The first public SELS autumn symposium was held on October 29th 2009. Around 50 participants (researchers, policy makers and journalists) joined the symposium to insight in the results-to-date of the SELS research program (2006 – 2009) and discuss the role of scientific knowledge on ecosystem services in policy-making.
In the morning, an overview has been given of the scientific knowledge available by WUR (mainly from SELS but also from other research programs) during 4 thematic plenary sessions. In the afternoon it will be discussed how this knowledge is, or is not yet, used in three main policy fields: the Natuurverkenning 2011, the National Ecological Network (EHS) and the Dutch Biodiversity Policy.

Below you may find an overview of the program with a list of the presentations that were given during the SELS autumn symposium.
In the program the PDF versions of the presentations can be downloaded, when available.

The program:
* Introduction to the SELS Symposium 2009 (Dolf de Groot) (PDF - 2,5 MB!)

* Introduction to the KB1 Research program 2010-2013 (Paul Opdam) (PDF - 2 MB)

* 4 thematic overviews of SELS research
The thematic leaders gave an update of the SELS project(s) and discussed the progress, results and future of the projects.
(1) Quantifying ecosystem services
- Introduction (Abco de Buck)
- Services of multi-functional constructed wetlands; pilot Waterpark Het Lankheet (Adrie van der Werf)
- Mapping bio-control as a landscape service (Hans Baveco) (PDF - 4 MB!!)
(2) Valuation of ecosystem services and trade-off analysis
- Introduction (Roel Jongeneel)
- RITAM: Economic aspects in landscape decision-making - a participatory planning tool based on a representative approach (Martijn van der Heide)
- Landscape perceptions in relation with multifunctional agriculture (Abco de Buck)
(3) Financing ecosystem services
- Introduction (Dolf de Groot)
- “Pricing ecosystem payments” or who pays for Nature Conservation? (Herbert Diemont & Raymond Schrijver)
(4) Ecosystem services in landscape planning, management and design
- Introduction (Leon Braat)
- Ecosystem services in participative landscape planning (Willemien Geertsema & Eveliene Steingrover)

* Introductions to the afternoon discussions:
1) Nature Assessment 2011 (Dick Melman & Rob Alkemade)
2) National Ecological Network (EHS) (Aris Gaaff & Roel Jongeneel)
3) Dutch Biodiversity Policy (John van Himbergen & Leon Braat)
* During breaks there was time to view and discuss posters of SELS researchers and guests.

* In the afternoon 3 parallel-sessions we organized to discuss on the role of Ecosystem Services in Policy:
1) The Natuurbalans (Nature balance) 2011 aims to better quantify ecosystem services, and will analyse how they have changed (organized by Dick Melman & Rob Alkemade)
- Nature Assessment 2011 – some details for discussion (Rob Alkemade)
2) National Ecological Network (EHS) - There is much discussion about the costs of the EHS but protecting habitats (eg Natura 2000) also provides many social and economic benefits (organized by Aris Gaaff & Roel Jongeneel)
- The long term future of the EHS and challenges for the research agenda (Aris Gaaff & Dick Melman)
- Cost-effectiveness research and optimization of the EHS (Hans Leneman a.o.)
- Social Cost Benefit analysis (MKBA) of the EHS : an institutional-economic analysis (Roel Jongeneel, Nico Polman & Louis Slangen)
3) The Dutch Biodiversity Policy. The new Dutch Biodiversity Policy aims to strengthen and propagate biodiversity protection in and outside the Netherlands and stimulates innovative financing mechanisms for nature conservation (organized by John van Himbergen & Leon Braat)
- Introduction Biodiversity Program (Beleidsprogramma Biodiversiteit (BB)) (John v. Himbergen)
- Forest Financing Strategies in Latin America (Herman Savenije (Min. LNV) & Kees van Dijk (Tropenbos International))
- Reflection and questions to science and policy makers (Leon Braat)

* Plenary Panel discussion (with the session leaders and invited policymakers)

* Final remarks and outlook on future SELS research (1,5 MB!) (Leon Braat)