Synthesis action ESP escola d'estiu

Escola d'Estiu ESP 2026: Modelització de Serveis Ecosistemàtics i Indicadors de Biodiversitat

Overview

The ESP Summer School 2026 is a five-day training and synthesis activity hosted by CREAF at the UAB Bellaterra Campus in collaboration with the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) and international partners. The action responds to the need for stronger capacity in ecosystem-service modelling, biodiversity indicators and spatial analysis at a time when climate change, land-use change and biodiversity loss are reshaping Mediterranean and European landscapes. It is aligned with the ECO-RESILIENCE 360º themes by linking nature-based solutions, ecosystem risks and adaptation strategies through data-driven, reproducible workflows.

The programme combines morning theory sessions with afternoon practical work. The week is organised around four thematic blocks: opening and framing, carbon and climate regulation, biodiversity and habitat quality, and cultural services and recreation. Practical sessions will use geospatial and modelling approaches, including ARCGIS, InVEST, matrix-based habitat quality assessment, AIRES-ESTIMAP and biodiversity indicators, with exercises developed at the European scale. The course concludes with a field excursion to Montserrat and a final reflection on the links between spatial models, real landscapes and decision-making.

Objectives

The overall aim of the summer school is to train early-career researchers in the integration of ecosystem-service modelling, biodiversity indicators and spatial analysis for conservation, adaptation and decision-making in multifunctional landscapes.

The specific objectives are:

Train participants in open and reproducible workflows for ecosystem-service modelling and biodiversity assessment;
Combine ecological, social and economic perspectives on socio-ecological systems, with emphasis on Mediterranean and European landscapes;
Apply spatial models to key ecosystem-service themes, including carbon storage and climate regulation, habitat quality, biodiversity indicators and recreation potential;
Strengthen an interdisciplinary network between CREAF researchers, ESP, international partners and early-career scientists;
Produce reusable educational materials, shared datasets and dissemination outputs that support policy-relevant applications of ecosystem-service models and biodiversity indicators.

Schedule

Tuesday 1st September

Opening and framing - Sala de Graus II / Aula Informàtica PC 1-C

10:00-10:15: Opening session / ESP Summer School overview (Felipe S. Campos)
10:15-10:45: Ecosystem services, forest dynamics and biodiversity indicators (Javier Retana)
10:45-11:15: Fundamentals of ecosystem services science applied to ES modelling (Luis Inostroza)
11:15-11:30: Discussion and Q&A (Felipe S. Campos)
11:30-12:00: Coffee break
12:00-12:30: The European Framework for adaptation to global change (Annelies Broekman; Maria Vives-Ingla; Mireia Banqué)
12:30-13:00: Mapping ecosystem services with Earth Observation (Miguel Villoslada (TBC) / Solen le Clec'h)
13:00-13:15: Discussion and Q&A (Felipe S. Campos)
13:15-14:15: Lunch break
14:15-15:30: 3-Minute Project Pitch: participants' self-introduction, slot 1 (Vince van 't Hoff)
15:30-16:00: Coffee break
16:00-16:30: 3-Minute Project Pitch: participants' self-introduction, slot 2 (Vince van 't Hoff)
16:30-17:00: Group formation and stakeholder roles (Luiz Filho; João David)
17:00-17:30: Coaching and feedback from students in parallel sessions (All speakers)
17:30: Closing session (Felipe S. Campos)

Wednesday 2nd September

Carbon and climate regulation - Sala de Graus II / Aula Informàtica PC 1-C

10:00-10:15: Day overview and recap (Luiz Filho)
10:15-10:45: Ecosystem Services Platform: tools, data and innovation (Burcu Berk)
10:45-11:15: Nature-Based Solutions for Climate Resilience (Carlotta Quagliolo)
11:15-11:45: Coffee break
11:45-12:45: Geospatial modelling for climate change adaptation and ecosystem services (Pedro Cabral)
12:45-13:00: Discussion and Q&A (Luiz Filho)
13:00-14:15: Lunch break
14:15-15:30: Practical session 1 - Carbon / InVEST: preparing carbon inputs and applying the InVEST Carbon Storage and Sequestration model (Pedro Cabral; Felipe S. Campos; João David)
15:30-16:00: Coffee break
16:30-17:00: Mapping carbon patterns at the EU scale and discussion of results (Pedro Cabral; Felipe S. Campos; João David)
17:00-17:30: Coaching and feedback from students in parallel sessions (All speakers)
17:30: Group synthesis, closing session and daily reflection (Felipe S. Campos)

Thursday 3rd September

Biodiversity and habitat quality - Sala de Graus II / Aula Informàtica PC 1-C

10:00-10:15: Day overview and recap (Vince van 't Hoff)
10:15-10:45: Habitat quality, landscape change and biodiversity persistence (Lisieux Fuzessy)
10:45-11:15: Biodiversity indicators: from spatial data to decision-making (Felipe S. Campos)
11:15-11:30: Discussion and Q&A (Vince van 't Hoff or Carlotta Quagliolo)
11:30-12:00: Coffee break
12:00-12:45: Landscape dynamics, ecosystem services and public policies (Solen le Clec'h)
12:45-13:00: Discussion and Q&A (Vince van 't Hoff or Carlotta Quagliolo)
13:00-14:15: Lunch break
14:15-15:30: Practical session 3 - Habitat quality / matrix-based: defining scores by ecosystem type and integrating pressure layers (Solen le Clec'h)
15:30-16:00: Coffee break
16:30-17:00: Mapping habitat quality at the EU scale and discussion of biodiversity indicators (Solen le Clec'h; Felipe S. Campos; João David)
17:00: Group synthesis, closing session and daily reflection (Vince van 't Hoff)
20:30: Social dinner - venue TBC

Friday 4th September

Cultural services and recreation - Sala de Graus II / Aula Informàtica PC 1-C

10:00-10:15: Day overview and recap (Carlotta Quagliolo)
10:15-10:45: Socioeconomic perspectives on ecosystem services (Peter Roebeling)
10:45-11:15: Urban ecosystem services for landscape ecology (João David)
11:15-11:30: Discussion and Q&A (Carlotta Quagliolo)
11:30-12:00: Coffee break
12:00-13:00: Ecosystem extent mapping in a global monitoring context (Alessio Bulckaen)
13:00-13:15: Discussion and Q&A (Carlotta Quagliolo)
13:15-14:15: Lunch break
14:15-15:30: Practical session 4 - Recreation model / AIRES-ESTIMAP: proxy-based approaches and mapping recreation potential (Alessio Bulckaen)
15:30-16:00: Coffee break
16:30-17:00: Group synthesis: comparing approaches, trade-offs, limitations and policy relevance (Solen le Clec'h; Alessio Bulckaen)
17:00-17:30: Coaching and feedback from students in parallel sessions (All speakers)
17:30: Closing session and course wrap-up (Organising team)

Saturday 5th September

Field excursion - Parc Natural de la Muntanya de Montserrat

10:00: Meeting point and departure from UAB (Felipe S. Campos)
11:00: Field reflection: Mediterranean landscapes, biodiversity and ecosystem services (Lídia Quevedo)
13:00: Field exercise: observation of landscape structure and ecosystem-service perceptions (Luiz Filho)
14:00: Social lunch in Montserrat - venue TBC
17:00: Return to UAB, approximate time (Organising team)

Organising committee & speakers

The summer school is planned for approximately 35 selected early-career researchers, mainly PhD students and post-doctoral researchers, together with invited speakers, facilitators and CREAF mentors. The final list of participants will be added once registration is closed and attendance is confirmed.