EVAMAB - Economic valuation of ecosystem services in Man and Biosphere reserves: testing effective rapid assessment methods in selected African MABs

• Project financed in the framework of a Memorandum of Understanding between Belspo (Belgian Science Policy) and UNESCO to support research activities in Biosphere Reserves (BR)

•  The project addresses the evaluation of the economic value of ecosystem services (ES) in UNESCO-MAB sites from a regional perspective (Africa) and focuses on sites from 4 countries: Benin, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda. The expected results will contribute to the transition to green economy in Africa.

• CEBioS is the coordinator of the project and is more specifically responsible of the implementation in Pendjari National Park and Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve, the review of the rapid assessment tools and the Science-Policy interface.

• Responsible for CEBioS: Three members of CEBioS are involved in the project: Dr Luc Janssens de Bisthoven (promotor ), Ir Anne-Julie Rochette (coordinating the activities) and Dr Maarten Vanhove.

• Project duration: January 2017-December 2019

• Total budget: € 250 000

• Partners: EVAMAB consortium is a multi- and transdisciplinary team of 4 Belgian partners: one Federal Scientific Institute (RBINS) and 3 universities (KU Leuven, ULB, UA). They combine complementary expertise on economic, ecological and global carbon components of rapid assessment tools of ecosystem services in protected areas, as well as expertise in science-policy interface. Local partners are also involved in each of the four countries.

• Weblink: biodiv.be/evamab