Methods for Incorporating Ecosystem Services into Decision-Making: Conceptual Models and Benefit Relevant Indicators

Lydia Olander, director of the Ecosystem Services Program at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, will lead a pre-conference workshop on Monday, December 3, at the 2018 A Community on Ecosystem Services Conference (ACES). The workshop, "Methods for Incorporating Ecosystem Services into Decision-Making: Conceptual Models and Benefit Relevant Indicators," will delve into specific ecosystem services assessment methods reviewed in the Federal Resource Management and Ecosystem Services (FRMES) Guidebook, focusing on ecosystem service conceptual models (ESCMs) and benefit relevant indicators (BRIs).

The presentations will provide detailed explanations of ESCMs and BRIs and examples of how they are used to help build a common understanding of what it means to incorporate ecosystem services into decision making. This workshop provides an opportunity for the broader community to explore ecosystem service conceptual models and indicators in more depth with experts, using participant exercises to enhance the discussion and shared learning experience. Integrated question and answer sessions will provide opportunities to engage participating experts.

Those interested in attending the workshop have the option to sign up when registering for the ACES conference. For more information on the workshop, visit the conference website. Follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #2018ACES.

Mapping Pollination Services in the Southeast

Building Capacity to Identify and Value Ecosystem Services

ISO/RTO Perspectives on System Reliability and Resilience

Jennifer Chen, senior counsel for federal energy policy at Duke's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, will speak at the Federal Energy Policy Summit on Wednesday, December 5. 

Chen will be a speaker on the panel, ISO/RTO Perspectives on System Reliability and Resilience, from 11 a.m. to noon ET in Washington, D.C. She and other panelists will discuss how the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's efforts to study, define, and ultimately address system resiliency could initiate major changes in grid planning and investments. 

For more information, visit the event website.

Increasing Opportunities for Private Investment on Public Land

Martin Doyle, director of the Water Policy Program at Duke's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, will speak during a town hall at the 2018 A Community on Ecosystem Services Conference (ACES). Doyle will discuss Increasing Opportunities for Private Investment on Public Land. 

For more information on the workshop, visit the conference website. Follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #2018ACES.

Opportunities to Create, Report, and Use Natural Capital Accounts

Getting to Why Ecosystem Services Matter before your Audience gets to ZZZZ

Quantifying the Health Benefits of Nature, Part 2

Remediation to Restoration

Mobilizing Technology and Business Models to Close the Energy Gap

Globally, 1.1 billion people around the world lack basic electricity, and billions more lack access to the reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy systems that form the backbone of job creation and broader economic growth. How this shortfall is addressed over the coming decades will have resounding impacts on broader development outcomes, the environment, and U.S. and global security. The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, the Duke University Office of Undergraduate Education, and the Energy Access Project at Duke University will host the 2019 Winter Forum "Mobilizing Technology and Business Models to Close the Energy Gap" on Sunday, January 6, 2019, to Tuesday, January 8, 2019. 

From solar and batteries to telecom and mobile money, technology is enabling new approaches and business models for solving the energy access challenge. Duke students can apply to scale-up their knowledge, sharpen their story-telling, and unleash their creativity in a competition for solutions to end global energy poverty. Applications are accepted August 27 to October 5 (deadline extended).

For more information, visit the Winter Forum website.