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Ecosystem-based Management 1
Running head: ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT
Ecosystem-based Management
Matthew P. Canning
Lakehead University
December 1, 2003
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Human history has proven successful in terms of increasing knowledge,
wealth and individual prosperity. However, an array of impacts to our
environment have resulted in a clutch of catastrophic trends, ranging from global
climate change to suppression of genetic diversity. In an unceasingly changing
world, it is necessary to determine an approach to sustainability which integrates
both community and the environment as well as protecting against resource
exploitation and environmental degradation while providing a realistic, long term
solution to both present day and forthcoming problems. Call on ecosystem-based
management; an approach to environmental protection which allows partnership
and citizen participation, and a scientific framework which takes into
consideration the long term view to solve environmental problems in a constantly
changing world.
Facets of ecosystem-based management are diverse, and each help to
protect our base of natural resources. While traditional approaches have
frequently proven helpless in light of new and emerging environmental impacts,
the constantly evolving ecosystem-based method has thus far withstood many of
the challenges which had remained unsolved over time. Among the methods of
ecosystem-based management include conservation for management of multiple
species. It reserves aim at supporting viable populations of selected species.
This is very significant as the species selected for conservation have important
value to many of the processes which occur in the ecosystem beyond its own self
serving ecological level. Without such species being protected, the impacts
would carry over to the well being of other species and environmental elements,
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and as such, species selected for protection have to meet specific criterion in
order to determine whether or not they serve the necessary importance to the
remainder of the environment to be worthy of the time, effort and resources
dedicated to them. As Akcakaya (2000) states, Multiple species management
maintains its aim at conserving biodiversity of a region by ensuring that an
essential set of native species are protected. These species are selected based
on various qualities, all of which have pertinence to the surrounding environment
and some of which may include the ecological or economic importance of the
species, as well as its taxonomic uniqueness, status as threatened or
endangered species, or sensitivity to environmental impacts. Although one
criterion may seem more important than another, it is also obvious that no one
quality is without an important overall framework, and the efficiency of this
system is dominant. Is it very clear that this approach to management promotes
sustainability by allocating goods efficiently. As Mattoni et al. (2000) point out,
different species can have an astounding impact on other species, plant life and
essentially all factors within an ecosystem. Figure 1 illustrates the classifications
of habitat types. As they describe, alien species can threaten the viability of
populations and other environmental factors. Contrasted with other methods
which have produced resource exploitation and environmental degradation, the
consequence of the design described above can easily act to protect the most
important functions within the system while not devoting valuable resources to
overall protection which can produce inefficient returns. As traditional methods
have relied heavily on techniques which produced the latter consequence, this
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type of management is refreshingly innovative and very befitting in our modern
day world, as it is the vitality of change which renders the conventional
approaches incapable.
Although proper institutional design and performance are expected in all
forms of ecosystem-based management, they are not guaranteed unless
adequate time and effort is devoted to achieving this end. In order for any
approach to find its proverbial niche and experience an objective success,
researchers and other interested parties must take special note. As Imperial
(1999) reports, these researchers and practitioners need to keep atop changes
and questions surrounding institutional design and performance. Most
environmentalists concede that the free market is excellent at allocating goods
efficiently, but argue that resource exploitation and environmental degradation is
the inevitable consequence. Monetary profits and environmental care are
incompatible, they say, and so call on the government to set rules to curb abuse.
However, the ease in which these rules are set are not always so clearly defined.
As such, re-evaluation is necessary. In order for rules to be effective, they must
be compatible with biological and physical settings which constantly change.
Inevitably a clear cut solution, although desirable, is barely realistic or even
possible. A more realistic strategy allows participants to change rules frequently
in response to environmental conditions which arise suddenly. Without such an
elastic means, the solution to any one environmental dilemma would likely go
unresolved unless mere chance helped to eliminate it. Although this is possible, it
is unlikely and a foolish approach to follow and therefore such a policy of
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responsible management is necessary. As Roe et al. (2001) report, ecosystem
management is a form of adaptive management; a method of learning how to
better manage aspects of the ecosystem through an interactive process of
experimentation. Worthy of mention is continuous hypothesis testing and trialand-error approach to generating knowledge.
In order for resources to be better allocated, there are many variables to
consider, involving a number of parameters. Social and economic variables must
be considered, on top of the usual environmental ones. As Stein et al. (1999) put
it, It is clear that natural resource management agencies cannot attain a holistic
understanding of an area only through traditional scientific investigations of the
environment. As such, social information must be merged with ecological
information into the management framework.
