Ecosystem Services Flashcards
what is ecology?
the study of organisms in relation to their environment
what is ecosystem science?
bridges fundamental ecology and enviornmental ecology.
study and management of ecosystems
why is an ecosystem perspective important in the 21st century?
there are various environmental challenges, where ecology play as vital role in possible solutions.
what is the “perfect storm”
energy + food + water , all contributing toe cliamte change
what is the Dasgupta Review?
the economics of biodiversity.
humanity must ensure its demands on nature do not exceed its sustainable supply
we must adopt different metrics for economic success
transformation of our institutions and system to enable these changes and sustain them for future generations
what are the 3 capitals needed for economy?
produced capital and human capital, and natural capital
what are the components of natural capital?
biodiveristy and abiotic
biodiversity: populations, function, structure, traits, genetic, community composition
abiotic: non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment
what is an ecosystem?
an ecosystem is a dynamic complex of plants, animals, and microorganisms communities and the non-living environment, including humans, increasing as a functional unit.
what is the ecosystem approach?
providing a valuable frameowkr for analysing and acting on the linkages between people and their environment
what are the 6 key principles needed that seeks to achieve the sustainable use of ecosystem services?
management within natural limits management for the long term management at the macro and microscales account for true value make tradeoffs clear involve stakeholders in decisions
what is an anthropocentric concept?
if nobody benefits, there is no ecosystem service.
ecosystem services are spatially dynamic and we need to identify the beneficiaries.
who are the beneficiaries of ecosystem services
may live within the site wehre the service is produced, adjacent to the site, outside the natural borders of an ecosystem, and even beyond regional or national borders.
what is the 4 processes of ecosystem services and its roles?
ecosystem > ecosystem service > benefit > value
what is “good” when it comes to ecosystem service?
a good is something that provides a benefit or utility, to a person or group of people. it can be tangible or intangible.
what is an example of an excludable rival economic good?
private good - such as fish and timber
what is an excludable economic good?
“i can prevent you from accessing it”
what is a rival in economic good?
“if i use it, there is less for you”
what is an example of an excludable non-rival economic good?
toll or club goood (copyrighted information)
what is an example of a non-excludable rival economic good?
common-pool resource
public grazing land
what is an example of a non-excludable non-rival economic good?
public good
stable climate
what is the millennium ecosystem assessment?
the first global study on the state of the natural enviornment and the benefits it gives to society in terms of ecosystem services.
what are the 4 types of ecosystems?
supporting
provisioning
regulating
cultural
what are the 5 constituents of wellbeing?
security basic material for good life health good social relations freedom of choice and action
what are the links between ecosystem functions, ecosystem services and human wellbeing?
ecosystem functions and processes > ecosystem services > goods > human wellbeing
what does IBA stand for
important bird areas
what does WDPA stand for
world database on protected areas
what does WDPA do
used for ecological gap analysis, environmental impact analysis and is increasingly used for private sector decision-making
is our traditional conservation approach working?
Biodiversity loss and ecosystem damage is occurring at an unprecedented rate and is having a negative impact on human livelihoods. Information on ecosystem services can help to communicate the value of nature to decision-makers in the hope of reversing this trend.
what is the ecosystem services and biodiversity argument?
The argument (generally supported by the scientific research) is that greater biodiversity results in more resilient, reliable and healthier ecosystems able to better deliver important services to people. So improving biodiversity will in many cases improve the benefits that we receive from nature.
what is the SPR model?
State, Benefits, Responses and Pressures
what is the SPR model used for?
This benefit fits into the classic S-P-R model - If we can reduce pressures on biodiversity we can improve the state of biodiversity which enhances the benefits delivered to people from ‘ecosystem services’. The generation of benefits supports more effective responses which then feeds back positively by further reduces pressures.
what does IPBES stand for?
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
what does the IPBES do?
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
what are the aspirations of the IPBES
The aspiration is to: (1) provide guidance on production and integration of assessments from across all scales; (2) aid regional and sub-regional assessments in biodiversity and ecosystem services; (3) fast track assessment in pollination and food production; and (4) fast track methodological assessment on value, valuation, and accounting
what can valuing ecosystem services achieve?
(1) Raise awareness and build public and government support for better decisions; (2) Demonstrate additional benefits from conservation of species/sites/habitats; (3) Identify the costs and benefits of conservation and spread them more fairly among stakeholders; and (4) Enhance economic sustainability and human well-being.
why is economics at the core of conservation?
Because ecosystem services are often excluded from decisions because they don’t enter the market (i.e. benefits are provided for free). Name some examples of these benefits.
what is economics?
Economics is not about finance (the study and management of money), commence (the buying and selling of goods) or business (the actions involved in making profits). Economics is much broader than any of these. Economics is the study of how people make choices under conditions under conditions of scarcity, and of the results of these choices for society (Frank and Bernanke 2003). Therefore, it’s about people and their choices and how they respond to incentives.
what are the fundamentals of economics?
