Download Tom Barker - Ecosystems Services

Ecosystem services and why we
must make provision for wild
nature
Tom Barker
CAT Conference 2nd September 2012
Ecosystem services... OR...
Why isn’t the world 200 miles deep in
dinosaur poo?
Natural building materials
unming, China
Fishing in Guyana. R.H. Carr, courtesy of
Armorel Clinton. Wiki Commons
‘Picturesque New Guinea’ by JW Lindt
Courtesy of Wiki Commons.
Bronze Age, Ireland. Image courtesy of Dirk Huth,
wikimedia commons
Ecosystem service provision
Constituents of well-being
Ecosystem service s
Security
 personal safety
 resource access
 from disasters
Provi sioning
 food
 fresh wat er
 wood and fibre
 fuel
Supporting
 nutrient cycling
 soil formation
 primary
production
Basi c for life
 livelihoods
 nutrition
 shelter
 goods
Regulating
 climate
 floods
 disease
 clean water
Cultural
 Aesthetic
 spiritual
 education
 recreation
Biodiversity
Health
 strength
 feeling well
 clean air
 clean water
Freedom of choice
and action
 satisfaction and
opportunity for
achievement
Regulating services
Climate
GHGs, temp., rain, wind
Social
Hydrology
Supply, drainage, storage
 social cohesion
 mutual respect
Pollution ability to help retention,
others
Erosion
removal
Protection, soil building
Provisioning
are
short
term
requirements;
Thicker lineservices
= Intensity of linkage
Darker line
= Increasing
potential
Natural
hazards
floods,
storms, recovery
between ES and human well-being
for socio-economic mediation
Adapted
from Millennium
Assessment
Adapted from
Millennium
EcosystemEcosystem
Assessment
2005
Regulating services ensure long-term
provision
of services.
Global economic value of ES
Individual ecosystem services were teased out, valued once, and summed
$60 tn - “a serious underestimate of infinity” – Toman 1998
Costanza et al. 1997
Why value ecosystem services?
Wealth cannot be created from nothing. It is paid
for in natural resources, damage to ecosystems
that regulate the nature of the planet, and in
labour that frequently is exploited and underpaid.
Ecosystems & biodiversity
Ecosystem services don’t appear from nowhere;
they’re generated by intact & healthy
ecosystems, and that means biodiversity
High biodiversity leads to:
•
•
•
greater productivity
greater variation (range of responses
to environmental change)
greater chance of keystone species
occurring
Hooper et al. 2005
- but what is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is …
?
What is biodiversity – components of
an ecosystem
• Genes + genetic variation;
• Number of individual organisms and species
present;
• Interactions – biotic and abiotic;
• Resources and wastes;
Flows of energy;
Flows of matter.
A more biodiverse ecosystem has more
species and more interactions
The basis of an ecosystem
• Organic mud, worms, a
slug, nematodes, a
centipede, woodlice, &
one grass plant –
where did they come
from?
• Wind-blown dust &
leaves, rain, shelter;
• Ecosystem services:
waste removal,
nutrient cycling, soil
formation
The basis of an ecosystem
• Organic mud, worms, a
slug, nematodes, a
centipede, woodlice, &
one grass plant –
where did they come
from?
• Wind-blown dust &
leaves, rain, shelter;
• Ecosystem services:
waste removal,
nutrient cycling, soil
formation
Rudimentary ecosystem
LIGHT - energy
DARK - shelter
Components, functions &
ecosystem services
grass
in-blown
material
rain
water
woodlice
earthworms
mud
frass
(faeces)
centipede
nematodes
slug
fungi
bacteria
(mineralisation
of nutrients)
• detritus + water
• consumption & excretion
(waste removal)
• colonisation by fungi and
bacteria
• remineralisation of
nutrients (nutrient cycling)
• support for primary
production (soil
formation)
The interactions are functions that
lead to the provision of ecosystem
services
Now multiply that by a few hundred
A meadow: maybe 20-30 plant species
• Wild species may include wheat, rice,
carrot, barley, oats, among others;
• Individuals of every species contain
genetic variability in every
characteristic – same as us;
• The community is suited to different
environments, e.g. drier, wetter, pH,
shade, species mix, disease.
wild places matter economically
Rice crops in Bangladesh lost
Extended flooding
leads to crop failures;
Cross-breeding confers
resistance to
cultivated rice.
