CIHEAM Chania involved in Blue Economy initiatives 

CIHEAM Chania participated in the final workshop of BONUS MARES project in blue economy that took place in Helsinki during the period 13-14 February 2020.

BONUS MARES, a Multi-method assessment for resilient ecosystem services and human-nature system integration, is an EU-funded research project that addresses the key theme from BONUS Strategic Research Agenda 4.2: Linking ecosystem goods and services to human lifestyles and well-being.

It is implemented by partners from Finland, Estonia and Germany with the objective to identify best practices for integrating natural capital into decision-making during the implementation period 01/10/2018- 31/03/2020.

The aim of the project is to review and assess the sustainability of Baltic Sea's ecosystem services, synergies, interactions and linkages with human lifestyles, health and well-being. This project builds a meta-evaluation of existing research in ecological, biological, socio-economic and health sciences and related monetary and non-monetary evaluations.

This is achieved by a multi-dimensional, innovative and participatory future assessment tool-kit for scenario building that can critically evaluate existing gaps and identify future research needs. It compares and consequentially observes, monitors and evaluates ecosystem services in relation to use and non-use values, including monetary evaluations of non-market benefits, often not accounted or underestimated in decision-making.

During the final workshop, the participants were informed about the results of the analysis on Baltic Sea ecosystem services, their synthetic representation and mapping as well as about related valuation methods. They participated in a trans-disciplinary process of social learning and co-creation among experts, stakeholders and decision-makers in pursuit of a common and holistic understanding.

They shared knowledge with a wide community of scientists, stakeholders and decision-makers and suggested new practices or potential areas for improvement.

Because that initiative is in line with CIHEAM Strategic Agenda 2025, investing in new generations and fragile territories, for rural and coastal development, the representative of CIHEAM Chania, Mr.Georgios Angelakis shared his experience regarding the current status of the Mediterranean ecosystem services pinpointing the similarities and differences with the Baltic Sea ecosystem services by suggesting appropriate valuation methods as well for the sustainable development of the blue economy.