Applied Multidisciplinary Solutions for the Sustainable Development of the Térraba‐SierpeRegion of Costa Rica
The ECOTICOS PROJECT
Presented by Azur Moulaert and Maya Kocian
Funded by
Human Capital GoodsandServices
EvolvingCulturalNorms andPolicy
Well Being(Individual andCommunity)
Consumption(based on changing,adaptingpreferences)
Education, training,research.
BuildingInvestment(decisions about, taxescommunity spending,education, science andtechnology policy, etc., basedon complex propertyrights regimes)
Individual Public
GNP
Wastes
Common
Ecologicalservices/amenities
- having,- being
negative impacts on all forms of capital
Restoration,Conservation Natural Capital
ManufacturedCapital
having
positive impacts on human capital capacity
doing, relatingComplex propertyrights regimes
SolarEnergy
SocialCapital
Waste heat
Institutionalrules, norms, etc.
Materially closed earth system
Lim
ited
Sub
stitu
tabi
lity
Bet
wee
n C
apita
l For
ms
Economic ProductionProcess
being, doing, relating
having, being
Why are we doing this?
Visions, values, valuation, and the need for an ecological economicsCostanza, R., Bioscience, Vol. 51, No. 6, pp. 459-468. Jun 2001
MOPT: Improving your quality of life!!!!
Threats
500 Million dollars a year in Ecosystem Services
SOLUTIONS
Technology
Institutions COncepts
• Geographic Information Systems• Landscape Analysis Tools• Ecological Restoration• Sustainable Agricultural Practices• Water Treatment Options • Organic Production Methods
• Scientific Baseline• Successful Case Studies• Belief System• Adaptive Management• Ecosystem Services•Ecological Economics
• Stakeholder Meetings• Outreach to local agencies• Coordination with others• Popular support• Representation• Broad representation
Modeling NOT for the sake of modeling
ECOTICOS: Transdisciplinary research team
This is NOT about basic research
IT’S ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE
Project 1: Green MappingExamples Opportunities Mistakes Threats
Natural Capital
Human Capital
Built Capital
Social Capital
Project 1: The Maps (Google “Ecoticos” 65 Gigabytes)
Quiénes somos?
Programa de Investigaciones Aerotransportadas
Coastal Analysis of LIDAR Data
Project 2: The meetings
Project 2: Meetings (crafting a vision)
Project 2: The Meetings (new office)
Project 3: Baseline (water quality and fish habitat)
After you have exhausted what there is in business, politics, conviviality, and so on - have found that none of these finally satisfy,
or permanently wear - what remains? Nature remains. Walt Whitman.
SOLUTIONS
Technology
Institutions COncepts
• Geographic Information Systems• Landscape Analysis Tools• Ecological Restoration• Sustainable Agricultural Practices• Water Treatment Options • Organic Production Methods
• Scientific Baseline• Successful Case Studies• Belief System• Adaptive Management• Ecosystem Services•Ecological Economics
• Stakeholder Meetings• Outreach to local agencies• Coordination with others• Popular support• Representation• Broad representation
Beddoe et. al 2008
Ok ok, the methods and results…
Integrated Ecosystem Valuation and Multicriteria Aided Analysis
$12,000 to $102,000 of environmental services per hectare per year!
18-42 metric tons of carbon fixed per hectare per year (equivalent to the
emissions of 3 to 8 automotive vehicles according to EPA).
What are these numbers goods for, if for anything?
Exercise of Multicriteria Analysis
• Evaluate stakeholder preferences toward development scenarios
• All combinations reduced to the six possible
• Participatory process
• Analysis and conclusions
Workshops
Results
1
3
5
7
9
1: D+PM
2: TBR
3: D+TBR+PM
4: D+TBR-
5: TBR+P
M
6: A+TBR
Average of all participants
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Local NGOs
Youth
Local Government
Dependent and Independent Workers
National NGO
Education
SINAC-MINAET-Central Government
Entrepreneur-Productive
NAIADE Analysis
Presentations to ACOSA leadership and regional council: PLAN APPROVED
Conclusions
• Integrative valuation in a participatory exercise• Broad participation will influence policy directly• Ecological economic concepts are a powerful
tool to promote ecological democracy.
• To obtain results we must work across all levels (Technical, Institutional and
Conceptual)
SOLUTIONS
Technology
Institutions COncepts
• Geographic Information Systems• Landscape Analysis Tools• Ecological Restoration• Sustainable Agricultural Practices• Water Treatment Options • Organic Production Methods
• Scientific Baseline• Successful Case Studies• Belief System• Adaptive Management• Ecosystem Services•Ecological Economics
• Stakeholder Meetings• Outreach to local agencies• Coordination with others• Popular support• Representation• Broad representation
Beddoe et. al 2008