Oryza rufipogon. Wiki Commons
Oryza nivara.
Wiki Commons
Wild rice species
contain genetic
resistance to flooding
(slows growth while the
flood lasts);
Wild relatives under
threat from habitat
destruction
Oryza sativa USAID Wiki Commons
Valuing ES degradation
... therefore ecosystem functioning, therefore
ecosystems, therefore biodiversity ....
The challenge, to:
• Account for them in economic planning thus becoming ‘sustainable development’;
• Include them as part of daily
transactions in the market economy;
• ... or find an alternative.
Valuing ecosystem services
valuation sub-topics
Aesthetic, ‘spiritual’ and
intellectual value to humans
+
Contributory factors to
ecosystem services
We know this already - we
just haven’t worked out all
the detail for ...
Material
value to
humans
Economic
means to
justify
Target
This could be done now
using implements such as an
environmental tax or CMF
CMF is Carbon Maintenance Fee (Feasta), which
applies economic rewards and punishments to
countries for carbon sequestration
performance. Funded by a Tobin Tax
Links: biodiversity - ES
Depends on
Ecosystem
service
Derived from
Factors & threats
Food
Wild relatives; wild species; high
inputs
Adjacent ecosystems
Eutrophication; climate change
(CC); population growth
Water – provision &
quality
Forests; climate
Stream flow; adjacent ecosystems
Land use; CC; extreme weather
Fuel & fibre
Forests; land availability
Forests; grassland; marine
CC; habitat loss & fragmentation
Genes
Wild relatives; high biodiversity
Genetic variation; wild populations
Habitat loss & conversion; CC
Pharmaceuticals
Plants; bacteria; fungi; snakes
Wild habitat; bioprospecting
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Ornamental
Fish; birds; CITES-listed
Wild populations; wild habitat
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Regulating ES
Air quality; noise; heat (UHI); health
Vegetation, esp. trees; water
CC; habitat fragmentation
Climate regulation
Soils; vegetation; clouds, agriculture;
carbon storage
Marine; forest; (biodiversity
influence unquantified)
CC; loss of peat; habitat loss
Extremes
Vegetation- buffers for water & wind
Wild habitat; resilience
Land conversion; CC
Erosion prevention
Vegetation; natural habitat
Biodiversity – ecosystem resilience
Land conversion; CC
Soil fertility
Nutrient cycling; biomass input;
natural soil ecology
Soil animals, fungi; faeces;
functional diversity
Chemical agri.; human expansion;
erosion; CC
Pollination
Vectors; proximity of wild habitat
Pollinator diversity; natural habitat
Habitat loss; threshold; phenology
Pest control
Predator diversity; fungi
Functional diversity; redundancy
(contingency); interactions
Chemical agri.; habitat loss; loss of
diversity; phenology
Life cycles
Healthy ecosystems; connectance
Natural functioning; wild habitat
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Genetic security
Wild habitat; biodiversity hotspots
Natural pressures and interactions
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Cultural services
Urban green space; accessibility
Semi-natural habitat; vegetation
Habitat loss+conversion; oil price
From TEEB. www.teebweb.org
Links: biodiversity - ES
Depends on
Ecosystem
service
Derived from
Factors & threats
Food
Wild relatives; wild species; high
inputs
Adjacent ecosystems
Eutrophication; climate change
(CC); population growth
Water – provision &
quality
Forests; climate
Stream flow; adjacent ecosystems
Land use; CC; extreme weather
Fuel & fibre
Forests; land availability
Forests; grassland; marine
CC; habitat loss & fragmentation
Genes
Wild relatives; high biodiversity
Genetic variation; wild populations
Habitat loss & conversion; CC
Pharmaceuticals
Plants; bacteria; fungi; snakes
Wild habitat; bioprospecting
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Ornamental
Fish; birds; CITES-listed
Wild populations; wild habitat
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Regulating ES
Air quality; noise; heat (UHI); health
Vegetation, esp. trees; water
CC; habitat fragmentation
Climate regulation
Soils; vegetation; clouds, agriculture;
carbon storage
Marine; forest; (biodiversity
influence unquantified)
