Knowledge Tree
ecosystem services
Facts (43)
Sources
Realist Review on Just Transition Towards Low Emission, Climate ... link.springer.com Jan 5, 2026 27 facts
procedureThe research team developed sector-level theories of change for energy, food and agriculture, and ecosystem services, as well as a multi-sector theory of change for food/agriculture and ecosystem services combined, to map causal pathways for just transition interventions in non-Annex I countries.
measurementThe mapping of activities against outcomes in ecosystem services found a low incidence of social equity and social gains outcomes achieved through prevented or reduced job losses within sectors or the whole economy.
measurementThe study identified 13 intervention types in the energy sector, four in the agriculture/food sector, two in the infrastructure sector, and three in ecosystem services, with the latter category comprising land protection interventions.
claimEnablers for a just transition in ecosystem services and agriculture/food systems include soft social equity factors such as strong stakeholder engagement, community awareness, alignment with stakeholder needs, utilization of existing knowledge, and contextually appropriate technologies.
claimBarriers to just transition in ecosystem services and agriculture often cluster around social equity issues, specifically inadequate coordination between sector agencies and implementing partners, lack of clarity regarding benefits for stakeholders, and the unequal distribution of benefits which creates tension.
measurementInterventions focused on ecosystem services were relatively evenly distributed across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, while the Caribbean, Europe, and the Pacific Islands had significantly fewer interventions and lower sector coverage.
measurementJust transition interventions in the combined ecosystem services and agriculture/food sectors show a lower incidence of reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
claimInterventions in ecosystem services are more likely to succeed when communities are informed, committed to engaging in the interventions, and when the interventions are well-structured and aligned with regulatory frameworks and community knowledge.
measurementThe most common combination of multi-sector interventions identified in the study was agriculture/food and ecosystem services, totaling 11 interventions.
procedureThe realist review conducted by the GCF-IEU and ILO seeks to answer six specific research questions regarding just transition interventions in non-Annex I countries, including: 1) What evidence exists for interventions in energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and ecosystem services? 2) How can just transition outcomes be methodologically defined for workers, households, and firms? 3) What is the landscape of existing studies and how can they be clustered? 4) How effective are just transition approaches in key economic sectors? 5) How do underlying programme theories illuminate the effectiveness and efficiency of interventions? 6) How can the evidence base be synthesized to support programming by global climate funds and international agencies?
procedureThe research team combined the theory of change for just transition in ecosystem services and the agriculture and food sectors to map intervention activities to reported outcomes.
claimThe creation of new agencies and mechanisms to drive change and protect human rights is an enabler for a just transition in ecosystem services.
referenceThe review presents a theory of change for just transition in ecosystem services, which includes key barriers, enablers, and examples of inputs, activities, outputs, and outcomes, as illustrated in Figure 16.
claimInclusive social policies for just transitions in ecosystem services and agriculture/food systems include farmer-to-farmer extension, skills training, and farmer field schools.
claimThe realization of outputs from activities supporting ecosystem services occurs when interventions are delivered by a critical mass of beneficiaries who are included in decision-making and accept that preserving and transforming ecosystem services is beneficial for consumers, communities, and firms long-term.
claimApproaches to a just transition within key economic sectors, specifically energy, agriculture, food, and ecosystem services, are nuanced and require different interventions to achieve desired pathways.
claimThe mapping of just transition interventions found a low incidence of prevented or reduced negative social outcomes within social groups or across society, potentially due to ecosystem services operating in the informal economy where data recording is less developed.
claimMapping activities to outcomes in agriculture, food, and ecosystem services reveals that the highest incidence of outcomes occurs across three areas: enhanced climate resilience, maximized social, economic, and decent work gains within regions or countries, and greater social and gender equality.
measurementThe research team identified 11 interventions that focused on or contributed towards a just transition across both agriculture and food and ecosystem services.
referenceThe realist review analyzed global evidence on interventions contributing to a just transition in developing countries across the sectors of energy, agriculture and food, infrastructure, and ecosystem services.
claimThe Independent Evaluation Unit of the Green Climate Fund (GCF-IEU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) conducted a global evidence review of interventions aiming to contribute to a just transition in non-Annex I countries, specifically within the sectors of energy, agriculture and food, infrastructure, and ecosystem services.
measurementIn the data set analyzed for the Realist Review on Just Transition Towards Low Emission, Climate, the sectors with the highest number of single-sector interventions are energy (46), agriculture/food (15), and ecosystem services (13).
claimInputs for the theory of change in ecosystem services and agriculture/food systems are categorized into financing and funding (international loans and domestic public finance) and technical knowledge and support (international support and access to knowledge).
claimMapping studies found a low incidence of prevented or reduced negative social outcomes within social groups or across society, which may be attributed to ecosystem services operating primarily in the informal economy where data recording and job tracking are less developed.
claimThe evidence review conducted by the GCF-IEU and ILO focused on interventions in the energy, agriculture and food, infrastructure, and ecosystem services sectors within non-Annex I countries.
referenceThe Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) categorizes ecosystem services into four types: provisioning services (food, water, timber), regulating services (flood, disease, and pest control, waste decomposition, pollination), cultural services (recreation, spiritual benefits), and supporting services (soil formation, photosynthesis, nutrient cycling).
referenceThe scope of the realist review on just transition interventions in developing countries covers the sectors of energy, agriculture and food, infrastructure, and ecosystem services.
