scholarly journals Where Do Ecosystem Services Come From? Assessing and Mapping Stakeholder Perceptions on Water Ecosystem Services in the Muga River Basin (Catalonia, Spain)

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 385
Author(s):  
Enrica Garau ◽  
Josep Vila-Subiros ◽  
Josep Pueyo-Ros ◽  
Anna Ribas Palom
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Complex Situation ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Water Ecosystem ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Reductions in water availability and increasing rainfall variability are generating a narrative of growing competition for water in the Mediterranean basin. In this article, we explore the distribution and importance of water resources in the Muga River Basin (Catalonia, Spain) based on key stakeholders’ perceptions. We performed a sociocultural evaluation of the main water ecosystem services in the region through stakeholder interviews and participatory mapping. The basin was generally perceived as a hotspot of ecosystem services, but we detected varying opinions and considerable differences in the perceptions of importance and spatial distribution of water ecosystem services. These discrepancies were linked to the varying levels of stakeholders’ dependence on water. Our findings are important for contributing to correct water planning and management in the river basin, which is a complex water social system marked by conflicts between different stakeholder groups vying for the same resource. This complex situation requires bottom-up strategies to create transparent, participatory decision-making models.

scholarly journals Where Do Ecosystem Services Come From? Assessing and Mapping Stakeholder Perceptions on Water Ecosystem Services

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enrica Garau ◽  
Josep Vila-Subiros ◽  
Josep Pueyo-Ros ◽  
Anna Ribas Palom
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Rainfall Variability ◽  
Complex Situation ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Water Ecosystem ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Reductions in water availability and increasing rainfall variability are generating a narrative of growing competition for water in the Mediterranean basin. In this article, we explore the distribution and importance of water resources in the Muga River Basin (Catalonia, Spain) based on key stakeholders’ perceptions. We performed a sociocultural evaluation of the main water ecosystem services in the region through stakeholder interviews and participatory mapping. The basin was generally perceived as a hotspot of ecosystem services, but we detected varying opinions and considerable differences in the perceptions of importance and spatial distribution of water ecosystem services. These discrepancies were linked to the varying levels of stakeholders’ dependence on water. Our findings are important for contributing to correct water planning and management in the river basin, which is a complex water social system marked by conflicts between different stakeholder groups vying for the same resource. This complex situation requires bottom-up strategies to create transparent, participatory decision-making models.

scholarly journals Incentives and Barriers to Water-Saving Measures in Hotels in the Mediterranean: A Case Study of the Muga River Basin (Girona, Spain)

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Torres-Bagur ◽  
Anna Ribas ◽  
Josep Vila-Subirós
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Water Saving ◽  
Tourist Industry ◽  
Size Category ◽  
North East ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Decreasing water availability and growing demands due to climate change and increasing tourist numbers in the Mediterranean basin are likely to result in worsening conflicts between socioeconomic sectors that depend on water to survive. We conducted 19 in-depth interviews with hotel owners and managers in the Muga river basin (Girona, north-east Spain) to analyze their use of water-saving measures and explore perceived incentives and barriers. Hotel size, category, and year of construction/renovation were all directly associated with the implementation or lack of implementation of certain measures. The hoteliers did not perceive any strong incentives to adopt water-saving measures, but there were clear indications of cost and technical barriers and a lack of awareness about possible options. Efforts are clearly needed to improve incentives and increase awareness and knowledge about water-saving measures among hoteliers in this part of the Mediterranean basin, where water is a necessary resource for the tourist industry and many other sectors.

Water Ecosystem Services and their Value — A Case Study in Luan River Basin, North China

2013 ◽  
Vol 448-453 ◽  
pp. 225-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cai Lian Hao ◽  
Deng Hua Yan ◽  
Tian Ling Qin ◽  
Cheng Zhang ◽  
Jun Yin
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Green Water ◽  
Ecological Value ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Economic Values ◽  
Monetary Value ◽  
Water Ecosystem ◽  
Value Of Water

Under a scenario of global climate change, the water ecosystem services of Luan River basin have attracted considerable public attention. In this paper, the term of water ecosystem services is described as Green water and blue water formed from the water cycle process to provide the conditions and utility for maintaining the structure and process of forest, grassland, wetland, lake, river ecosystem. In this study, we estimated the magnitudes and economic values of the water ecosystem services in Luan River basin. The economic value of water ecosystem services in Luan River basin was estimated to be 778.32×108Yuan in 2000. The ratios of the economic values of water direct ecosystem services were 5.89%, and rest 94.11% of the all monetary value was water indirect ecosystem services. Among the water ecosystem services indicators we estimated, fruit, timber, fishery products, Fresh water supply, Hydropower and recreation were measured in the social economic system, about 59.81% of the monetary value of water ecosystem services is measured to reflect water resources ecological value.

scholarly journals LEGU-MED: Developing Biodiversity-Based Agriculture with Legume Cropping Systems in the Mediterranean Basin

Agronomy ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Federico Martinelli ◽  
Anna-Lena Vollheyde ◽  
Miguel A. Cebrián-Piqueras ◽  
Christina von Haaren ◽  
Elisa Lorenzetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Weed Suppression ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
Private Company ◽  
Anthropogenic Inputs ◽  
Environmental Objectives ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Environmental degradation and the decrease of ecosystem service provision are currently of major concern, with current agricultural systems being a major driver. To meet our future environmental and sustainability targets a transformation of the agro-food systems and current agricultural value chain are crucial. One approach to redesign farming systems is the concept of biodiversity-based agriculture (BBA) which relies on sustainable diversification of biological components and their natural interactions in farming systems to maximize fertility, productivity, and resilience to external perturbations. Despite minimizing anthropogenic inputs, BBA is not yet able to meet all beneficial environmental objectives. BBA applied in the Mediterranean basin requires urgent innovation in approaches, methodologies, and models for small-holder traditional farming systems to ensure a stable provision of ecosystem services and better resilience to environmental stresses linked to climate change. Legumes are the backbone of the Mediterranean agro-ecosystems from ancient times, but their unique and wide biodiversity was not sufficiently valorized, especially by North-African countries. Here, we present LEGU-MED, a three-year international project funded by PRIMA initiative 2019. An international consortium was established involving five universities, 5 research institutes, and one private company from 8 countries: Italy, Germany, Spain, Algeria, Tunisia, Turkey, Lebanon, and Croatia. The main objective of this project is to put forward an international and well-integrated plan to valorize the legume agrobiodiversity of the Mediterranean in biodiversity-based farming systems and consequently enhance agro-ecosystem functions and services in the Mediterranean basin. The successful completion of LEGU-MED will have the following impacts on Mediterranean legume-based farming systems: (1) improve water use efficiency, (2) reduce the use of anthropogenic inputs through the maintenance of soil fertility, (3) enhance pollination and improve ecological connectivity with flora and fauna, (4) protect close-by wildland ecosystems, (5) enhance other ecosystem services (e.g., pest, disease, and weed suppression), and (6) provide healthier and safer protein-rich food.

Threatening processes and conservation management of endemic freshwater fish in the Mediterranean basin: a review

2011 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Virgilio Hermoso ◽  
Miguel Clavero
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Freshwater Biodiversity ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
The World ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Mediterranean endemic freshwater fish are among the most threatened biota in the world. The Mediterranean basin has experienced substantial reductions in precipitation and water availability, which will worsen with climate change. Current water policy is directed to increase water-supply demands, especially for agriculture, and not to improve water-use efficiency and implement integrated and sustainable water management. Illegal extractions are common, exacerbating problems for important protected areas. Management is needed to mitigate the conflicts between environmental water and human demand, and ensure availability of water to maintain ecological processes and Mediterranean freshwater biodiversity. Water availability is not the only threat, although it is exacerbated by pollution and invasive species. The uneven spatial distribution of threats across the Mediterranean basin requires different strategies to conserve freshwater biodiversity. Implementation of multi-national laws (e.g. Water Framework Directive in the European Union) will help future management of freshwater ecosystems. Management actions must be planned at whole-catchment scales, with collaboration among different countries and water-management authorities. The current reserve area is small compared with other areas in the world and driven by terrestrial interests, and should be evaluated for its effectiveness to protect the Mediterranean freshwater biodiversity.

scholarly journals STUDY ON THE OPINION OF STAKEHOLDERS ON FORESTRY ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
Elena Dragozova ◽  
Nevena Shuleva
Keyword(s):  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Information Security ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Water Protection ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Water Ecosystem ◽  
The One

The ecosystem services provided by forest areas have a direct and indirect impact on the quality of life of people and also increase the well-being of society. The regulatory and water protection function of forests is institutionalized in the European and Bulgarian legislation. In the context of the current crisis in the water sector in Bulgaria there is a need to identify the stakeholder groups involved in the management, protection, control and use of the water ecosystem service. Under the crisis of water management in Bulgaria we understand the reduction of the volume of water resources and difficulties in supplying clean water to the population. Their opinion on the ecosystem of the forest and its water protection function in particular was examined by conducting a survey. The current paper identifies the different stakeholder groups and presents an analysis of the results obtained by means of a questionnaire sent to stakeholders. The results obtained are used as a basis for forming institutional links and managing conflicts in the process of generating, protecting and managing water from its source to the user. The study proved that society makes sense of the connection between the forest and the provision of clean water. Through the study, we succeeded in identifying a major problem related to the incomplete and outdated information on the maintenance of ecosystem services and improvement of the quality of the goods generated from them which is due to the poor communication between institutions coupled with the lack of awareness by the direct responsibilities of various departments and positions. The electronic platform created for the project on the one hand will support the process of information security of the technical mapping of water sources and water protection forests, as well as provide an opportunity for communication with various stakeholders. This will enable a higher information security.

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