On May 9, 2015, NCCOS participatedin a meeting to kick-off the Choptank River Ecosystem Services Projectwith physical scientists and economists from NOAA's Chesapeake Bay Program Office (NCBO), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Habitat Conservation (OHC), University of Maryland, and Morgan State University. This workis part of theIntegrating Science to Inform Management objective of theChoptank River Complex Habitat Focus Area (HFA) Implementation Plan.

The team reviewed project objectives, discussed how to integrate ecosystem service estimation and socioeconomic benefits analysis components, described tools that will be used for the ecosystem services and socioeconomic analyses, and identified linkages to other relevant work within the Choptank River HFA. The value of key ecosystem services and socioeconomic benefits derived from restoration and protection of oyster and wetland habitats will be shared withmanagers to support decision making.

For more information, please contact Suzanne Bricker.