- Social cost = Private cost + External cost
- Social benefit = Private benefit + External benefit
- Net social benefit = Positive difference between social benefit and social cost
what is GDP
Gross Domestic Product
what is natural capital?
Natural capital is a stock, from which people derive benefits. Natural capital is the basis not only of production but of life itself
what does natural capital include?
- Resources - renewable and non-renewable materials
- Sinks - that absorb, neutralise or recycle wastes
- Processes - such as climate regulation
what is NDP
net domestic product
what is social capital
concerns the institutions that help us maintain and develop human capital in partnership with others; e.g. families, communities, businesses, trade unions, schools, and voluntary organisations.
what is manufactured/produced capital?
comprises material goods or fixed assets which contribute to the production process rather than being the output itself – e.g. infrastructures and buildings.
what is financial capital?
plays an important role in our economy, enabling the other types of capital to be owned and traded. But unlike the other types, it has no real value itself but is representative of natural, human, social or manufactured capital; e.g. shares, bonds or banknotes
what is inclusive wealth?
The social value (not dollar price) of a country’s capital assets, including natural capital, human capital and produced capital
what is the inclusive weath index?
. The Inclusive Wealth Index was launched by the UN in 2012 in an effort to overcome the environmental shortfalls of other indicators such as GDP and the Human Development Index. By assessing changes over time in natural capital (e.g. forests, watersheds, fossil fuels, fisheries), in addition to produced (manufactured) and human capital, Inclusive Wealth emphasises the changing state of a country’s natural resource base, and its fundamental impact on economic and social sustainability.
what are indicators for the state of biodiversity?
- species’ population trends
- extinction risk,
- habitat extent and condition
- community composition
what are the indicators for pressures?
- resource consumption
- invasive alien species
- nitrogen pollution
- Overexploitation
- climate change impacts
what are the indicators for responses in terms fo valuing nature?
- extent and biodiversity coverage of protected areas
- sustainable forest management
- policy responses to invasive alien species
- biodiversity-related aid
what can valuing ecosystem services do?
1. Raise awareness and build public and government support for better decisions 2. Demonstrate additional benefits from conservation of species/sites/habitats 3. Identify the costs and benefits of conservation and spread them more fairly among stakeholders 4. Enhance economic sustainability and human well-being
what 3 things should we measure when valuing nature?
core processes
beneficial processes
benefits
what areas of core processes should be measured for valuing nature?
photosyntehsis
water cycling
ecological interactions
what areas of beneficial processes should be measured for valuing nature?
primary production
water purification
pollination
what areas of benefits should be measured for valuing nature?
timber
drinking water
food
which environmental problems are hinged on economics?
Ecosystem service benefits represent positive
externalities
• Ecosystem services as well as mineral deposits,
soil nutrients, fossil fuels are all capital assets
• Loss of wealth due to ecosystem degradation is
not reflected in current economic accounts
• So conversion occurs because private benefits
often greater than private costs, and externalities
are not accounted for
what is TESSA
Toolkit for Ecosystem service site-based assessment
what is the overview of TESSA?
provides accessible guidance on low-cost methods for how to evaluate the benefits people receive from nature at protected areas in order to generate information that can be used to influence decision making.
what are the aims and principles of TESSA?
helps non experts with limited capacity to measure several ecosystem services rapidly
estimate difference between current state and plausible alternative
involve stakeholders and beneficiaries
provide scientifically robust data for decision making and monitoring
who is the TESSA toolkit for?
conservation practitioners and those with an interest in supporting biodiversity conservation through ecosystem services
what are the ecosystems included in tessa
harvested wild good water (provision and quality) nature-based recreation pollination coastal protection cultural cultivated goods global climate regulation
what are the skills required for TESSA?
scientific training
understanding of socio-economic methods
good computer and numeracy skills
what are the resources required for TESSA?
computer
internet connection
field equipment
team of staff/volunteers
what are the characteristics of TESSA?
accessible law cost participatory rapid robust biophysical site-scale comparative valuation
what is the comparison of tessa with other tools
collect field data can be done in less time doesn't focus on spatial outputs doesn't require use of online tools required less technical expertise
what is the 8 step process of TESSA
1: scoping
2: engaging with policy and decision making
3: preliminary scoping appraisal
4: planning the full assessment
5: determine the alternative state
6: methods of selection
7: collect data from either current or alternative state
8: analyse and communicate results
what is the format of TESSA? (what is included in the toolkit?)
step by step guidance decision tress detailed methods additional guidance and tips template worked examples guidance on data synteshis
what is PSA?
preliminary scoping appraisal
what is included in scoping of TESSA?
defining the objectives
identifying and engaging with stakeholders
explore social and political and ecological issues
why is a PSA needed for TESSA?
its designed to help understand the important ecosystem services that a site might provide and how they may change under plausible future changes
what are the limitations of TESSA?
limited services include
does not include values relating to physical and mental health
trade off between cost, simplicity, utility vs in depth analysis and inclusion of complex factors.
may not provide the answers or the right kind of output you need to aid advocacy for conserving your site
