The Cooperative Participatory Evaluation of Renewable Technologies on Ecosystem Services (CORPORATES): Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science Vol 7 No 1

3 Overall Outcomes

The CORPORATES study is a pilot study exploring the use of the concept of Ecosystem Services ( ES) to build dialogue between marine sectors and stakeholders, and allow discussions on the evaluation of trade-offs between ecological, economic and cultural values from within the existing regulatory framework in Scotland.

CORPORATES was built around 2 cross-sectoral Workshops, which included structured introductions (interludes) of underlying ecological processes, together with an overview of relevant marine and terrestrial laws and policy applicable to the project, enhanced development of cross sector and inter-disciplinary understanding. This enabled appreciation of the possible interactions of ES with the range of stakeholder activities, and the resulting trade-offs required. The initial mapping activities, in sectoral groups (Fishing/Maritime, Recreation & Tourism, Conservation & Ecological, Renewables), had two uses: identifying spatial usages in the region which were then shared across sectors, and allowing participants to be immediately actively involved in the process.

Overall, in preparing for the Workshops, the research team developed a shared appreciation of each other's areas of expertise. Explaining science, law and methodologies to each other resulted in a careful use of language and a wider appreciation of the issues associated with the project.

In Workshop 1, interactive 'conversations' between stakeholders within cross-sectoral groups on benefits and ES exposed similarities in benefits experienced by each sector (Figures 19 and 20), building rapport between sectors. Following on from this, linking benefits to the most important regional ES in Workshop 2 allowed stakeholders to appreciate common reliance on different ES

The CSM network mapping (Figure 23 and 24) in Workshop 2 consolidated concepts introduced during the interludes, and built upon the benefits & ES conversations, further improving knowledge of the mechanisms of ES. It was the base upon which the impacts of activities, climate change and policy options were explored by mixed sector groups, further reinforcing the concept of ES and their reliance on a healthy, functioning ecosystem. Finally, written narratives allowed individual stakeholders to express views and concerns about future changes to ES, and to benefits and activities relying on ES. This allowed for anonymous expression of points a stakeholder may have felt had not been adequately dealt with within the workshop.

Attendees found the format and content of the Workshops' useful to sharing knowledge (>90% agreed), and although some were familiar with the concept of ES before Workshop 1, the majority felt the activities contributed to their knowledge (75%). Many stakeholders commented that the mixing of sectors was a new experience. The biggest difference of the Workshops to stakeholders, as compared to other consultations, was the usefulness, as well as the possible way forward within MSP, of utilising ES concepts in mixed sector groups. These exercises created synergy, producing new insights for stakeholders into possible trade-offs between activities and ES, and highlighting cross-sector concerns.

The useful outcomes of these Workshops have led to the conclusion that these methods provide an ES-based decision-support model for exchanging societal-ecological knowledge and providing stakeholder interaction in marine planning. This is considered to be an appropriate method of achieving an ecosystem approach to marine planning decisions as required by law. It was also noted that the approach could be immediate relevant in Scotland as it could be utilised in the development of the marine regional planning regime, which are now required to be implemented in the 11 Scottish marine planning regions.