CC; loss of peat; habitat loss
Extremes
Vegetation- buffers for water & wind
Wild habitat; resilience
Land conversion; CC
Erosion prevention
Vegetation; natural habitat
Biodiversity – ecosystem resilience
Land conversion; CC
Soil fertility
Nutrient cycling; biomass input;
natural soil ecology
Soil animals, fungi; faeces;
functional diversity
Chemical agri.; human expansion;
erosion; CC
Pollination
Vectors; proximity of wild habitat
Pollinator diversity; natural habitat
Habitat loss; threshold; phenology
Pest control
Predator diversity; fungi
Functional diversity; redundancy
(contingency); interactions
Chemical agri.; habitat loss; loss of
diversity; phenology
Life cycles
Healthy ecosystems; connectance
Natural functioning; wild habitat
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Genetic security
Wild habitat; biodiversity hotspots
Natural pressures and interactions
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Cultural services
Urban green space; accessibility
Semi-natural habitat; vegetation
Habitat loss+conversion; oil price
From TEEB. www.teebweb.org
Links: biodiversity - ES
Depends on
Ecosystem
service
Derived from
Factors & threats
Food
Wild relatives; wild species; high
inputs
Adjacent ecosystems
Eutrophication; climate change
(CC); population growth
Water – provision &
quality
Forests; climate
Stream flow; adjacent ecosystems
Land use; CC; extreme weather
Fuel & fibre
Forests; land availability
Forests; grassland; marine
CC; habitat loss & fragmentation
Genes
Wild relatives; high biodiversity
Genetic variation; wild populations
Habitat loss & conversion; CC
Pharmaceuticals
Plants; bacteria; fungi; snakes
Wild habitat; bioprospecting
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Ornamental
Fish; birds; CITES-listed
Wild populations; wild habitat
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Regulating ES
Air quality; noise; heat (UHI); health
Vegetation, esp. trees; water
CC; habitat fragmentation
Climate regulation
Soils; vegetation; clouds, agriculture;
carbon storage
Marine; forest; (biodiversity
influence unquantified)
CC; loss of peat; habitat loss
Extremes
Vegetation- buffers for water & wind
Wild habitat; resilience
Land conversion; CC
Erosion prevention
Vegetation; natural habitat
Biodiversity – ecosystem resilience
Land conversion; CC
Soil fertility
Nutrient cycling; biomass input;
natural soil ecology
Soil animals, fungi; faeces;
functional diversity
Chemical agri.; human expansion;
erosion; CC
Pollination
Vectors; proximity of wild habitat
Pollinator diversity; natural habitat
Habitat loss; threshold; phenology
Pest control
Predator diversity; fungi
Functional diversity; redundancy
(contingency); interactions
Chemical agri.; habitat loss; loss of
diversity; phenology
Life cycles
Healthy ecosystems; connectance
Natural functioning; wild habitat
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Genetic security
Wild habitat; biodiversity hotspots
Natural pressures and interactions
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Cultural services
Urban green space; accessibility
Semi-natural habitat; vegetation
Habitat loss+conversion; oil price
From TEEB. www.teebweb.org
Links: biodiversity - ES
Depends on
Ecosystem
service
Derived from
Factors & threats
Food
Wild relatives; wild species; high
inputs
Adjacent ecosystems
Eutrophication; climate change
(CC); population growth
Water – provision &
quality
Forests; climate
Stream flow; adjacent ecosystems
Land use; CC; extreme weather
Fuel & fibre
Forests; land availability
Forests; grassland; marine
CC; habitat loss & fragmentation
Genes
Wild relatives; high biodiversity
Genetic variation; wild populations
Habitat loss & conversion; CC
Pharmaceuticals
Plants; bacteria; fungi; snakes
Wild habitat; bioprospecting
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Ornamental
Fish; birds; CITES-listed
Wild populations; wild habitat
Habitat loss; CC; pollution
Regulating ES
Air quality; noise; heat (UHI); health
Vegetation, esp. trees; water
CC; habitat fragmentation
Climate regulation
Soils; vegetation; clouds, agriculture;
carbon storage
Marine; forest; (biodiversity
