Science-Policy Interfaces and ecosystem services: tools for the implementation of the ecosystem approach in the Natura 2000 sites

Grupo de investigación

Ecología de Zonas Áridas,

RNM 174

Javier Cabello

jcabello@ual.es Dept. Biology and Geology

Andalusian Center for the Evaluation and Monitoring Global Change (CAESCG) University of Almería

Spain

Prespa, May 29-30th, 2015

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GUIDELINE:

• Challenges for the Natura 2000 implementation and EU 2020

Biodiversity Strategy

• The (socio)ecosystem approach

• How to implement a (socio)ecosystem approach in Natura 2000

sites?

• The ecosystem services: a new conservation objective that can

facilitate joint efforts of conservation

• The Science-Policy interfaces as a social processes to implement

ecosystem approach

• Conclusions

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Challenges for the Natura 2000 implementation

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Challenges for the Natura 2000 Policy

• Evaluate and minimise the effects of global change drivers (land-use changes,

climate change, biological invasiones, pollution, ..) on habitats.

• Strengthen common understanding of what it means to achive favourable

conservation status for habitats types and species.

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• Management of protected areas reflects the conflict in the relationship between

society and protection (prohibition of activities).

• The application of the Network Natura 2000 was delayed due to political issues

and acceptance from local population.

• Stakeholders participation exists on paper whereas community participation is

absent in pratice.

• Stakeholder engagement takes place through administrational documentation

and by personal contacts and initiatives.

However, …. which are the real-world challenges for the Natura 2000

implementation

Apostolopoulou et al. 2012

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Stakeholders´perceptions of the effectiveness of current

participation practices in Natura 2000 network in Greece

Apastolopoulu et al. 2012

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Challenges for the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy

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Challenges for the EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy

• Halting the loss of biodiversity and the degradation of ecosystem services.

• Reduce the EU´s ecological footprint.

• Ecosystem based approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

• Maintain the ecosystem and the services they provide.

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The ecosystem approach

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Conceptual framework for EU wide ecosystem assessment

http://biodiversity.europa.eu/maes

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What is an ecosystem approach?

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Basic “guiding principles” of Ecosystem Approach (IUCN-CBD)

• Ecosystems are not isolated.

• It is never enough to consider only protected areas when planning conservation.

• Human beings are ecosystem components.

• Adaptive management is essential.

Ecosystem approach

From species, sectors, economic activities or concerns to the socio-ecosystem

Concept associated with management based on better understanding of the

interactions and ecological processes necessary to maintain the structure and

function of ecosystems. CBD 2000

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Evolution of the protected-area concept: from islands to socioecosystems

Palomo et al. 2014

What is a socio-ecosystem?

Biogeophysical units and their stakeholders

and partner institutions.

They are complex and adaptive and can be

identified by the spatial and functional limits

of the ecosystems and their environmental

problems context.

Glaser et al. 2008

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How to implement a (socio)ecosystem approach?

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Domains involved in managing ecological resources differ in their degree of

knowledge codification and practical application

Roux et al. 2006

Science to face the challenges between natural capital and society.

Decision making must be based on the best scientific information.

Management actions must be socialized.

Challenges to enhance the interaction between science-managment-

society

Barries for the (socio)ecosystem approach

Science-Policy-Society chasm.

The conservation philosophy we usually adopt.

We are in the Anthropocene: humans are essential components of the

ecosystems.

We need to develop tools for communication between actors.

19 From Godfrey et al. 2010

The Science-Policy chasm

Two conservation philosophies

Thermodynamic Ecology

Continuous

Aggregation and Rates (e.g.NPP)

Function

Species populations

Biotic communities

Ecosystem

System behavior

(e.g. trophic dynamics)

Theoretical framework

Variables

Criteria

Components

Individuals

Processes and

Functions

Evolutionary Ecology

Discrete

Biodiversity entities

Composition and structure

Biotic and Abiotic

componentsFluxes of energy

and matter

Complementarity between

structure and function

Biosphere

Contemporary

Conservation Biology

COMPOSITIONALISM FUNCTIONALISM

Preservation of biological diversity & Biological integrity, Restoration ecology

Ecosystem health, Ecosystem services, Adaptive management, Ecosystem management, Sustainable development, Ecological sustainability

NORMATIVE CONCEPTS RELATED

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20

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The views of the stakeholders can provide good information for solving

problems and to increase the effectiveness of the measures

National Park

of Dadia

National Park of

Evros Delta Andrea et al. 2014

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Views of the stakeholders of the Dadia National Park (Grecee)

Inhabitants

Visitors

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For managers the greatest threat of the area was the problem with the floods

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What we need to implement a (socio)ecosystem approach to

Natura 2000 sites?

