Mobility for collaboration in the field of environmental assessment and ecosystem services valuation

Purpose and goal

The purpose of mobility was to (i) broaden the competence of the applicant and his home organization in environmental economics and valuation of ecosystem services, (ii) increase the competence of the recipient organization for ecosystem services in a municipal context, and (iii) create long-term cooperation between applicant and receiving organization. All of these goals have been met. The project has created long-term cooperation through a 3-year project granted by the Swedish Envir. Prot. Agency, within which cooperation have also been created with several other companies.

Expected results and effects

During the mobility period, the visits at Anthesis Enveco AB in Stockholm resulted in several research applications, the initiation of a larger joint research project, and participation in a research article on ecosystem services in a municipal planning perspective. For the recipient organization, mobility has created an increased understanding of the challenges facing municipalities in terms of planning and decision in matters relating to natural values and ecosystem services. Mobility has overall created very good conditions for continued cooperation.

Planned approach and implementation

The mobility has been implemented according to plan by regular visits and working periods by I. Jönsson at Anthesis Enveco AB in Stockholm during the project period May 2017 to October 2018. The length of individual stays has varied between 2-4 days. The visits have created the opportunity to regularly discuss joint research interests and possible collaborative projects, and not least to get to know each other in ways that otherwise would not have been possible. Periodically there were difficulties in planning stays but extended project time enabled mobility to be fully implemented.