Research Jan Staes

Research team

• Ecosphere

Expertise

Dr. Staes Jan has been working at the Ecosystem Management Research Group since 2002. In 2002-2004 he developed (and applied) a concept and methodology for the elaboration of river basin management plans. He quickly specialized in using geographical information systems (GIS) to develop spatial analysis tools and methods. To guide the application of the concept on two other basins, he was contracted for 6 months as a civil servant for the Flemish administration for environment, nature and energy. He returned to the university and became involved in the teaching and training program for the chair on Integrated Water Management (IMDO). This was combined with several research projects in the field of integrated water management. In 2006 he started Collaborative Research with the Department of Hydraulics (University of Leuven) on hydrological effects of ecosystem management and rewetting. This new expertise resulted in his involvement in the ADAPT project (2005-2009), funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office (BELSPO). The ADAPT project aimed to develop an integrated decision tool for adaptation measures, with a focus on adaptation to extreme floods. During the course of the project, Jan Staes applied for an interdisciplinary research network project, called SUDEM-CLI (2008-2010) “Impact of climate change on river hydrology and ecology: A case study for interdisciplinary policy oriented research”, which was also funded by BELSPO. In 2009, the Policy preparation division of the Flemish Administration for Environment, Nature and Energy of ecosystem services commissioned a project entitled “Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services for Societal Cost Benefit Assessments” The project resulted in a manual and a web-based application called “Nature Value Explorer”. The development of the Nature Value Explorer has been a pivotal moment for further research on ES in the Flemish Region. Jan Staes was involved in the application and execution of many other ES- research projects such as BEES “BElgium Ecosystem Services: A vision for society–nature interactions”; ECOFRESH: “ECOsystem services of FRESHwater systems” and ESSENSE “Mapping regulating Ecosystem Services using remote SENSing imagery”, which were all funded by BELSPO. Jan Staes was the main researcher from ECOBE in the SBO project CcASPAR “climate change and changes in spatial structures in Flanders” (2009-2013). In this project, Jan Staes was able to research on the development of Ecosystem based Adaptation concepts, linking ecosystem services to spatial planning and climate adaptation. Since 2009, Jan Staes has also been a major force behind the application for a large ES-research project ECOPLAN “Planning for Ecosystem Services”. ECOPLAN developed spatially explicit information and tools for the assessment of ecosystem services and the evaluation of functional ecosystems as a cost-efficient and multi-purpose strategy to improve environmental quality. Jan Staes was in charge for the day-to-day coordination of the IWT-SBO project ECOPLAN “Planning for Ecosystem Services” from 2012-2016. ECOPLAN developed the Scenario-Evaluator, a GIS model that facilitates the integration and consideration of ES in (spatial) planning projects. His team developed a high resolution, spatial explicit tool (QGIS plug-in) to assess the effects of spatial scenarios on 18 ecosystem services. At the moment he is WP-leader for the Horizon 2020 project “LANDMARK”. WP4 develops an EU-scale scenario assessment framework for soil functions and services. He is also the scientific lead for the INTERREG 2 SEAS project PROWATER “PROTECTING AND RESTORING RAW WATER SOURCES THROUGH ACTIONS AT THE LANDSCAPE SCALE”. The overall objective is to build resilience against droughts (and extreme precipitation events) by enhancing infiltration and water retention capacity of landscapes in regions of strategic importance for drinking water production.