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Ecosystem-based Management 1 Running head: ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT Ecosystem-based Management Matthew P. Canning Lakehead University December 1, 2003 Ecosystem-based Management 2 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, Ecosystem-based Management 3 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 Ecosystem-based Management 4 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 Ecosystem-based Management 5 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. Ecosystem-based Management 6 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 Ecosystem-based Management 7 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. Ecosystem-based Management 8 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