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EcoCo Socio-economic Impact Assessment
Realising the gains from natural connections
6 December 2018
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Donatien von Rohland
Scottish Natural Heritage
Natural Capital Investment
Introduction
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Donatien von Rohland
Scottish Natural Heritage
Natural Capital Investment
Ecosystem services are the benefits
provided by ecosystems that contribute to
making human life possible and worth living.
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Scope
• Case study
approach
• 14 sites out of 40
considered
• 9 main benefits
identified
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Measures Core benefits
Health
Volunteering
Community
Science
Learning
Media
Carbon
Water retention
Pollination
• Visitor survey
• Activities records
• Volunteer feedback
• Interviews with site managers
• Teacher survey
• Newspaper articles
• Hydrological and soil data
• Ecological surveys
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Challenges
• Inherent bias in measuring value
• Translating complex outcomes into
measurable indicators
The ecosystem services framework
Time and budget constraints
Surveys and interviews
• Lack of readily available data
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Findings
• 32,000 £ value generated by volunteers
• 2,000 children learning outdoors
• Employment secured over the project period
• Positive health and wellbeing benefits reported by visitors
• Millions of tonnes of carbon sequestered in peatlands
• A wide range of ecosystem services provision enhanced
Flanders Moss Short term impact Long term impact
Mental health
The rewetting of areas adjacent to the
boardwalk offers a higher aesthetical value
for visitors, hence increasing the
attractiveness of the site for mental
stimulation and relaxation.
Flanders Moss’s ecological condition has
been steadily improving over the years
thanks to parallel and successive
initiatives.
EcoCo is part of this continuity leading to
the rewilding of the site.
Learning One staff member completed softrak low
ground pressure machine training.
Media Flanders Moss is regularly featured in the
blog “2 bogs a swamp and some islands”
Carbon storage
The rewetting of the sites creates favourable
conditions for sphagnum to capture carbon
and store it in the soil.
Water retention
Water retention has shown early indications
of improving following peat restoration at the
site.
Water quality
Water quality is currently not measured in
Flanders Moss. Improvement in water quality
is one of the key benefits associated with
peatland restoration.
Pollination
In the short term, scrub clearance has a
negative impact on pollinators relying on tree
and shrubs.
The rewetting of the site has created
favourable conditions for other species,
such as water plants which will in the
longer term outbalance the initial loss in
flower.
Slamannan Plateau
Key b
en
efi
ts
232 ha of peatland restored (80 ha target)
17,914 m2 of pools created
Maintenance of 346.78 million tons of carbon stored
Estimated avoided carbon emission of 806.9 tCO2e/year
£3’553 value created by volunteers
151 children engaged through both classroom and outdoor activities
276 attendees at awareness raising events on peatlands
Sit
e
Airds Moss Low Moss Common Farm K
ey b
en
efi
ts 168 ha peatland restored 25 ha peatland restored 46 ha peatland restored
£18’502 value (equivalent salary) created by the volunteers
1125 children engaged through both classroom and outdoor activities
940 attendees at awareness raising events on peatlands
2 agri-environmental scheme applications were supported
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Visitor feedback
The new pathway is an asset to our village. Thank
you. Visitor, Braehead Moss
The feeling of being out on a Moss is
indescribable, a beautiful place. It can appear
barren but is absolutely full of fascinating
wildlife. Visitor, Common Farms
Habitat surveys and biological recording are the
most enjoyable and successful activities for this
site Visitor, Airds Moss
Baron’s Haugh is a sanctuary for nature and is so
diverse that nature must be impressed with it too
!!!!! Visitor, Baron’s Haugh
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Opportunities
• Improving existing evaluation frameworks, capturing indirect
social and economic benefits.
• Making the case for natural capital investment with new,
evidence-based arguments.
• Offer a more comprehensive view of the benefits for people
and nature
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Conclusion
Despite limits in the scope and the
availability of data, this assessment
provides evidences of the many
contributions EcoCo made to restoring
natural capital and enhancing a wide
range of ecosystem services across
the Central Belt of Scotland.
Thank you!
Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba
Donatien von Rohland
@dvrohland
