HABEaS - Hotspot Areas for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

HABEaS stands for Hotspot Areas for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and is a free online geographic information system that provides information on biodiversity and ecosystem services to stakeholders in the Mediterranean Basin. Currently, it covers Portugal and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Methods

Mapping/GIS

Topics

Biodiversity
Ecosystem services

Constraints

Product requirements

HABEaS WebGIS can be used to gather data on biodiversity and ecosystem services and to create a conservation portfolio for a given area. This portfolio can then be presented to companies or entities interested in investing in biodiversity and ecosystems services.
In order to implement a PES scheme it is crucial to adopt a credible and objective verification system, that allows investors to be sure the ecosystems services they are investing in are actually being provided.

Advantages

The information included in HABEaS was analyzed and processed according to the Methodology for the identification of High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA). The concept of High Conservation Value Areas (HCVA) was originally developed by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to be applied in forest certification, but over the years it has been used in a wide variety of contexts and situations.
In countries where FSC certification is implemented there is a National Interpretation of High Conservation Value Areas, which results from a process of public consultation. By using a standard methodology, that is applied worldwide, HABEaS WebGIS can therefore be extended to any region of the world.

Links

http://www.habeas-med.org/?q=node/45

Contact details

habeas@wwf.panda.org

Phone: (+351) 21 365 33 33

Fax: (+351) 21 365 32 90

Website: http://www.isa.utl.pt/ceabn/

Address: Centro de Ecologia Aplicada Prof. Baeta Neves Instituto Superior de Agronomia Tapada da Ajuda 1349 - 017 Lisboa, Portugal

HABEaS - Hotspot Areas for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Associated Oppla members