Download Linking marine ecosystems to human welfare and

Linking marine
ecosystems to human
welfare and economics
Kristin Magnussen (PhD Environmental and resource
economics), Vista Analyse
Ocean sustainability under global change, Bergen 1-2
September 2016
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Content
• Large field of research
• Focus on environmental economic research for
sustainability
• Introducing the ecosystem services approach
• Ecosystem services assessment and valuation
• The need for more research
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Research for moving towards (more)
sustainable and integrated management
of the marine environment
Purpose:
• Support welfare production from the oceans through
sustainable use of resources and ecosystem services
of the ocean
• Keep and preserve the structure, functioning,
productivity and biodiversity of the marine
ecosystems.
• Support decision making to balance objectives from
different sectors in a transparent manner
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The ocean provides us with plenty of
goods and services – called Ecosystem
Services
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Ecosystems, ecosystem services and
human well-being (Source: MAES (Mapping and
Assessment of Ecosystem Services; Maes 2014)
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4 main categories of
Ecosystem Services
1) Provisioning (Ex. Fish, shellfish, raw
materials, genetic resources)
2) Regulating (Ex. Climate regulation, waste
treatment)
3) Cultural (Ex. Recreation, aesthetic,
existence values)
4) Supporting (Ex. Nutrient cycles,
photosynthesis )
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Provisioning Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service
Sea food
Sea water
Raw materials
Genetic resources
Medicinal resources
Ornamental resources
Description and examples
All available marine fauna and flora extracted from coastal/marine environments for
the specific purpose of human consumption as food(i.e. excluding for consumption
as supplements)
Sea water in oceans, seas and inland seas that is extracted for use in human
industry and economic activity. Used for in shipping, industrial cooling,
desalinization
The extraction of any material from coastal/ marine environments, excluding
ornamental resources, such as algae (non-food), sand, salt.
The extraction of genetic material from marine flora and fauna for use in nonmarine,
non-medicinal contexts, excluding the research value on Genetic Resources for
cognitive development. The use of marine flora/fauna-derived genetic material to
improve crop resistance to saline conditions.
Any material that is extracted from the marine environment to provide medicinal
benefits, Marine-derived pharmaceuticals and salt-water used for health purposes.
Any material extracted for use in decoration, fashion, handicrafts, souvenirs, etc.,
Shells, aquarium fish, pearls, coral
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Regulating Ecosystem Services
Air purification
Climate regulation
Disturbance prevention or
moderation
Regulation of water flows
Nutrient regulation(*
Waste treatment
Coastal erosion prevention
Biological control
Lifecycle maintenance
Gene pool protection
Air Purification provided by a coastal and marine ecosystem, The removal of
pollutants like fine dust and particular matter, sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide, etc.
from the air
The contribution of the biotic elements of a coastal/marine ecosystem to the
maintenance of a favourable climate via their impact on the hydrological cycle and
their contribution to the climate-influencing substances in the atmosphere, for
example the production, consumption and use by marine organisms of gases such as
carbon dioxide, water vapour, nitrous oxides, methane, and dimethyl sulphide;
The production, consumption and use by marine organisms of gases such as carbon
dioxide, water vapour, nitrous oxides, methane, and dimethyl sulphide; The reduction
in the intensity of and/or damage caused by environmental disturbances resulting
directly from marine ecosystem structures like salt marshes, sea grass beds, and
mangroves
The contribution of marine and coastal ecosystems to the maintenance of localized
coastal current structures. The effect of macro algae on localized current intensity;
The maintenance of deep channels by
coastal currents which are for shipping
The removal of nutrients in coastal/marine ecosystems from waste water and
riverine loadings by sedimentation, and accumulation, denitrification, etc.
The removal by coastal/marine ecosystems of pollutants added to coastal/marine
environments by humans through processes such as storage, burial, and biochemical
recycling. The breakdown of chemical pollutants by marine microorganisms; The
filtering of coastal water by shell fish.
The contribution of coastal/marine ecosystems to Coastal Erosion Prevention,
excluding what is covered by regulation of water flow service (i.e. transportation or
deposition of sediments by coastal currents)
The contribution of marine/coastal ecosystems to the maintenance of natural healthy
population dynamics to support ecosystem resilience through maintaining food web
structure and flows.. The support of reef ecosystems by herbivorous fish that keep
algae populations in check; the role that top predators play in limiting the population
sizes of opportunistic species like jelly fish and squid.
The contribution of a particular habitat to migratory species’ populations through the
provision of essential habitat for reproduction and juvenile maturation. The
reproduction habitat of commercially valuable species that are harvested elsewhere.