influence unquantified)
CC; loss of peat; habitat loss
Extremes
Vegetation- buffers for water & wind
Wild habitat; resilience
Land conversion; CC
Erosion prevention
Vegetation; natural habitat
Biodiversity – ecosystem resilience
Land conversion; CC
Soil fertility
Nutrient cycling; biomass input;
natural soil ecology
Soil animals, fungi; faeces;
functional diversity
Chemical agri.; human expansion;
erosion; CC
Pollination
Vectors; proximity of wild habitat
Pollinator diversity; natural habitat
Habitat loss; threshold; phenology
Pest control
Predator diversity; fungi
Functional diversity; redundancy
(contingency); interactions
Chemical agri.; habitat loss; loss of
diversity; phenology
Life cycles
Healthy ecosystems; connectance
Natural functioning; wild habitat
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Genetic security
Wild habitat; biodiversity hotspots
Natural pressures and interactions
Habitat loss; biodiversity loss; CC
Cultural services
Urban green space; accessibility
Semi-natural habitat; vegetation
Habitat loss+conversion; oil price
From TEEB. www.teebweb.org
Economic worldviews
Daly 1980
‘Triple bottom line’
Sustainability is the real bottom line
“So the question is: Do corporate executives, provided
they stay within the law, have responsibilities in their
business activities other than to make as much money
for their stockholders as possible? And my answer to that
is, ‘no they do not’.”
Milton Friedman - Economist, University of Chicago.
“two views of the world dominate our thinking this
century.... the Ecological World View...contrasts sharply
with the polar-opposite Economic World View to which
many governments and business leaders subscribe. You
are living in a century in which the Economic World
View will be superseded by the Ecological World View.”
Charles Krebs - Ecologist, University of British Columbia
Here’s the Economic World View in a
nutshell – unsustainable resource use
Ernst Ulrich von Weizsacker/Immo Lunzer – Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Lessons for economic and practical
planning initiatives, e.g. ZCB
We have to:
• Manage the economy without degrading ecosystems
and reducing biodiversity;
• Recognise that we cannot control wild nature; when
we manipulate it we degrade it;
• Recognise that human impacts are extremely costly.
• Regard biodiversity as an investment ‘portfolio’ of
biotic resources, ensuring stability of ES provision;
• Recognise that environmental sustainability is the
same as economic sustainability;
• Know that our natural capital is depleted, and
therefore our economic, political and social wellbeing is compromised and impermanent.
If only ...
The careful and objective
study of the economics of
ecosystems and the services
they provide will make an
environmentalist of anyone
with the wit to understand
what they are looking at
Refs
• Balmford A, Bruner A, Cooper P, Costanza R, Farber S, Green RE,
Jenkins M, Jefferiss P, Jessamy V, Madden J, Munro K, Myers N,
Naeem S, Paavola J, Rayment M, Rosendo S, Roughgarden J,
Trumper K & Turner RK (2002) Economic reasons for conserving wild
nature. Science 297 950-953.
• Costanza, R., d`Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon,
B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O`Neill, R.V., Paruello, J., Raskin, R.G.,
Sutton, P., van der Belt, M., 1997. The value of the world's
ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387 253-260.
• Daly H. 1980. Economics, Ecology, Ethics: Essays Toward a SteadyState Economy. Freeman. San Francisco.
• Hooper D.U., Chapin F.S. et al. 2005. Effects of biodiversity on
ecosystem functioning: a consensus of current knowledge. Ecological
Monographs 75(1) 3-35.
• Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005). UNEP. www.maweb.org.
• TEEB. 2010. The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity.
Ecological and economic foundations. Edited by P. Kumar. UNEP.
www.teebweb.org.
• Toman M.A. 1998. Why not calculate the value of the world’s
ecosystem services and natural capital? Ecological Economics 25 5760.
• See also: May R.H., Levin S.A. and Sugihara G. 2008. Ecology for
bankers. Nature 451 893-895.