Implementation Of Ecosystem Approach Research Articles

The ecosystem approach to marine management in the Arctic: Opportunities and challenges for integration

Climate change is strongly impacting Arctic marine ecosystems, and the Arctic coastal communities whose identities, traditions and livelihoods are closely interconnected with the marine environment. The Ecosystem Approach (EA) is a promising approach for understanding and managing the occurring shifts in the Arctic marine ecosystems. Based on our analysis, we find that assessments conducted by international and regional instruments and institutions, most notably the Arctic Council, as well as the wealth of Indigenous knowledge present in the region, provide valuable starting points for the implementation of EA in the Arctic. Yet, mechanisms for translating knowledge into joint coordinated and integrated action in accordance with EA are currently lacking. Our analysis suggests that incremental steps can be taken now to promote the implementation of EA, while working to establish a more comprehensive governance framework. In our view, bottom-up initiatives may provide the most promising avenue for promoting the application of EA in the region under the current geopolitical circumstances. Support by civil society, Indigenous and conservation organizations, as well as global momentum will be necessary to coordinate, finance and elevate community-driven initiatives. Other opportunities we identify for advancing EA is to engage with sectoral management bodies and to advance EA through climate change adaptation measures.

Is the ecosystem approach effective in transboundary water systems: Central Asia as a case study?

AbstractIn the context of international environmental law and International Water Law (IWL), the Ecosystem Approach (EA) has become a source of heated debate. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of the negative impacts that human activities have on freshwater ecosystems. Accordingly, the protection of such ecosystems has been identified as integral to ensuring the good governance of water resources. This article reviews key areas of research around the conceptualization and application of EA. First, we adopt a holistic approach to the concept of EA when applied to existing environmental challenges, before exploring the issues that arise when applying EA to water‐based ecosystems. Next, we assess the effectiveness of implementing EA in the management of environmental issues linked to transboundary water contexts. Our findings indicate that International Environmental Law, which applies a sector‐specific approach, poses challenges for the instrumental implementation of EA because the latter requires a holistic approach to resource management. Furthermore, in transboundary water contexts the competing needs of river‐basin countries are also identified as key factors complicating the implementation of EA. The article concludes with recommendations for policy makers and scholars.This article is categorized under: Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Engineering Water > Planning Water Human Water (WBAA) > Water Governance

Reconciling sustainability, economic efficiency and equity in marine fisheries: Has there been progress in the last 20 years?

AbstractThis paper reviews the progress made over the last 20 years in achieving sustainable, economically efficient and socially just marine fisheries, referred to here as reconciled fisheries. It examines the substantial changes that have occurred in policies, practices and the challenges to fisheries. These include greater awareness of the impacts of climate change, implementation of ecosystem approaches, recognition of the needs and role of small‐scale fisheries, greater demands for fish and seafood and greater pressure from other sectors. Progress has been made in some countries and fisheries in improving sustainability and economic efficiency but much less in many others. Globally, substantial problems remain in the status of stocks, threats to biodiversity, incidence of undesirable ecological impacts, economic inefficiencies, and poverty, food insecurity and marginalization of fishers and other dependents on fisheries, particularly small‐scale fishers. Effectiveness of management and governance is linked to the development status of countries, so the challenges are most marked in developing countries but developed countries are also failing, particularly in achievement of socially equitable fisheries, while also transferring some of their problems to developing countries. The paper argues that reconciled fisheries will only be attainable in conjunction with meeting human development needs as a whole, which are reflected in the 17 United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs). This requires that the global commitment to address the SDGs as being “integrated and indivisible” and in “a spirit of global solidarity” needs to be taken much more seriously than it currently appears to be.

