Report of the EVI Working Session

This document summarizes the results of a convening to review the existing Ecological Valuation Index (EVI) decision support tool methodology and develop recommendations for increasing the tool's utility to the MA Ocean Plan.

Methodology and categories of studying depositary, biogeocenotic, ecological and service functions of soils

The methodology, structure and major categories of fundamental studies are considered to be carried out within the framework of the Program adopted by the Presidium of Russian Academy of Sciences in accordance with the priority trend in “Depositary functions, indication technology of the state and risks of soil degradation in the system of planning and rational environment conservation in Russia”. These studies are foreseen to be realized according to 5 projects including digital remote sensing inventory and monitoring of arable lands; transformation, evolution and degradation of soils due to agrogenesis and global climate changes; depositary and ecological functions of soils in agrolandscapes; optimal use of the soil resources; analysis of the soil microbiome index in processes associated with the soil formation, organic matter transformation and fine regulation of the vegetative process. Theoretically the above program is based upon the available typology and the system of agro-ecological valuation of lands; methodology and projecting of adaptive-landscape systems in agriculture; the development of the theory of creating and functioning of plant-microbial associations; methods of taxonomic identification of more than 100 soil microbiomes and the development of the theory of soil ecological functions. This methodology differs from available approaches by the fact that the study of soil functions (function groups) is carried out as based upon the statistic and dynamic description of the energy-mass exchange processes at global biosphere levels and services rendered by the soil at the current stage of the human society’s development. A block-scheme of studies and methods has been elaborated. The empiric analysis, physical modeling, the state simulation in space are used at the depositary level. Biocenotic functions are described on the basis of studying the cycles of transformation, monitoring, metagenome indication, digital inventory and the other up-to-date technologies. The objects, categories, basic trends in transformation, evolution and degradation of soils as well as the adaptation, management and regulation practices have been determined; the results of scientific and applied studies are expected to be successfully obtained.

Conservation and Sustainability of Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes

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