Synthesis Report – Analysis of Ecosystem Services and Earth Observation Understanding and Needs by ECOPOTENTIAL Protected Areas

The synthesis study is part of Work Package (WP) 11, ‘Earth Observation supported policy development and integration’, of the ECOPOTENTIAL project. WP 11 should facilitate and enhance the understanding and use of Earth Observation and in-situ data, tools/services and of modelling results in decision-making, in particular, at the level of Protected Area management. WP11, therefore, focuses on scientific tools into practical use and then integration this knowledge into policy- and decision-making processes. The synthesis study focuses on Protected Area management and managers and the integration of knowledge and understanding of ecosystem services and EO. It investigates the following main questions: I. What are the needs and wishes of Protected Area managers for the application and quantification of ecosystem services? II. What is the current use of Earth Observation in policy, management and decision-making of Protected Areas? III. What research needs should ECOPOTENTIAL address? IV. How should research results be designed and communicated?