• 3.1: Valuing the environment
• 3.2: Economic assessment to support policy decision
• 3.3: Institutions and governance
• 3.4: Economic instruments and financing
• 3.5: Scenario-building and prospective
• 3.6: Statistical analysis
• 3.7: Territorial diagnosis
• 3.8: Interactive methods to promote multi-stakeholder dialogue

The toolbox mobilised by ACTeon

Valuing the environment

ACTeon mobilises a wide range of methods (travel cost, contingent valuation, avoided-costs...) to estimate the economic value of environmental goods and services. Key in the application of these methods is the combination of technical, social, economic and statistical expertise. This ensures that environmental goods (or scenarios of change) to be valued are based on solid technical & scientific bases and can be understood by those interviewed.

Economic assessment to support policy decision

Cost-effectiveness, multi-criteria analysis and cost-benefit analysis are among the assessments applied by ACTeon to support policy and management decisions in the field of natural ressources. In some cases, detailed assessments of individual economic sectors, looking at their integration into the wider economy, are performed. ACTeon has also developed specific expertise in economic modelling applied to the agriculture sector. 

Economic instruments and financing

In line with the requirements of the WFD, ACTeon has developed expertise in the area of economic instruments and financing for the environment. The following policy questions can be addressed : Who pays for what? Which financial capacity of economic sectors to support the costs of environmental protection? Which innovative economic instruments to mobilise additional financial resources ? How to design economic instruments so they  provide the right signal (incentive) to economic sectors for a wise and sustainable use of natural resources?

Scenario-building and prospective

Methods for developing scenarios and shared visions for the (likely) future(s) of territories at different spatial and decision making scales are part of the toolbox available at ACTeon. Methods that are combined to respond to the local context and ambitions include (environmental and economic) modelling, (statistical-based) trend analysis, development of story-lines based on actors' interviews, interactive multi-stakeholder events for building shared visions (e.g. via the backcasting method)...   

Statistical analysis

Advanced statistical methods and tests are applied, in particular in the field of environmental valuation (e.g. contingent valuation) to ensure robustness of the analyses performed by ACTeon staff and quality of the end-results. 

Territorial diagnosis

Multi-disciplinary approaches are applied to analyse the different facets of territories in terms of natural environment, socio-economics, patrimony, infrastructure....  These elements help identifying the strengths and weaknesses of territories, along with future opportunities and threats to their development. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used to capture and present the spatial structure of territories, their relation to neighbouring territories and their dynamics. 

Institutions and governance

The roles and responsibilities of actors, their networks and knowledge systems, the formal and informal rules proposed for managing natural resources... are analysed to identify possible improvements that would improve the effectiveness and adaptability of institutional frameworks for promoting the sustainable management of natural resources.  

Interactive methods to promote multi-stakeholder processes

ACTeon is applying innovative & interactive methods and tools (e.g interactive mapping (using GIS output), brainstorming, role plays...) for mobilising stakeholder knowledge, facilitating consultation or promoting the active participation of different users or social groups (including the Youth) in decision making processes.

Bridging science and policy

Thanks to its dual expertise in research and policy advise, ACTeon is active in initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between science and policy. In this very wide and complex area, ACTeon is working in particular on the impact better knowledge on the environment might have on decision making. ACTeon also provides support to the development of reseach proposals in the field of the management of natural resources. 

Training and awareness raising

ACTeon has developed effective training modules and tools for building capacity on the "soft" elements of environmental policy. It has, in particular, contributed to the development of the Eco'What role play, an interactive game focusing on economic issues relevant to the different steps of a planning process for managing water resources. ACTeon is organising and animating capacity building events/workshops on the management of natural resources for different audiences (experts, representative of economics sectors, NGOs...).

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