Results-Based Agri-Environmental Schemes for Delivering Ecosystem Services in the EU: Established Issues and Emerging Trends

2017 ◽  
pp. 83-122
Author(s):  
Andrea Saba
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Emerging Trends ◽  
The Eu

scholarly journals Incorporating Ecosystem Services in the Assessment of Water Framework Directive Programmes of Measures

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Souliotis ◽  
Nikolaos Voulvoulis
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Water Framework Directive ◽  
Water Status ◽  
Monitoring And Evaluation ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Ecological Condition ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Ecological Objectives ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThe EU Water Framework Directive requires the development of management responses aimed towards improving water quality as a result of improving ecosystem health (system state). Ecosystems have potential to supply a range of services that are of fundamental importance to human well-being, health, livelihoods and survival, and their capacity to supply these services depends on the ecosystem condition (its structure and processes). According to the WFD, Programmes of Measures should be developed to improve overall water status by reducing anthropogenic catchment pressures to levels compatible with the achievement of the ecological objectives of the directive, and when designed and implemented properly should improve the ecological condition of aquatic ecosystems that the delivery of ecosystem services depends on. Monitoring and evaluation of implemented measures are crucial for assessing their effectiveness and creating the agenda for consecutive planning cycles. Considering the challenges of achieving water status improvements, and the difficulties of communicating these to the wider public, we develop a framework for the evaluation of measures cost-effectiveness that considers ecosystem services as the benefits from the reduction of pressures on water bodies. We demonstrate its application through a case study and discuss its potential to facilitate the economic analysis required by the directive, and that most European water authorities had problems with. Findings demonstrate the potential of the methodology to effectively incorporate ecosystem services in the assessment of costs and benefits of proposed actions, as well as its potential to engage stakeholders.

scholarly journals Mapping cultural ecosystem services: A framework to assess the potential for outdoor recreation across the EU

2014 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 371-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Luisa Paracchini ◽  
Grazia Zulian ◽  
Leena Kopperoinen ◽  
Joachim Maes ◽  
Jan Philipp Schägner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Outdoor Recreation ◽  
Cultural Ecosystem Services ◽  
The Eu

scholarly journals NECESSITY OF MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOSYSTEMS AND THEIR SERVICES IN PLANNING AND DECISION MAKING PROCESS

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 234
Author(s):  
Līga Brūniņa ◽  
Elīna Konstantinova ◽  
Aija Peršēvica
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
National Level ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Integrate Assessment ◽  
Reporting Systems ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Eu

The EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 determines that “Member States, with the assistance of the Commission, will map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territory by 2014, assess the economic value of such services, and promote the integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by 2020”. Mapping and assessment of ecosystem services provides several benefits, one of which is baseline data providing to measure net future gains or losses and data integration into spatial development process. The aim of the paper is to present and discuss the approach taken to assessing ecosystem services in order to introduce necessity of mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services for planning and decision-making process in Latvia. The paper will focus on terminology interpretation of ecosystem services, introducing with set of developed indicators for assessment of ecosystem services and define appropriate for Latvia. The paper closes with estimation of potential benefits and necessity to integrate assessment of ecosystems services in spatial planning and decision-making process.

scholarly journals Towards implementing Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services in Cyprus: A first set of indicators for ecosystem management

One Ecosystem ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis Vogiatzakis ◽  
Savvas Zotos ◽  
Vassilis Litskas ◽  
Paraskevi Manolaki ◽  
Dimitrios Sarris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Carbon Sequestration ◽  
Ecosystem Management ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Traffic Light ◽  
Local Stakeholders ◽  
Geographical Context ◽  
The Eu

Ecosystems deliver a range of services that are important for human well-being. Although Ecosystem Services (ES) assessments have been carried out worldwide in different geographical areas, islands are still under-represented. This research presents the first set of indicators developed for Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) provided by the ecosystems of Cyprus, as required by the EU Biodiversity Strategy, along with the rationale behind the selection criteria. In total, 269 potential indicators were assessed in terms of data availability at the national/subnational level and their suitability for MAES and were classified using a "traffic light" system on the basis of overall suitability (i.e. conceptually and in terms of datasets). The results showed that 89 indicators (Green indicators) can be directly used for assessing ES in Cyprus. Amongst these 89 Green indicators, 28 are considered to be new additions to the EU MAES list, since they were proposed solely for Cyprus ecosystems, as a result of consultation with local stakeholders. Provisioning and cultural services could be adequately mapped, but lack of data was observed for several regulating services (e.g. erosion, pollution, carbon sequestration). Not all Green indicators, identified herein, are relevant for assessing ES provided by ecosystems in Cyprus, whereas Green indicators which measure similar ES might be redundant. For a given geographical context, there might be relevant (and important) indicators which are not included in the MAES list and this is why consultation with stakeholders is advisable. Knowledge gaps and needs for further improving MAES on the island are also discussed.

