scholarly journals Introduction to Topic "towards the Legal Recognition and Governance of Ecosystem Services"

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Alejandro Iza
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Legal Recognition ◽  
Climate Regulation ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Joint Workshop ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
Successful Event

On behalf of the IUCN Environmental Law Centre, the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law and the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law, I would like to introduce you to the topic of this Journal "Towards the legal recognition and governance of ecosystem services." First of all, I would like to thank the Co-Chairs of the Academy´s Research Committee and the Deputy Chair of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law for this initiative and I am most happy to see that, throughout its organisation, collaboration between the three organisations has continued to grow. We organised our first joint-workshop in 2011 in Ghent, Belgium, just before the IUCN Academy´s 8th annual colloquium. The feeling that we all had as the successful event came to an end, was that this collaboration should be repeated on an annual basis. The 2011 Mpekweni Workshop revolved around legal frameworks for the recognition and governance of ecosystem services. Maintaining healthy ecosystems and the continuing provision of services such as water supply or climate regulation is key to ensuring present and future human livelihoods, the fulfillment of the Millennium Development Goals and for any form of poverty alleviation strategy.

Editorial

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Louisa Denier ◽  
Willemien Du Plessis
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
South African ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Legal Recognition ◽  
High Court ◽  
Legal Perspective

On Sunday 3 July 2011 the Research Committee of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law, the IUCN Environmental Law Centre, Bonn and the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law organised a pre-conference workshop entitled “Towards the legal recognition and governance of ecosystem services” at Mpekweni, Eastern Cape, South Africa. At this workshop, papers were delivered on various aspects of ecosystem services. These included an introduction to ecosystem services from a legal perspective by Alejandro Iza of the IUCN Environmental Law Centre, and an introduction from a scientific perspective, by Christo Marais of the South African Department of Water Affairs. Justice Antonio Benjamin from the High Court of Brazil gave a presentation on Jurisprudential experiences in Brasilia and the importance of the legal recognition of ecosystem services; Alistair Rieu Clarke (University of Dundee) spoke on “The 1997 UN Watercourses Convention and Ecosystem Services: Can a Combined Reading Ensure that International Watercourses are Utilised in an Equitable and Reasonable Manner?”; Jamie Benidickson (University of Ottawa) presented the new IUCN “Guidelines for Protected Areas Legislation” and David Hodas (Widener University) gave a presentation entitled “Seeing into Law's Blindspot: Ecosystem Energy Services”. The discussions during the workshop enabled participants to realise that there were numerous angles to the topic of ecosystem services and that the discussion had not been fully explored, in particular concerning the human livelihoods aspect and the intricate relationship between ecosystem services and rights. It was therefore decided that there would be an open call for papers for publication on these issues, which would contribute to furthering this important discussion in the light of the major world conferences that would have taken place from 2012 onwards.

Integrating the Ecosystem Services Paradigm into Environmental Law: A Mechanism to Protect Mangrove Ecosystems?

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 291-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justine Bell-James
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Management ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Legal Reform ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
Comprehensive Analysis ◽  
Environmental Resources ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystems ◽  
Legal Frameworks

Abstract The ecosystem services paradigm is a widely recognised concept in ecology and environmental management, but one that is not uniformly incorporated into environmental law. This article argues that the integration of this paradigm into law can assist with protection of critical environmental resources, using mangrove ecosystems as an example. This article commences with a defence of the ecosystem services paradigm, followed by a discussion of the ecosystem services provided by mangroves. It argues that a comprehensive analysis of existing laws is a necessary first step towards legal reform, and to this end, it proposes a rubric for assessment of laws and legal frameworks. This rubric is applied to laws in Queensland, Australia, as a case study. It concludes by identifying major deficiencies in the recognition of mangrove ecosystem services in existing laws, and calling for reform in this area.

scholarly journals The functional agrobiodiversity in the Douro demarcated region viticulture: utopia or reality? Arthropods as a case-study – A review

