

Benefits of Joining

• • Access to online forums and annual symposia that bring members together to discuss strategies, analyze lessons learned, and discover new opportunities.
  • Early access to ecosystem service and biodiversity mapping, valuation, policy, finance, and stakeholder engagement tools and training developed by the Natural Capital Project.
  • Opportunity to provide input and feedback into tool development and refinement.
  • Opportunity to develop products such as books or articles that advance ecosystem service research and practice to magnify our collective impact.
  • Increased visibility and opportunity to participate in shared and coordinated communications efforts.
  • Peer information and technical assistance in trouble-shooting project challenges and in understanding best practices from the field.

Expected Outcomes

• • Increased availability and use of ecosystem service-related decision-support tools in the field.
  • Regular and open exchange of information among Network sites, including through.
  • Ongoing synthesis of lessons learned, made available widely through publication.
  • Development and improvement of tools in various thematic areas.

Membership Requirements

Commitment to share information, document lessons learned, and participate in and create knowledge networks around ecosystem services.

Active participation in the Network, which would include a combination of the following:

• • Contribution of project information to the Natural Capital Database, which serves as a clearinghouse of information about ecosystem services projects and provides a basis for meta-analysis.
  • Completion of a supplemental questionnaire regarding needs and lessons learned.
  • Posting of documents, articles, and/or opinions to online forums.
  • Willingness to serve as a “peer assist” on specific topics or challenges faced.
  • Input into tool development and refinement (e.g., what works, what does not work, what is most urgently needed).
  • Participation in the annual ecosystem service symposia - ideally giving a lecture, presenting a poster, organizing a panel, coordinating a session, and/or helping design the program.

Contact Us for More Information

We are still in the planning stages for this network and do not yet have the structure or capacity for widespread engagement. If you are interested in joining the network, please send us your contact information and a brief description of your work. As soon as the network is up and running, we will be in touch with opportunities for you to participate.

Chris Colvin: 

Christine Tam: