Worldwide Wetland Loss and Conservation of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services⁎

Abstract Coastal ecosystems are linked to socio-economic development, but simultaneously, are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic climate change and sea level rise (SLR). Within this scope, detailed topographic data resources of Spercheios River and Maliakos Gulf coastal area in Greece, combined with information concerning the economic value of the most important sectors of the area (wetland services, land property, infrastructure, income) were employed, so as to examine the impacts of three SLR scenarios, compiled based on the most recent regional projections reviewed. Based on the results, in the case of 0.3 m, 0.6 m and 1.0 m SLR, the terrestrial zone to be lost was estimated to be 6.2 km2, 18.9 km2 and 31.1 km2, respectively. For each scenario examined, wetlands comprise 68%, 41% and 39% of the total area lost, respectively, reflecting their sensitivity to even small SLR. The total economic impact of SLR was estimated to be 75.4 × 106 €, 161.7 × 106 € and 510.7 × 106 € for each scenario, respectively (3.5%, 7.5% and 23.7% of the gross domestic product of the area), 19%, 17% and 8% of which can be attributed to wetland loss. The consequences of SLR to the ecosystem services provided are indisputable, while adaptation and mitigation planning is required.

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Between Priceless and Worthless: Challenges in Using Market Mechanisms for Conserving Biodiversity

Transnational Environmental Law ◽

10.1017/s2047102512000210 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2 (2) ◽

pp. 217-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Colin T. Reid

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Payments For Ecosystem Services ◽

Market Mechanisms ◽

Ethical Concerns ◽

The Subject ◽

Market Approach ◽

Commodification Of Nature ◽

Governance Arrangements ◽

Conservation Of Biodiversity

AbstractThere is growing interest in the use of market mechanisms, such as offsetting and payments for ecosystem services, to further the conservation of biodiversity. The specific needs of biodiversity mean that this approach faces significant challenges in terms of defining the units that can be the subject of the economic or market devices, of ensuring that such mechanisms do deliver conservation gains and of establishing appropriate governance arrangements. There are also ethical concerns that a market approach entails a commodification of nature which sacrifices some of the very elements which make nature valuable to us. The market-based schemes currently being operated and devised should be studied carefully to see how successfully these challenges can be met.

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Morphodynamic and Climatic Control on Sandy Beaches: Challenges of Geoenvironmental Studies for the Conservation of Biodiversity and the Maintenance of Ecosystem Services

Anuário do Instituto de Geociências - UFRJ ◽

10.11137/1982-3908_2021_44_36999 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

Author(s):

Anderson Abbehusen Freire de Carvalho ◽

Iracema Reimão Silva

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Sandy Beaches ◽

Climatic Control ◽

Conservation Of Biodiversity

As praias arenosas podem ser divididas em dois ecossistemas praiais: os autossustentáveis e os de interface, que respondem de forma diferente ao controle mofordinâmico e climático sobre a biodiversidade. Os principais fatores que atuam sobre a biodiversidade das praias arenosas são a energia das ondas e a ação dos ventos, que são responsáveis pela movimentação do sedimento e a determinação do relevo da praia. As variações climáticas, a exemplo das tempestades, também influenciam de forma significativa a dinâmica dos ecossistemas praiais. Mesmo possuindo um equilíbrio ecológico delicado, as praias arenosas não têm sido reconhecidas como áreas prioritárias para conservação, talvez pela ausência de uma cobertura vegetal exuberante ou pela pouca percepção da sua biodiversidade. Para boa parte da população que frequenta as zonas costeiras, as praias arenosas aparentam ser um sistema biologicamente pobre e valorizado apenas pelos aspectos paisagísticos e de recreação. O uso recreativo intenso e a ocupação desordenada do pós-praia aumentam os impactos sobre esses ambientes, alterando a deposição de sedimentos, dificultando o deslocamento da biota e aumentando os processos erosivos, comprometendo a funcionalidade ecossistêmica. Diante deste contexto, se faz necessário realizar estudosde indicadores que possam fomentar estratégias adequadas para a gestão costeira, preservando o equilíbrio dos ecossistemas e a manutenção dos seus serviços, inclusive os considerados essenciais para a espécie humana. A presente revisão tem como objetivo principal discutir como os processos geoambientais, a exemplo dos morfodinâmicos e climáticos, atuam sobre a biodiversidade das praias arenosas e como estes fenômenos podem influenciar o equilíbrio ecossistêmico e a oferta dos seus serviços. Dentro desse cenário também foi discutido as possíveis interferências das alterações climáticas, a ocupação desordenada dos ambientes costeiros e suas implicações para conservação das praias arenosas.