2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-114
Author(s):  
Fátima Gonçalves ◽  
Cristina Carlos ◽  
António Crespi ◽  
Claire Villemant ◽  
Valeria Trivellone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Provision Of Services ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Aichi Biodiversity Targets ◽  
Taxonomic Groups

Aiming to reduce the losses of biodiversity and the degradation of associated ecosystem services, the United Nations established the 2011-2020 period as the UN Decade on Biodiversity. During this period, the countries involved compromised on implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The argument is that biological diversity underpins the functioning of ecosystems and the provision of services essential to human well-being, further contributing to economic development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The purpose of this review is to present results of research and academic works carried out over several years in the Douro Demarcated Region in the field of functional agrobiodiversity, understood as the part of ecosystem biodiversity that provides ecosystem services, which support sustainable agricultural production and can also bring benefits to the regional and global environment and to society as a whole. Such studies specifically aimed to contribute knowledge about the diversity of arthropods in the vineyard ecosystem and about practices that can increase their abundance, diversity and services provided. In this context, a general characterization of the arthropod community identified in the vineyard ecosystem is conducted, complemented by information on the role played, by the taxonomic groups identified. The importance of increasing arthropod populations, the vegetation of vineyard slopes, and the existence of shrubs, forests and hedgerows next to the vineyards is discussed. The fundamental role of soil management practices is also referred, namely that of ground cover and the application of compost from winery wastes in the abundance and diversity of these organisms populations. Finally, bearing in mind the importance of the use of this information by vine growers, the measures taken for its dissemination are also presented.

International Environmental Law

2019 ◽  
pp. 169-204
Author(s):  
Ben Boer
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
International Environmental Law ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Sustainable Environment ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
The Right ◽  
National Environmental

This chapter addresses the development and implementation of international and regional instruments and policies concerning the environment and natural resources across the sub-regions of the Asia-Pacific, in the context of the continuing debate on the need to promote ecological sustainability globally. Many of these instruments and policies began to shape national environmental law responses in the region from the 1970s. Two recent and highly significant instruments are the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sustainable Development Goals, both agreed in 2015. The chapter then examines the functions of the more important regional environmentally oriented institutions, together with their associated legal frameworks and soft law instruments, for each of the Asia-Pacific’s sub-regions. It also focuses on the increasing international, regional, and national trend of recognizing the links between environmental law and human rights, and specifically the promotion of the right to a safe, clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

scholarly journals Land-Management Options for Greenhouse Gas Removal and Their Impacts on Ecosystem Services and the Sustainable Development Goals

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pete Smith ◽  
Justin Adams ◽  
David J. Beerling ◽  
Tim Beringer ◽  
Katherine V. Calvin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Land Management ◽  
Wetland Restoration ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Gas Removal ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Removal

Land-management options for greenhouse gas removal (GGR) include afforestation or reforestation (AR), wetland restoration, soil carbon sequestration (SCS), biochar, terrestrial enhanced weathering (TEW), and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). We assess the opportunities and risks associated with these options through the lens of their potential impacts on ecosystem services (Nature's Contributions to People; NCPs) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We find that all land-based GGR options contribute positively to at least some NCPs and SDGs. Wetland restoration and SCS almost exclusively deliver positive impacts. A few GGR options, such as afforestation, BECCS, and biochar potentially impact negatively some NCPs and SDGs, particularly when implemented at scale, largely through competition for land. For those that present risks or are least understood, more research is required, and demonstration projects need to proceed with caution. For options that present low risks and provide cobenefits, implementation can proceed more rapidly following no-regrets principles.

scholarly journals Lake and wetland ecosystem services measuring water storage and local climate regulation

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 3197-3223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina P. Wong ◽  
Bo Jiang ◽  
Theodore J. Bohn ◽  
Kai N. Lee ◽  
Dennis P. Lettenmaier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Water Storage ◽  
Wetland Ecosystem ◽  
Local Climate ◽  
Climate Regulation

scholarly journals FORUM paper: The significance of soils and soil science towards realization of the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs)

