OPERAs is a European research project that is helping to put cutting edge ecosystem science into practice. Composed of scientists, researchers and practioners from 27 different organisations the project seeks to help stakeholders to apply the ecosystem services and natural capital concept into practice.

Thinking in terms of ecosystem services and natural capital explicitly acknowledges our dependence on nature, and therefore the need to better protect and manage natural resources. For this reason these concepts have been adopted by policy, but the use of the concepts in practice is still in its infancy. The OPERAs project explores how and under what conditions these concepts can move beyond the academic domain towards practical implementation in support of sustainable ecosystem management.

OPERAs produces, refines and integrates cutting edge ecosystem service science into policy and practice. OPERAs provides stakeholders with user-friendly tools and instruments to enable them to apply ecosystem services science and knowledge in their field of work. OPERAs works across a range of ecosystems, in ‘exemplar’ case-studies, transforming ecosystem services and natural capital into practice research applies the ecosystem services and natural capital concepts. OPERAs engages with stakeholders across science, policy and practice to build a community around its outputs. OPERAs works with OpenNESS to develop an open platform for collaboration between communities of science, policy and practice. This online hub brings together innovations in nature-based solutions from across Europe.

OPERAs Ecosystem Science for Policy & Practice