Introduction

The Ecosystem Assessment Programme was established in 2006 to address the growing demand for integrated information on the state of and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide to the planet’s people. It builds on the biodiversity assessment work within the Centre to supply the best available information to a wide range of decision makers worldwide.

The Ecosystem Assessment Programme incorporates research, synthesis, facilitation and capacity-support to improve information and knowledge regarding biodiversity and ecosystems, and its availability to and use by decision-makers. Key technical areas within the Programme include work on biodiversity indicators and assessments, ecosystem services and their values for people, and support to policy processes at national, regional and global scales.

The Ecosystem assessment Programme is currently, and has been involved with several large, international projects. Notable ones are the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership, Biodiversity Indicators for National Use, and the TEEB/Stern-like Review.