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. D. Keesstra ◽  
J. Bouma ◽  
J. Wallinga ◽  
P. Tittonell ◽  
P. Smith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Soil Science ◽  
Transfer Of Knowledge ◽  
Policy Cycle ◽  
Effective Manner ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
Policy Arena

Abstract. In this FORUM paper we discuss how soil scientists can help to reach the recently adopted UN Sustainable Development Goals in the most effective manner. Soil science, as a land-related discipline has important links to several of the SDGs which are demonstrated through the functions of soils and the ecosystem services that are linked to those functions. We explore and discuss how soil scientists can rise to the challenge both internally, in terms of our procedures and practices, and externally in terms of our relations with colleague scientists in other disciplines, diverse groups of stakeholders and the policy arena. To meet these goals we recommend the following steps to be taken by the soil science community as a whole: (i) Embrace the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as they provide a platform that allows soil science to demonstrate its relevance for realizing a sustainable society by 2030. (ii) Show the specific value of soil science: Research should explicitly show how using modern soil information can improve the results of inter- and trans-disciplinary studies on SDGs related to food security, water scarcity, climate change, biodiversity loss and health threats. (iii) Given the integrative nature of soils, soil scientists are in a unique position to take leadership in overarching systems-analyses of ecosystems; (iii) Raise awareness of soil organic matter as a key attribute of soils to illustrate its importance for soil functions and ecosystem services; (iv) Improve the transfer of knowledge through knowledge brokers with a soil background; (v) Start at the basis: educational programs are needed at all levels, starting in primary schools, and emphasizing practical, down-to-earth examples; (vi) Facilitate communication with the policy arena by framing research in terms that resonate with politicians in terms of the policy cycle or by considering drivers, pressures and responses affecting impacts of land use change; and finally (vii) all this is only possible if researchers, with soil scientists in the frontlines, look over the hedge towards other disciplines, to the world-at-large and to the policy arena, reaching over to listen first, as a basis for genuine collaboration.

Ecosystem Services as a Metaphor in Environmental Law

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 525-548
Author(s):  
Justine Bell-James
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Coastal Wetland ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Intrinsic Value ◽  
Value Of Nature ◽  
Commodification Of Nature

The ecosystem services concept is a useful tool in environmental law, as it allows nature to be considered on the same plane of comparison as proposed development. However, the concept has received significant criticism, with many critics arguing that nature should be valued for its intrinsic worth. This article synthesises the ethical objections to the ecosystem services concept, distinguishing objections to the concept itself, and objections to the commodification of nature. It considers how the concept has been used in Australian environmental law to date, drawing on examples from the coastal wetland context. It concludes that most applications have not involved commodification, and have incorporated notions of intrinsic value. It concludes with some observations for future progress in this field, considering how the ecosystem services concept can be balanced with concerns for respecting the intrinsic value of nature.

scholarly journals A Differentiated Spatial Assessment of Urban Ecosystem Services Based on Land Use Data in Halle, Germany

Land ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janis Arnold ◽  
Janina Kleemann ◽  
Christine Fürst
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Air Pollution ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Ecosystem ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Urban Ecosystem Services ◽  
Climate Regulation ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Cooling Effects

Urban ecosystem services (ES) contribute to the compensation of negative effects caused by cities by means of, for example, reducing air pollution and providing cooling effects during the summer time. In this study, an approach is described that combines the regional biotope and land use data set, hemeroby and the accessibility of open space in order to assess the provision of urban ES. Hemeroby expresses the degree of naturalness of land use types and, therefore, provides a differentiated assessment of urban ES. Assessment of the local capacity to provide urban ES was conducted with a spatially explicit modeling approach in the city of Halle (Saale) in Germany. The following urban ES were assessed: (a) global climate regulation, (b) local climate regulation, (c) air pollution control, (d) water cycle regulation, (e) food production, (f) nature experience and (g) leisure activities. We identified areas with high and low capacity of ES in the urban context. For instance, the central parts of Halle had very low or no capacity to provide ES due to highly compact building styles and soil sealing. In contrast, peri-urban areas had particularly high capacities. The potential provision of regulating services was spatially limited due to the location of land use types that provide these services.

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