Developing a Strategy For Efficient Environmental Authorisation of Activities Affecting Wetlands in South Africa: Towards a Wise-Use Approach

South Africa is a party to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat of 1971 (also referred to as the Ramsar Convention). Article 3(1) of the Ramsar Convention makes provision for the wise use of wetlands, which is defined as the “maintenance of the ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development”. The Conference of the Parties has agreed on inherent weaknesses that could lead to the hampering of wise use. These weaknesses include, but are not limited to, authorities working in isolation; and the lack of communication between public and private sectors or technical personnel (environmental impact assessment specialists). Within the enabling provisions of South Africa’s EIA regulations, reference is made to “water source”, “water resource”, “wetland” and “ecosystem”. All these terms are read to include a wetland. However, whereas the terms “water source”, “water resource” and “wetland” are defined in the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA), an “ecosystem” is defined in the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 (NEMBA), and “water source” is defined in the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 (CARA). Furthermore, the administration of the NWA is with the Department of Water and Sanitation, while NEMBA is with the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, and CARA is with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. This multiplicity, combined with the application of the various specific environmental management acts (SEMAs), complicates the manner in which an EIA application is considered. This is so in that the national environmental framework casts the net wide in identifying the competent authority, but also in its effect on wise use decision making on activities pertaining to wetlands. In light of the aforementioned, this article aims to address the shortfalls and make recommendations that promote wise use.

Ecology, functioning and management of wetland systems.

This special issue of Environmental Science and Pollution Research highlights selected papers presented at the 8th Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) European Chapter International Conference “Wetland Systems: Ecology, Functioning and Management”, which was held in Padova, Italy, from 1st to 4th September 2013, under the patronage of the Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural resources, Animals and Environment—DAFNAE of the University of Padova. The SWS series of conferences, which began in Bangor, Wales, in 2006, has a history of being interdisciplinary, covering a range of environmental and technical aspects for the conservation, management and sustainable use of wetlands. In this line, the 2013 Conference brought together academics, professionals and policy makers to discuss the most recent advances, approaches and strategies in the fields of ecology, functioning and management of wetland systems. The conference agenda included the following sessions: pollution removal and geochemistry, wetlands and global change, wetlands vegetation, wetland management, peatlands and pollution. The topics are in the frame of the “wise use” concept of wetlands, defined by the Ramsar Convention (1971) as “the maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development”. The wise use has therefore at its heart the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources, for the benefit of humankind. It is evident that experts of different disciplines have to be involved in the delineation of the steps towards the best utilisation of wetlands. In this sense, the contributions presented at the 8th SWS European Chapter Conference provided new findings in basic knowledge on vegetation, geochemistry cycles, inter relationships between wetlands and climate change as well as on applicative aspects regarding management and pollution control. This multidisciplinary approach gives continuity to the spirit of the International events organised by wetland experts of the DAFNAE Department, started in 2007 with the International Conference on “Multifunctions of Wetland Systems” held in Legnaro, Italy (Borin et al., 2009), and followed by the co-organisation of the IWA 12th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control, held in Venice, Italy, in 2010. Among all the works presented at the 8th SWS European Chapter Conference, 12 papers were accepted and included in this special issue. These papers highlighted current research on greenhouses gases emissions, peatlands management and evolution, use of plants inmicropollutant removal, potential of wetland systems to treat sludge and liquid fraction of digestate, possible use of wetland plants as renewable energy sources and application of a standardised method to assess the ecologic impact on planning projects. In particular, Mander et al. (2014) presented results on greenhouse gas emissions by riparian buffers in relation to groundwater table manipulation and age of grey alder stand in Estonia, finding that flooding significantly increases CH4 emissions, but decreases CO2 and N2O emission. The age of grey alder did not affect CO2 and methane emissions, while older alders induced higher N2O emission than younger due to higher N concentration in soil. Barbera et al. (2014) produced original information on CO2 and CH4 emissions working in Mediterranean environment on subsurface horizontal flowconstructed wetlands vegetated with Cyperus papyrus, Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

Linking Science to International Wetland Policy – the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

