Ecosystem challenge

The ecosystem challenge will assess the links and feedbacks between the natural environment, ecosystem services and human well‐being; how these might continue to develop within environmental limits in the face of major environmental change; and how decision‐making and local and national planning can take account of these links and feedbacks to help in the development of new social, environmental and economic opportunities.

The ecosystem challenge steering group:

The steering group will ensure that the UK gets the tools, knowledge and foresight needed to address the ecosystem challenge. The group is chaired by Pamela Kempton from the Natural Environment Research Council.

The group will

• review the identification and engagement of relevant research, policy, business and society communities.
• develop a vision for success for funders, policy, business and society and a strategic framework and implementation plan for the challenge.

Ecosystem roadmapping

The UK needs to have a robust understanding of environmental knowledge needs so that investment can be prioritised effectively.

On 11 March 2011, the ecosystem challenge group held a roadmapping workshop. This is the first step towards a strategic framework to help the UK deliver against the objectives defined by the Ecosystem Challenge. The workshop involved business leaders, policy‐makers, regulators, research managers and non-governmental organisations. Workshop documents below are available to download.

What does this challenge mean for business?

The issue

We depend on key ecosystem services, but only some are assigned economic value. The cost to society of damage to ecosystems is high.

Business threats

• Loss of key resources through over-exploitation.
• Supply chain disruption.
• Increased regulation and social pressure.

Business opportunities

• Estimated market by 2020 for ecosystem management and low-impact products is over $280 billion per year.
• Remediation, restoration and regeneration.

Read documents related to the ecosystem challenge: