Invitation to the workshop: Ecosystem services in agriculture and forestry
We are pleased to invite you to the scientific workshop
“Quantification and Valuation of Ecosystem Services in Agriculture and Forestry Data, Scientific Methods & Policy Instruments”
Date: 27 June 2025
Time: 9:00 – 14:00
Location: Federal Institute of Agricultura Economics, Rural and Mountain Research, Dietrichgasse 27, 1030 Vienna, Austria and online
Background
The main task of agriculture and forestry is the provision of food and renewable raw materials. The targeted production of these provisioning ecosystem services (ES) also influences other provisioning, regulating and cultural ES both within and outside agricultural and forestry land use systems. Political instruments such as agri-environmental programmes are used to internalise these external effects. They typically replace average costs of environmentally friendly management but their incentives to expand positive environmental effects are limited.
Various stakeholders are therefore calling for farmers and foresters to be remunerated for the social value of ES provided in order to increase acceptance of the provision of ES and create additional income opportunities. Such a demand can also be found in the Vision 2028+ „Zukunftsbild für Österreichs Landwirtschaft und den ländlichen Raum“ by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Climate and Environmental Protection, Regions and Water Management (landwirtschaft.at/vision2028/).
Workshop content
The development of efficient instruments to remunerate ES requires knowledge about the quantity of a service, its provider, and its value for society. This workshop supports the current policy process by providing scientific evidence. Scientists will present and discuss the state of knowledge on methods of quantification and monetary valuation as well as instruments of implementation in order to derive recommendations for action.
The workshop will begin with four presentations by recognised experts considering natural science and socio-economic perspectives. Subsequently, working groups will discuss the methodological state of knowledge of quantification and monetary valuation, data availability and feasibility with respect to the design and implementation of policy, or in certain cases, private sector instruments.
The presentations will be held in English, while the working groups will be held in both English and German.
Participation
The event is primarily aimed at scientists. Knowledge on ES is helpful but not required. The event takes place in hybrid form. Participation is free of charge and possible in presence or online.
Please register by 20 June 2025, stating the type of participation (in presence or online) and the research institution at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
We are looking forward to your participation!
Kind regards,
The organising committee from BAB, BOKU, Environment Agency Austria and HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein
