Advanced Institute in Ecosystem Services
Valuation and Modeling

The concept of ecosystem services was introduced at the beginning of 21st Century
by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of the United Nations to find solutions that
will conserve ecosystem resources and further human wellbeing. Integrated
valuation and models are required to enable a better appreciation of ecosystem
services in policy and decision-making.

The Sapporo Nodal Office of the Global Land Project (http://www.globallandproject.org/;
http://www.glp.hokudai.ac.jp) in collaboration with the Integrated Field
Environmental Science – Global Center of Excellence, Hokkaido University
(http://www.ees.hokudai.ac.jp/gcoe/en/index.html) will host training for young
scientists on techniques for valuing and mapping ecosystem services in the summer
of 2010.

Training Logistics

The Institute will be held from August 9 – 13, 2010 at the Faculty of Environmental
Earth Science Hokkaido University in Sapporo. Course instructors from institutions in
US, Germany, and Japan will cover multi-stakeholder framework for ecosystem
services assessment, choice experiment and contingent valuation, multiple land
functions modeling, multivariate statistical techniques and modeling in the context of
Reducing Emissions Due to Degradation and Deforestation (REDD).

Targeted Participants

About 20-25 participants from around the world will be selected for the training.
Travel scholarships will be awarded to deserving applicants. Participants should meet
the following criteria
1. Postdocs and Doctoral Students (who have completed at least one year of PhD
course) in social and environmental sciences including land change studies, natural
resources evaluation and related disciplines.
2. Have basic knowledge of geographical information system and statistics.
3. Proficiency in English, the official language of the Institute.

Application Procedure

To apply, send a cover letter (one page) including funding requirement (full, partial
or none), curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages), statement of research interests (one
page), and a letter of recommendation from your supervisor (one page), all as a
single PDF attachment to ecosmag@glp.hokudai.ac.jp by May 31 2010. Please do
not send your application to any other e-mail address.

Poster download here.