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Joint US-China Center on Ecosystem Services (JUCCES)

Background

In October 2005, a Chinese delegation consisting of governmental officials involved in program management and scientists in the field of ecosystem research visited the University of Vermont (UVM). Several meetings and discussions were held there regarding bilateral collaboration in ecosystem research. It was agreed to jointly establish a long term cooperation mechanism for promoting research and academic exchanges. In November 2006, Prof Dr. Robert Costanza visited the Institute of Geographic Sciences & Natural Resources Research (IGSNRR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) to further discuss and clarify collaboration issues. Dr. Costanza visited with researchers from IGSNRR again in Beijing during the EcoSummit in May, 2007 to bring the discussions to the point described in what follows. The US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) was also invited to participate in the discussions based on the mutual research interest expressed by Dr. John Johnston in the symposium session on Ecosystem Services in the US and China. An important first step is the co-sponsorship of a workshop to critically review the state-of-the-practice of ecosystem services assessment and valuation. Creating a formal relationship, such as through the development of a Memorandum of Cooperation, was also discussed.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of JUCCES is to provide a platform for facilitating collaboration, communication, and coordination among scientists who have been engaged in studies on natural capital, ecosystem services, eco-compensation, impacts of ecosystem changes on human well-being, and response options for developing a harmonized relationship between humans and the rest of nature. Specific objectives are:

Major activities

To achieve the above objectives, JUCCES is going to conduct the following activities:

  1. Information dissemination through joint publications
    Both sides have done considerable research in the field of ecosystem services, and many research findings are readily available. It is therefore suggested to integrate all those findings and results together and have joint journal publications in international well known journal(s). For example, a joint symposium was held at the EcoSummit (organized by Shuang Liu), that will be the basis for a special issue of Ecological Economics.
  2. Collaborations and coordination among existing programs or projects
    These will be carried out mainly through developing new links and fostering present collaborations and coordination among research programs currently in progress on both sides. The EPA has a strong history of technical transfer with Chinese academic and governmental organizations for watershed and water quality modeling. JUCCES will help build on these experiences, applying models and modeling frameworks to simulate the provisioning, protective and other services.
  3. Development of research projects and identification of potential sponsorship
    JUCCES will coordinate collaborative research programs. For this, the center will organize activities to identify key science questions in ecosystem services research and the approaches to find potential sponsorship.
  4. Capacity building, including technical training and international information communication on ecosystem research and sustainable management
    JUCCES will provide opportunities through developing a platform for collaboration, communication, and coordination among scientists who are involved in ecosystem services from both sides. A first symposium on ecosystem services was held in Beijing in May 2006, as part of the EcoSummit. A second workshop on protocols for ecosystem service research is being planned for summer, 2008. This will also be the formal kick-off event for JUCCES. system services field.