This Research Front comprises three papers that address the links between science and international wetland policy as shown through formal decisions taken by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The papers cover three very different topics – water quality, ecosystem services and wetland monitoring. The Convention is an inter-governmental treaty, signed in 1971, that provides a framework for national and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources, and is built around three areas of activity: the wise use of all wetlands; designation and management of Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Sites); and international cooperation (Gardner and Davidson 2011). At the centre of the Convention’s philosophy is the ‘wise use of wetlands’ as shown in the mission statement, namely ‘the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local and national actions and international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world’ (www.ramsar.org, accessed 18 April 2014). Wise use of wetlands is specifically defined as ‘the maintenance of their ecological character, achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches, within the context of sustainable development’. As such, wise use comprises the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands and their resources, for the benefit of humankind (Finlayson et al. 2011). The Convention has 168 Contracting Parties (member countries) who meet every three years to review administrative arrangements, review national reports on the implementation of the Convention, and consider guidance for the wise use of wetlands. Formal decisions made by the Contracting Parties are adopted through consensus. Observers frommany organisations also attend these meetings and until 2012 were able to intervene in all discussions. Partway through the 2012 meeting, observers were prevented from intervening in order to recoup time spent on earlier issues. Implementation of the Convention between meetings is managed by a Standing Committee and a permanent Secretariat with technical advice being provided by a subsidiary expert body, the Scientific and Technical Review Panel (STRP). The meetings of Contracting Parties have made 289 formal decisions, with technical information for wetland management derived from these decisions being compiled in 21 handbooks for the wise use of wetlands (Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention 2010). The program of each meeting (referred to as a Conference of Parties, CoP) includes several technical sessions that enable ongoing and emerging issues for wetland conservation and wise use, including the interpretation and development of key concepts, to be addressed, and guidance adopted for the wise use of wetlands. Ramsar meetings have gained the reputation of being highly effective events, generally allowing active participation of the non-governmental and academic communities. The STRP provides technical input to the meetings through the provision of draft decisions on technical issues and the facilitation of technical discussions, in particular when it is necessary to form sub-groups to work through complex or contentious issues. The STRP comprises members appointed for their expertise in wetland conservation and wise use as well as experts chosen specifically to provide advice on priority topics. These members are chosen on the basis of their technical expertise and not to represent specific organisation or countries. They are supported by several observer organisations, including the Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS; http://www.sws.org/), which itself has formed a Ramsar section to support networking and the promotion of activities that address wetland topics ranging from science to policy. In 2012 and 2103, the SWSRamsar section organised sessions at the Society’s annual conferences, with the respective themes of Linking Science to International Policy and on Understanding How Wetland Science Supports International Wetland Policy. These sessions had the dual purpose of introducing policy issues to wetland scientists and receiving feedback on the science supporting those policy issues. In this way it was anticipated that the nexus between wetland scientists and policy makers could be better understood and strengthened. In a further step to support the aims of the SWS-Ramsar section,Marine and Freshwater Research has compiled a short collection of papers dealing with technical topics and how they contribute to or have been undertaken in response to wetland policy adopted by the Convention. McInnes (2014) assesses the ecosystem services provided by wetlands in urban settings. This assessment was undertaken in response to formal decisions being agreed by UN-Habitat in 2011 and the Ramsar Convention in 2012. The latter in particular provided principles for the planning and management of urban and periurban wetlands and invited countries to CSIRO PUBLISHING

Satellites and fisheries: a personal view

Abstract Koeller, P. 2011. Satellites and fisheries: a personal view. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: . Satellite remote-sensing data have become indispensable in fishery oceanography, but are rarely used in applied fishery science, i.e. stock assessment. However, they are likely to be a key data source in the implementation of ecosystem approaches to fisheries management.

Biomass Properties for Mechanization of Conditioning Processes

Substitution of fossil feedstock for energy and raw materials by biomass is important measure for GHG emission mitigation. Development of energy crop production and agricultural residue utilisation for energy are important goals of the rural policy. As chemical fertiliser production and usage corresponds to the consumption of oil fuel, biomass usage directly for energy production or as fertiliser are activities with equal importance. The main rural resources for biomass eco-technologies in Latvia are cereal straw residues, energy crops, emergent vegetation and peat from wetlands and sediments from lakes. Wide range of biomass properties cause necessity of appropriate mechanization equipment for biomass conditioning accordingly collection, conversion and usage technologies. The ecosystem approach means taking into account the interrelationships among land, air water and all living organisms including humans for mechanization equipment design of biomass technologies. Complex mechanisation of biomass technologies is based on implementation of ecosystem approach and investigation of properties of biomass in conditioning processes. For solid biofuel production densification properties of chopped stalk materials with different additives (peat, rapeseed cake) had been determined.