WebGIS for communicating Alpine ecosystem services: stakeholder engagement in Slovenian protected areas

Abstract

The Alpine Space project AlpES used a web-based Geographic Information System (WebGIS) to communicate knowledge on Alpine ecosystem services to stakeholders from three protected areas in Slovenia to support more sustainable decision-making. This has been a positive experience, yet some shortcomings became evident. In this report we focus on using stakeholders’ technical experiences, needs and knowledge to develop a WebGIS, and on communicating project results to stakeholders. We address some critical issues related to co-designing a WebGIS. We provide recommendations to more fully achieve the potential of a WebGIS as a tool for knowledge transfer.