scholarly journals National Set of MAES Indicators in Greece: Ecosystem Services and Management Implications

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioannis P. Kokkoris ◽  
Georgios Mallinis ◽  
Eleni S. Bekri ◽  
Vassiliki Vlami ◽  
Stamatis Zogaris ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
National Level ◽  
Natura 2000 ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Thematic Maps ◽  
Food Material ◽  
Data Gaps ◽  
Condition Indicator ◽  
The Eu

Research Highlights: The developed National Set of Indicators for the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) implementation in Greece at the national level sets the official, national basis on which future studies will be conducted for MAES reporting for the achievement of targets within the National and the European Union (EU) biodiversity Strategy. Background and Objectives: Greece is currently developing and implementing a MAES nation-wide program based on the region’s unique characteristics following the proposed methodologies by the European Commission, in the frame of the LIFE-IP 4 NATURA project (Integrated actions for the conservation and management of Natura 2000 sites, species, habitats and ecosystems in Greece). In this paper, we present the steps followed to compile standardized MAES indicators for Greece that include: (a) collection and review of the available MAES-related datasets, (b) shortcomings and limitations encountered and overcome, (c) identification of data gaps and (d) assumptions and framework setting. Correspondence to EU and National Strategies and Policies are also examined to provide an initial guidance for detailed thematic studies. Materials and Methods: We followed the requirements of the EU MAES framework for ecosystem services and ecosystem condition indicator selection. Ecosystem services reported under the selected indicators were assigned following the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services. Spatial analysis techniques were applied to create relevant thematic maps. Results: A set of 40 MAES indicators was drafted, distributed in six general indicator groups, i.e., Biodiversity, Environmental quality, Food, material and energy, Forestry, Recreation and Water resources. The protocols for the development and implementation of an indicator were also drafted and adopted for future MAES studies in Greece, providing guidance for adaptive development and adding extra indicators when and where needed. Thematic maps representing ecosystem services (ES) bundles and ES hotspots were also created to identify areas of ES importance and simultaneously communicate the results at the national and regional levels.

scholarly journals Targeting the soil quality and soil health concepts when aiming for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the EU Green Deal

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonello Bonfante ◽  
Angelo Basile ◽  
Johan Bouma
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Soil Conditions ◽  
Soil Series ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Health Concepts ◽  
The Eu

Abstract. The soil quality and soil health concepts are widely used as soils receive more attention in the worldwide policy arena. So far, however, the distinction between the two concepts is unclear and operational procedures for measurement are still being developed. A proposal is made to focus soil health on actual soil conditions, as determined by a limited set of indicators that reflect favourable rooting conditions. In addition, soil quality can express inherent soil conditions in a given soil type (genoform) reflecting the effects of past and present soil management (expressed by various phenoforms). Soils contribute to ecosystem services that, in turn, contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and, more recently, to the EU Green Deal. Relevant soil ecosystem services are biomass production (SDG2: zero hunger), providing clean water (SDG6); climate mitigation by carbon capture and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (SDG13: climate action) and biodiversity preservation (SDG15: life on land). The use of simulation models for the soil-water-atmosphere-plant system is proposed as a quantitative and reproducible procedure to derive single values for soil health and soil quality for current and future climate conditions. Crop production parameters from the international: yield-gap program are used combined with soil-specific parameters expressing the effects of phenoforms. These procedures focus on the ecosystem service: biomass production Other ecosystem services are determined by soil-specific management to be based on experiences obtained in similar soils elsewhere or by new research. A case study, covering three Italian soil series, illustrates the application of the proposed concepts, showing that soil types (soil series) acted significantly different to effects of management also in their reaction to climate change.

scholarly journals National Park and UNESCO Global Geopark of Chelmos-Vouraikos (Greece): Floristic Diversity, Ecosystem Services and Management Implications

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Maria Tsakiri ◽  
Eleni Koumoutsou ◽  
Ioannis P. Kokkoris ◽  
Panayiotis Trigas ◽  
Eleni Iliadou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
National Park ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Floristic Diversity ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Type Mapping ◽  
The Eu

This study highlights the importance of including detailed (local-scale) biodiversity and ecosystem services data for land-use management and promotion of protected areas using the National Park and UNESCO Global Geopark of Chelmos-Vouraikos (Greece) as a case study. Along with the conducted field surveys and literature review for the National Park’s flora documentation, ecosystem type mapping and assessment of ecosystem services have been performed, following National and European Union (EU) guidelines for the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) implementation across EU Member States. Main results include floristic diversity indicators, ecosystem type mapping and assessment, and ecosystem services identification and assessment of their actual and potential supply. By this, a scientifically informed baseline dataset was developed to support management and policy needs towards a holistic National Park management and a sustainable spatial planning for protected areas. Additionally, local scale ecosystem type and ecosystem services data have been produced as input for the MAES implementation in Greece and the EU.

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