The contribution of marine habitats to the maintenance of viable gene pools through
natural selection/evolutionary processes. Inter- and Intra-specific genetic diversity
that is supported by marine ecosystems which enhances adaptability of species to
environmental changes
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Cultural Ecosystem Services
Recreation and leisure
Inspiration and Culture, Art
and Design
Cultural heritage and identity
Aesthetic information/
Landscape
Information for cognitive
development
Spiritual experience
The provision of opportunities for Recreation and Leisure that depend on a
particular state of marine/coastal ecosystems. bird/whale/.-watching,
beachcombing, sailing, recreational fishing, SCUBA diving, etc.
The contribution that a coastal/marine ecosystem makes to the existence of
environmental features that inspire elements of culture, art, and/or design. The use
of a marine landscape as a motif in paintings; The use of marine environmental
features (like waves) in jewellery; for instance, construction of buildings according
to a marine inspired theme; the use of marine organisms or marine ecosystems in
films (including Jaws and Finding Nemo)
The contribution that a coastal/marine ecosystem makes to Cultural Heritage and
Identity (excluding aesthetic and formal religious experiences). This includes the
importance of marine/coastal environments in cultural traditions and folklore. This
covers the appreciation of a coastal community for local coastal/marine
environments and ecosystems (e.g. for a particular coast line or cliff formation) as
well as the global importance that may be associated with a particular marine
landscape. for instance, the Wadden Sea is listed as UNESCO World Heritage site.
The contribution that a coastal/marine ecosystem makes to the existence of a
surface or subsurface landscape that generates a noticeable emotional response
within the individual observer. This includes informal Spiritual Experiences. The
particular visual facets of a ‘sea-scape’ (like open ‘blue’ water), a ‘reef-scape’ (with
abundant and colourful marine life), a ‘beachscape’ (with open sand), etc. that
emotionally resonate with individual observers.
The contribution that a coastal/marine ecosystem makes to education, research,
etc. This includes the contribution that a coastal/ marine ecosystem makes to bionic
design and biomimetics and to research on applications of marine Genetic
Resources and pharmaceuticals. The environmental education of children and
adults; The development of surfaces to reduce marine biofouling based on similar
surfaces found in marine environments; the application of hydrodynamic flow
analysis to marine animals for ship design; Utilization of marine animal swimming
mechanisms in engineering design.
The contribution that a coastal/marine ecosystem makes to formal religious
experiences. This excludes that which is covered by services 17 and 21). Several
Greek and Roman gods were connected to the sea; A prominent Christian symbol
is the fish; Marine organisms (such as whales and salmon) sometimes play
important roles in various indigenous communities’ religion
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Total Economic Value of changes in ES
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Some major threats to the
environmental status of oceans
• Overfishing
• Habitat changes, including disturbances
• Pollution (contaminants, eutrophication, marine litter)
• Climate change
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Research needs:
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Research needs:
• Assessment of values (monetary and non-monetary)
of ALL ecosystem services – we know the most about
a few of the provisioning (the commercial) ES
• Linking ecosystem status and functions to ecosystem
service flows and the long term values of these flows
– and effects on human welfare
• Linking drivers of change to changes in ecosystems
and hence ecosystem services and human welfare
• Linking instruments and measures to changes in
drivers, ecosystems and ecosystem services and
human welfare
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Status and gaps
• For many years little happened, except for the
economics of commercial fish species
• For the last 5-10 years increased interest – probably
trigged by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
(MA) and TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and
Biodiversity).
• In Norway NOU 2013:10 (The goods from nature – on
values of Ecosystem Services) and the management
plans for the Oceans (started with the plan for the
Barents Sea and Lofoten)
•
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Status and gaps: Recent
years
• Research studies for valuation of deep sea coral reefs
and coastal culture (UiT and NMBU+)
• Research study for valuation of lost welfare due to oil
spills from ship accidents (Vista Analyse + IMR, NINA,
DNV + international experts)
• Ongoing «Coast Benefit» (NFR 2016-2019) study on
values of Ecosystem Services in Coastal Zone
Management (UiS, NMBU, Vista ++)
Primary objective: To analyse how values of ecosystem services (ES)
can be reliably estimated and combined in an amended cost-benefit
analysis (CBA) framework to better understand and illuminate decisionrelevant trade-offs on different spatial and temporal scales within the
coastal zone.
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Gaps
• Still have valuation studies for a few of the marine
ecosystem services only – need more, especially for
cultural and to some degree regulating services. We know
surprisingly little about recreation use and values for
instance. Non-use values are also important – and we know
little
• Valuation studies for monetary and non-monetary estimates
– need to improve methods for non-priced goods and
services and how they should be included
• Research and development of best practice for value
transfer for marine ecosystem services
• Bioeconomic modelling for marine resources
• Research on policy instruments and measures and their
consequences and effects
• ++
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Thank you for your
attention!
[email protected]
Source: Institute of Marine Resources/Mareano,
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