Invitation

Biodiversity valorization can be approached methodologically from several angles, including business, socio-economic, and cultural perspectives. Biodiversity underpins a wide range of ecosystem services - from recreational opportunities in nature to the production of food - and bio-diversification is therefore a key foundation for future sustainable development. 

Consequently, future bio-based economic models should be closely linked to biodiversity. By incorporating economic mechanisms, biodiversity can be actively supported and strengthened, as illustrated through concrete business case examples. At the same time, even when environmentally responsible practices lead to cost and time savings, fostering change in agriculture can be extremely difficult. This webinar outlines strategies to increase the success of behavioral adoption, ranging from identifying barriers and opportunities from the perspectives of agricultural practitioners to engaging with their underlying value systems. 

Program

10:00 – 10:10 
Welcome and Introduction: Why is valorizing biodiversity in environmental settings an important topic? 
Morten Ambye-Jensen, head of CBIO and Associate Professor at Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University 

10:10 – 10:40
Economic valuation of biodiversity – what values are at play?
Marianne Zandersen, Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University

This presentation introduces ecosystem services and approaches to valuing them, from private economics to welfare economics. 
It discusses how actual and presumptive property rights shape environmental and agricultural policy. 
A cost–benefit analysis of a planned Water and Nature Park in Aarhus Municipality illustrates the multiple societal values of renaturation. 
Overall, it highlights how we govern, value and pay for biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

10:40 – 11.10
Biodiversity effects and potential benefits for humans
Rasmus Ejrnæs, Professor, Department of Ecoscience, Aarhus University

Biodiversity is in long-term decline due to the exploitation of natural resources and the modification of ecosystems. Reversing the crisis requires prioritizing the protection and restoration of existing habitats through the mitigation hierarchy, rather than creating small biotopes in production landscapes. Mitigation is generally costly, with only a few beneficial exceptions, such as naturalistic grazing and biodiversity credits.

11:10 – 11:40
Biodiversity 'value' from a business perspective 
Helle Søndergaard, Associate Professor, Department of Management, BSS, AU

11:40 – 12:10 
Fostering environmental behaviors among agriculturalists: Strategies from the social sciences
Roslynn McCann, Professor, Sustainable Communities in Depart. Of Environment and Society, Utah State University. Guest Researcher, Aarhus University

Even when environmental behaviors will result in cost and time savings, fostering change in agriculture can be extremely difficult. This presentation will overview strategies to increase the success of behavioral adoption, ranging from identifying barriers and opportunities from the perspectives of agriculturalists to speaking to their value systems. Participants will glean hands-on tools and techniques they can apply in their research.

12:10 – 12:30
Summary and Questions 
Facilitated by Morten Ambye-Jensen
An open debate and reflection on the key takeaways from the presentations 

The webinar will be recorded and posted on CBIO’s website.