TEEB Manual for Cities

The TEEB Manual for Cities: Ecosystem Services in Urban ManagementStep 1Specify and agree on the problem or policy issue with stakeholdersTo apply a focus on ecosystemservices within city management, agood starting point is to consider aparticular management challenge thatrequires attention. Many of these challengeswill have economically viable,effective and sustainable solutionsbased on ecosystem services. Wheninitiating the process of identifyingthe challenge, it is essential to planahead to determine whether ecosystemswill contribute meaningfully toa solution. Some of the more obviousexamples might be food security, theneed to adapt to the impacts of climatechange, or, the provision of clean andsafe drinking water. It is important toconsider challenges that are criticallyimportant to ecosystem health andthose that are likely to stimulate broadinterest across other sectors.An ecosystem valuation approachneed not necessarily start with theidentification of a problem as such, butcan also be a way of improving a situationor avoiding a potential problem. Citiessuch as Montréal and Calgary in Canadaare considering the cognitive, social andhealth benefits of living in close proximity tonature. For example, when planning for theconstruction of a major residential projectfor the elderly, Montréal suggests thatcities could also consider creating a greenarea in the vicinity to respond to the specifichealth and social needs of their citizens(Daniel Hodder, City of Montreal; ChrisManderson, City of Calgary; and, GrantPearsell, City of Edmonton – Pers. Comm.).Engaging stakeholders at an early stagewill assist in identifying appropriateareas and challenges that need to beaddressed. For example, consult withpersonnel from different departmentsto determine what they consider to beimportant challenges, and discuss withecologists or conservationists whichof these can be addressed through anincreased focus on ecosystem services.Early engagement helps to avoidmisunderstandings; makes others awareCity of Cape TownThe Environmental Resource Management Department at the City of Cape Town engaged with other relevant departments around the valuation process of theCity’s natural assets.The City of Cape Town’s Ecosystem Services Valuation Exercise (continued)The City of Cape Town’s EnvironmentalResource Management Department setout to determine the economic value oftheir ecosystem services based on thechallenge of rapid biodiversity loss inperhaps the world’s most biodiverse andbiodiversity-threatened city. In order toinvolve stakeholders the Departmentactively engaged with all other Departmentswithin the City’s managementstructure that have responsibility for,or impact on, natural assets within theCity, including the Finance Department,involving them in the valuation process.This was done even before consultantswere hired to conduct the studyand involved a process of relationshipbuildingwith the other departments– something important not only for theparticular study but for general cooperativemanagement within the City.Source: De Wit and van Zyl 2011;De Wit et al. 2009.12