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We need a model to analyze the socioecosystem

World Resources Institute 2010

Management

Science Society

Domains of knowledge

Collaborative knowledge

We need real participatory processes that involve scientiss, managers

and stakeholders

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The ecosystem services: a new conservation objective that can facilitate joint

efforts of conservation

The cascade of ecosystem services

(Adaptado de Haines-Young and Potschin 2007)

Biodiversity and

ecological

processes

(e.g. Net primary

production) Functions (e.g.

Water flux,

biomass, carbon

gains )

Services (e.g.

Freshwater, wood,

carbon sequestration)

Benefits – values

(e.g. Recreation,

climare change

mitigation)

The “production chain” that link the

biodiversity and ecological processes to

human wel-being

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Do protected areas networks ensure the supply of ecosystem services?

Spatial patterns of two nature reserve systems in semi-arid Spain

Castro et al. 2015

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Methodological approach

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Methodological approach

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Natura 200 sites were very important providing water flow maintenance

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The Science-Policy interfaces as a social processes to

implement ecosystem approach

COLECTIVE STRATEGIES FOR

SUSTAINABILITY

Scientists Managers Society

Aligned research to socioecological

context

Decisions based on scientific evidence

Participation in maintenance of

ecosystem services

Science-Policy interface at international level

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Developing a tool for communication

López et al. 2015

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Graphical tool for the diagnoses for the environmental problems

López et al. 2015

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Science-Policy interface at the Huascarán National Park (Perú)

Other science-Policy interfaces at local level

SPI Study

area Goal Main results

CAMP

Levante de

Almería

Coastal areas

from SE Spain

To develop a

sustainability framework

based on Integrated

coastal zone

management principles

▪ Action plan for sustainability in coastal areas with:

▪ ▫ 4 strategic objectives

▫ 10 programs of measures

▫ 35 prioritized management actions

▫ 114 indicators form monitoring actions

POCTEFEX

ALBORÁN Alboran Basin

To identify common

indicators between Spain

and Morocco for

monitoring Alboran

Marine Basin

▪ Drivers of global change at regional level

▪ Ecosystem services assessment

▪ 29 indicators for monitoring global change both in Spain and Morocco

GLOCHARID

Arid

ecosystems

from SE Spain

To strengh the

collaborative work

bewteen scientists and

managers

▪12 prioritized environmental problems ▪ 5 collaborative strategies of adaptive

management implemented.

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CONCLUSIONS

• (Particularly) In a human dominated world we have to implementation of

an ecosystem approach to manage Natura 2000 sites.

• Ecosystem services represent and added value to promote conservation

Natura 2000 sites.

• We need to construct collaborative knowledge to face environmental

problems considering the particular role:

• Scientists: aligned science,

• Managers: decisions based on the best scientific knowledge

• Stakeholders: participating in the maintenance of ecosystem

services.

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ευχαριστίες!

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Recommendations for the improvement of stakeholders’ participation

Apostolopoulou et al. 2012

1 boundary entity

3 órganos de participación y

coordinación institucional

6 proyectos singulares asesorados por

expertos

1 Comunidad de práctica

1103 participantes

(científicos, gestores y agentes sociales)

1 modelo para la proyección de

escenarios futuros

4 objetivos estratégicos consensuados

10 programas de medidas

35 medidas de gestión priorizadas

114 acciones de gestión priorizadas con

indicadores de consecución y

seguimiento

Interfaz ciencia-gestión-sociedad en CAMP Levante de Almería

1 boundary entity

1 Comunidad de práctica transfronteriza

(España y Marruecos)

103 participantes

(científicos, gestores y agentes sociales)

3 Talleres

1 modelo analítico para la práctica del

enfoque ecosistémico

8 impulsores regionales de cambio

global identificados

1 caracterización de los servicios

ecosistémicos más alterados en la

cuenca marina de Alborán

29 indicadores comunes identificados

para el seguimiento del cambio global

en ambas orillas de la cuenca

Interfaz ciencia-gestión-sociedad en POCTEFEX ALBORÁN

1 boundary entity

2 Comunidades de práctica

(Agua y Biodiversidad)

70 participantes (científicos y gestores)

6 Talleres

12 Problemas ambientales priorizados

1 metalenguaje para representar

problemas

5 estrategias de gestión adaptativa

formalizadas e implementadas

Interfaz ciencia-gestión en el proyecto GLOCHARID

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