An Eco-GAME Meta-Evaluation of Existing Methods for the Appreciation of Ecosystem Services

Maurizio Sajeva, Marjo Maidell, Jonne Kotta and Anneliis Peterson
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Maurizio Sajeva: Pellervo Economic Research PTT, Eerikinkatu 28 A, FI-00180 Helsinki, Finland
Marjo Maidell: Pellervo Economic Research PTT, Eerikinkatu 28 A, FI-00180 Helsinki, Finland
Jonne Kotta: Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Mäealuse 14, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia
Anneliis Peterson: Estonian Marine Institute, University of Tartu, Mäealuse 14, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-47

Abstract: The isolation of science disciplines and the weak integration between science, policy and society represent main challenges for sustainable human development. If, on the one hand, the specialization of science has produced higher levels of knowledge, on the other hand, the whole picture of the complex interactions between systems has suffered. Economic and natural sciences are, on matters of sustainable development, strongly divergent, and the interface informing decision-making is weak. This downplays uncertainty and creates room for entrenched political positions, compromising evidence-based decision-making and putting the urgent need to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030 at risk. This article presents the heterodox Eco-GAME framework for interconnecting science through trans-disciplinary social-learning and meta-evaluation of scientific knowledge in pursuit of SDGs. The framework is tested and refined in the BONUS MARES project by systematic literature analysis, participatory workshops, and semi-structured interviews, in relation to the specific habitats of Baltic Sea mussel reefs, seagrass beds and macroalgae ecosystem services produced and methods applied. The results, acknowledging the urgency of interfacing science, policy and society, validate the Eco-GAME as a framework for this purpose and present a multi-dimensional system of indicators as a further development.

Keywords: quality evaluation of scientific information; science integration; evidence-based decision-making; sustainable development; ecosystem services; meta-evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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