Practitioners' perceived risks to biodiversity from renewable energy ... nature.com Feb 27, 2025 3 facts
referenceGrilli et al. (2016) surveyed experts' opinions regarding the effects of renewable energy development on ecosystem services within the Alpine region.
referenceGrodsky and Hernandez (2020) found that ground-mounted solar energy development leads to reduced ecosystem services provided by desert plants.
referenceJones, Pejchar, and Kiesecker (2015) investigated how oil, natural gas, and wind energy infrastructure affect land use for biodiversity and the flow of ecosystem services.
An integrated climate-biodiversity framework to improve planning ... ecologyandsociety.org 3 facts
quoteA municipal-level interviewee stated: "[Ecosystem] services and the valuation of these assets, if we had a true understanding of these assets, and we could put them in a common framework and create a triple bottom line."
referenceTurner et al. (2014) published 'Bundling ecosystem services in Denmark: trade-offs and synergies in a cultural landscape' in Landscape and Urban Planning, which analyzes ecosystem services in Denmark.
referenceChan, K. M. A., L. Hoshizaki, and B. Klinkenberg published 'Ecosystem services in conservation planning: targeted benefits vs. co-benefits or costs?' in Plos One in 2011.
Compendium Vol. 5 No. 1: The ecological role of native plants bio4climate.org 2 facts
perspectiveHarvey (2017) proposes that a shift in focus from individual species to interaction networks is necessary to achieve conservation management and restoration ecology goals, such as conserving biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and landscape-scale delivery of ecosystem services.
perspectiveConservation efforts should shift focus from individual species to interaction networks to achieve goals related to biodiversity, ecosystem processes, and landscape-scale delivery of ecosystem services, as proposed by Harvey et al. (2017).
The meaning of net zero and how to get it right - Nature nature.com Dec 20, 2021 1 fact
referenceThe 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, authored by E. S. Brondizio, J. Settele, S. Diaz, and H. T. Ngo, provides a comprehensive assessment of the state of global biodiversity and ecosystem services.
“The Old Foods Are the New Foods!”: Erosion and Revitalization of ... frontiersin.org 1 fact
referenceNancy J. Turner and Dana Mathews authored 'Serving nature: completing the ecosystem services circle' in 2020, which discusses ecosystem services.
Wild edible plants for food security, dietary diversity, and nutraceuticals frontiersin.org Nov 27, 2025 1 fact
claimFood systems must be transformed to integrate food security, nutrition, ecosystem services, climate change mitigation/adaptation, and rural prosperity to ensure just and equitable livelihoods.
An ethnobotanical study on wild edible plants in Taishan County ... frontiersin.org Jul 10, 2025 1 fact
referencePejchar L. and Mooney H. A. (2009) published 'Invasive species, ecosystem services and human well-being' in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, volume 24, pages 497–504.
How the intersection of modern diets, climate, and food systems is ... medicalxpress.com Nov 17, 2025 1 fact
claimCoastal ecosystems face climate-induced increases in harmful algal blooms and antibiotic-resistant Vibrio bacteria, which threaten ecosystem services like seafood provisioning and recreation.
Ethnobotanical Study of Wild Edible Plants and Their Indigenous ... scirp.org 1 fact
claimEthiopia’s topography, climate, and biological and social diversity have fostered varied traditional knowledge and wild edible plant species that are essential for food and nutrition security, income generation, and ecosystem services.
Balancing land use for conservation, agriculture, and renewable ... nature.com Mar 7, 2026 1 fact
referenceWeiskopf, S. R. et al. published 'Climate change effects on biodiversity, ecosystems, ecosystem services, and natural resource management in the United States' in Science of The Total Environment in 2020, which reviews the intersection of climate change and ecological management.
Measurement of diets that are healthy, environmentally sustainable ... frontiersin.org 1 fact
claimResearch on the linkages between dietary patterns and human/planetary health informs policy-level actions and investments needed to meet climate-related emissions targets, tackle malnutrition, support 'nature positive' actions to preserve ecosystem services, and promote a just transition to inclusive food systems governance.