With healthy, properly functioning environmental communities which are
the direct result of ecosystem-based management, sustainability is easily met.
Cultures, both human and natural in origin are well served, and quality of life is
notably increased. Since the planning is all done over ecologically and
economically relevant time frames and involve many levels of diverse planning,
the likeliness for success is far greater than so many other methods which have
been used traditionally. The only thing static while using these approaches is
truly change itself, and when it occurs, methods are available to help cope and
achieve new goals by defeating old challenges. Knowledge of natural processes
is absolutely essential for the planning and as such, decisions made in the
present are sure to take into consideration how things will pan out in the future.
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By doing so, natural, economic, and social diversity is maintained in order to be
used in full capacity for future generations. Among other qualities recognized are
intelligent financial investment and economic contribution to use all of our
resources in full range. There is literally no system more open to take into
consideration change and accommodate as a consequence. Other policies are
stringent and strict and allow little opportunity to focus on such inevitable
transformations, and such ideals are better applied to something of a more static
nature than environmental impacts. Another good method which has been
implemented in recent times has been to understand the interaction of life history
traits with ecosystem variability. This is a positive ecosystem perspective from
experimental monitoring approaches, as described by Pavlik et al. (2000). In it
they describe a key to maintaining populations of rare plants in managed or
utilized landscapes. They establish the importance of an understanding of the
interaction of life history traits with ecosystem variability. We can see clearly
through the diagram below the variability in ecological factors over time which
need to be adequately accounted for. This is said to be essential. According to
Slocombe (1998), a parallel, linked system of substantive and procedural goals
at different levels is needed to facilitate ecosystem-based management. Skrypek
(2003) also points out that as humans continue to put pressure on natural
resources, only an ecosystem-based approach can prevent the deterioration of
animal communities, to ensure their health and overall environmental quality.
Ecosystem-based management is excellent at helping the long term health of
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animal populations. It is essential to have healthy populations in order to have
healthy habitats and moreover, sustain those habitats through the long term.
Healthy ecosystems are the key to doing this. To make habitats healthy and
efficient, it is essential to repair damaged features and keep things
environmentally sound, by strengthening interspecies relationships. A complex
variety of factors needs to be considered to keep the system functioning
effectively. It is imperative to work to maintain productive habitats for the long
term to provide positive qualities for the future generations to come. In an
ecosystem, the entire geographic area must be considered, including all living
organisms, such as people, plants, animals and micro organisms, and their
physical surroundings, such as air, water and soil. Since all elements are
interconnected, it is essential to maintain all of them in the most efficient means
possible. Participation by the public, local units of government and other
agencies and the business community in natural resource education, planning
and decision making is essential. In such times, an ecosystem-based approach
to management methods is not just a positive change, but essential to ensure
future prosperity for all elements of the environment.
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References
AKCAKAYA, H.R. 2000 ‘Conservation and management for multiple species:
Integrating field research and modeling into management decisions’
Environmental Management 26 (Supplement 1), 875-883
EWEL, KATHERINE C. (2001) ‘Natural Resource Management: The Need for
Interdisciplinary Collaboration’ Environmental Management 4 (8), 716-722
IMPERIAL, M.T. 1999 ‘Institutional analysis and ecosystem-based management:
The institutional analysis and development framework’ Environmental
Management 24 (4), 449-465
PAVLIK, B.M. and ENBERG, A. 2001 ‘Developing an ecosystem perspective
from experimental monitoring programs: I. Demographic responses to a
rare geothermal grass to soil temperature’ Environmental Management 28
(2), 225-242
ROE, E. and VAN EETEN, M. 2001 ‘Threshold-based resource management: A
framework for comprehensive ecosystem management’ Environmental
Management 27 (2), 195-214
SKRYPEK, JACK, 2003 ‘An Angler Talks about Ecosystem-based Management’,
Fishing & Ecosystem-based Management, 1-2
SLOCOMBE, D.S. 1998 ‘Defining goals and criteria for ecosystem-based
management’ Environmental Management 22 (4), 483-494
STEIN, TAYLOR V, ANDERSON DOROTHY H, and KELLY, TIM (1999) ‘Using
Stakeholders' Values to Apply Ecosystem Management in an Upper
Midwest Landscape’ Environmental Management 24 (3), 399-413
MATTONI RUDI, TRAVIS LONGCORE, NOVOTNY VOJTECH, 2000, ‘Arthropod
Monitoring for Fine-Scale Habitat Analysis: A Case Study of the El
Segundo Sand Dunes’ Environmental Management 25 (4), 445-452