CREAF co-organises the ESP Summer School 2026, featuring participants from four continents and focusing on ecology

Ecosystem services are the central theme of the 2026 ESP Summer School, co-organized by CREAF and the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP), which brought together 25 PhD students from around the world with heterogeneous academic backgrounds. Drawing on specializations such as ecology, finance, geographic information systems (GIS), policy decision-making, and the social sciences, participants engaged in lectures, practical sessions, and working groups—all under the overarching theme of ecology—as well as a field trip. Centered on the topic 'Ecosystem service modeling and biodiversity indicators', the forum's primary goal is knowledge transfer based on exchange and teamwork, according to researcher Felipe Siqueira Campos, the driving force behind this international forum's 2026 edition at CREAF. The link between science and policy action is a hallmark of ESP’s activities and played a significant role in the 2026 summer school.

The emphasis on ecology was arguably the distinctive touch CREAF brought to the planning of this second edition of the summer school. Siqueira Campos explains that when the proposal to co-organize the 2026 event was received, he suggested to the ESP that they focus on biodiversity indicators—partly to complement the themes of economic valuation and knowledge transfer featured in the previous edition. "My proposal is for ecosystem service ecology and biodiversity indicators to form a solid foundation for the 2026 edition, thereby broadening its scope compared to previous editions", he explains, acknowledging that this is his area of ​​scientific expertise and, consequently, where he can add the most value. Speakers from the CREAF team included Mireia Banqué, Burcu Berk and Javier Retana.

Expanding and strengthening the international network of contacts is the other major objective of this annual international gathering. Felipe Siqueira Campos notes that 57 registrations have been received from individuals representing 33 countries and four continents: "the group is truly international, with diverse research backgrounds and varied areas of expertise, which enriches the exchange." This is the second edition of the summer school—the first was held in Aveiro, Portugal—and it has benefited from the collaboration of the Foundation for Sustainable Development (Netherlands), the University of Aveiro (Portugal), and Wageningen University (Germany).

The opening session featured a presentation by scientist Luis Inostroza, member of the ESP executive committee, researcher at Mendel University in Brno (Czech Republic), and co-chair of the IPBES chapter on Spatial Planning and Ecological Connectivity Assessment. Inostroza has highlighted the significance of the recent edition receiving 57 applications—from which 25 were selected—while emphasizing the importance of making knowledge and methodology available to younger generations. "The presentations during the opening session were highly timely and enriching, such as Burcu Berk’s compilation of tools for processing and analyzing ecosystem services, and Javier Retana's keynote address on landscape connectivity, regenerative agriculture, and forestry".

Vince van't Hoff, from the Foundation for Sustainable Development, highlighted the event's interdisciplinary nature: "It is inspiring to hear the diverse perspectives brought by specialists in economics and ecology, as well as professionals from financial institutions and companies working to integrate nature into their decision-making processes. Ultimately, everyone needs to be involved to make an impact and take better decisions for both nature and society." The leadership team also includes Solen le Clech from Wageningen University and Carlotta Quagliolo from the University of Aveiro.