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Saving the Dammed

10.1093/oso/9780190943523.001.0001 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Ellen Wohl

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Northern Hemisphere ◽

Nitrate Reduction ◽

National Park ◽

Flood Control ◽

Rocky Mountain ◽

Wetland Loss ◽

Rocky Mountain National Park ◽

River Valleys

The ability of beavers to create an abundant habitat for a diverse array of plants and animals has been analyzed time and again. The disappearance of beavers across the northern hemisphere, and what this effects, has yet to be comprehensively studied. Saving the Dammed analyzes the beneficial role of beavers and their dams in the ecosystem of a river, focusing on one beaver meadow in Colorado. In her latest book, Ellen Wohl contextualizes North St. Vrain Creek by discussing the implications of the loss of beavers across much larger areas. Saving the Dammed raises awareness of rivers as ecosystems and the role beavers play in sustaining the ecosystem surrounding rivers by exploring the macrocosm of global river alteration, wetland loss, and the reduction in ecosystem services. The resulting reduction in ecosystem services span things such as flood control, habitat abundance and biodiversity, and nitrate reduction. Allowing readers to follow her as she crawls through seemingly impenetrable spaces with slow and arduous movements, Wohl provides a detailed narrative of beaver meadows. Saving the Dammed takes readers through twelve months at a beaver meadow in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park, exploring how beavers change river valleys and how the decline in beaver populations has altered river ecosystems. As Wohl analyzes and discusses the role beavers play in the ecosystem of a river, readers get to follow her through tight, seemingly impenetrable, crawl spaces as she uncovers the benefit of dams.

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Changes in ecosystem services from wetland loss and restoration: An ecosystem assessment of the Danube Delta (1960–2010)

Ecosystem Services ◽

10.1016/j.ecoser.2019.100965 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 39 ◽

pp. 100965 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Erik Gómez-Baggethun ◽

Marian Tudor ◽

Mihai Doroftei ◽

Silviu Covaliov ◽

Aurel Năstase ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Wetland Loss ◽

Danube Delta ◽

Ecosystem Assessment

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Conservation and Sustainability of Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes

IAMURE International Journal of Ecology and Conservation ◽

10.7718/ijec.v10i1.771 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

INOCENCIO E. BUOT, JR.

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Human Nature ◽

The Philippines ◽

Focal Points ◽

Ecological Valuation ◽

Dynamic Conservation ◽

Conservation Of Biodiversity

The paper emphasized the establishment of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems(GIAHS) and its purpose of dynamic conservation of biodiversity and culture in socioecological productionlandscapes and seascapes (SEPLS), particularly in satoyama landscapes in the Philippines, in Asia and theworld. Then, it outlines the next steps to be taken in order to attain sustainability and resiliency, namely;1) expansion of GIAHS sites and network through exploring Nationally Important Agricultural HeritageSystems (NIAHS) and Locally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (LIAHS), 2) using internationalapproach and frameworks with customization as necessary even in working at the national and locallevels, 3) tapping leading universities to serve as focal points especially in the area of sustainability andresiliency research, economic and ecological valuation studies of ecosystem services, and 4) treatingGIAHS landscapes as a community and NOT as a commodity.Keywords: Ecology, human-nature interaction, Satoyama, socioecological production landscapes, resiliency,descriptive design, Philippines

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