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Valuing Nature: Protected Areas and Ecosystem Services
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This publication brings together the key concepts, case studies and recommendations presented at a symposium entitled Valuing Nature: Protected Areas and Ecosystem Services held in Brisbane, Australia on 21-22 July 2014. The symposium brought together over one hundred protected area, conservation, and ecological economic experts from government agencies, non-government organisations, the private sector, and universities. This included national and international experts in the areas of environmental accounting, the theory and practice of ecosystem service valuation, including approaches to payments for ecosystem services.
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... FoA-12 focusses upon the implementation and development of sustainable economic structures while paying close attention to issues relating to PAs. As opposed to earlier attitudes, PAs are nowadays seen as an integrated, co-existing element of the economy, contributing considerable benefits to a region (Borrini-Feyerabend et al., 2013;Figgis et al., 2015;Jungmeier, 2014;Tomaškinová et al., 2019). Of course, these functions must be developed properly and undertaken as part of a participative process. ...
... existence value of species and habitats]. It is clearly evident that the change in conceptions and SD principles within PA management has yet to be systematically assessed (Borrini-Feyerabend et al., 2013;Diaz et al., 2015;Dudley et al., 2017;Ervin et al., 2010;Figgis et al., 2015;Lordkipanidze et al., 2019), and is crucial to give priority to and execute policies which maximize the existing synergies (Pham-Truffert et al., 2020) between the SD dimensions and principles. The management of PAs is evolving and becoming more demanding and diverse (Appleton, 2016). ...
... De Groot et al. (2010), Figgis et al. (2015), Surkin (2011) and Erg et al. (2015) have proven that there is a very close link between sustainable development and good governance. ...
The assessment of management effectiveness during the whole life-cycle process of protected areas (PAs) has
become increasingly important, due to the lack of holistic background assessment work on management processes leading
to a deeper knowledge of sustainable development (SD) principles. This paper aims to serve as a practical guide through
a gradation model of integrated protected area management (IPAM) by carrying out an exhaustive trans-dimensional assessment of management effectiveness, identifying a critical field of activities and developing a framework mix of strategic
recommendations leading to the implementation of an effective planning process. Our results could aid in the prioritisation of key decisions towards a more in-depth understanding of how to set up a balanced IPAM, as well as to enable managers and decision-makers to focus on activities that can further pre-established aims and reach the goal of five-dimensional sustainability in terms of SD and good governance.
... Estas são importantes para a manutenção dos serviços ecossistêmicos costeiros e da biodiversidade, bem como contribuem para a conservação de importantes habitats relevantes à biota e à economia (Leenhardt et al., 2015). A criação de AMP é sugerida também como estratégia de adaptação frente às mudanças climáticas (Hannah et al., 2007;McLeod et al., 2009;Turra et al., 2013;Mackey, 2015). No entanto, informações quanto a estrutura e o funcionamento ecossistêmico dentro das AMP ainda são incompletas, principalmente ao se considerar as inter-relações entre os sistemas sociais e ecológicos (sistemas socioecológicos) no uso dos recursos naturais (McLeod et al., 2009;Berchez et al., 2015). ...
... Essa lacuna limita a compreensão da vulnerabilidade socioecológica das AMP aos impactos antrópicos e as alterações no clima. Neste contexto, estudos buscando a compreensão de padrões ecológicos e suas implicações sociais em ecossistemas inseridos em AMP são necessários (McLeod et al., 2009;Mackey, 2015). ...
... Estudos de longa duração em áreas protegidas marinhas (APM) são escassos, o que deixa lacunas a respeito dos padrões temporais naturais destes ecossistemas. APM são importantes provedoras de serviços ecossistêmicos costeiros e apresentam reconhecida função como mitigadoras dos efeitos das mudanças climáticas (Hannah et al., 2007;Mackey, 2015: Leenhardt et al., 2015. Planos de monitoramento identificando padrões de larga escala temporal nessas áreas mostram-se fundamentais para subsidiar a elaboração de eficientes estratégias de conservação e adaptação dos ecossistemas protegidos (FGB & ICLEI, 2015;Mackey, 2015). ...
Understanding spatial and temporal patterns of biodiversity in estuaries is still a contemporary challenge, in view of the inherent complexity and dynamism in these ecosystems. Estuaries inserted in Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in particular, have a lack of studies aiming to identify biota patterns, especially considering subtropical regions. This gap limits the development of integrated management strategies and adaptation, keeping unknown the vulnerability of these ecosystems to climate change. This study evaluated spatial and temporal patterns of biota in subtropical protected estuaries, generating subsidies for the management and monitoring plans in the context of climate change. The benthic macrofauna was selected as a biological model of study and sampling occurred in estuaries inserted in Jureia-Itatins Conservation Units Mosaic (Peruibe-SP, Brazil). We assess the seasonal patterns of macrofauna in the Una river estuary, over four years in two different intertidal habitats. For spatial assessment, we observe the changes in macrofauna over the abiotic gradient in the Una and Guaraú estuaries. Meetings with managers and the local community involved in the MPA were conducted to identify what were the implications of biodiversity data for the management of this estuaries. We identified a seasonal pattern for macrobenthic assemblies in both habitats assessed, which was dependent on the specific climatic characteristics of each year. Normally, the rainy and hot season had lower abundance and species richness than cold and dry season. Months with the highest climate variability degree demonstrated negative effects on organisms richness and abundance. Differences in macrofauna along the estuarine gradient occurred, and the patterns vary between estuaries. Overall, the higher salinity zone (lower estuary) has greater macrobenthic richness and diversity, compared to lower salinity zones. The sediment properties were the main responsible for the variations in richness. Our results suggest that increased rainfall predicted for the region may promote the loss of macrobenthic biodiversity. Managers and the local community point out that these data have implications for decision-making related to zoning, fisheries resources use and the adaptation of these MPA to climate change. Future guidelines are suggested in order to support integrated strategies for local management.
... (2) Conservation efforts of stakeholders with Nature Refuges are not recognised consistently throughout Queensland. It is time that they become part of conservation policy toolkit of every local government (Hardy et al. 2016) in recognition of the valuable ecosystem services that private protected areas provide to the economy and health of our communities (Figgis et al. 2015). Governments need to routinely provide predictable and comprehensive legislative, financial and administrative support for landowners willing to conserve these valuable ecosystem services (Figgis et al. 2015). ...
... It is time that they become part of conservation policy toolkit of every local government (Hardy et al. 2016) in recognition of the valuable ecosystem services that private protected areas provide to the economy and health of our communities (Figgis et al. 2015). Governments need to routinely provide predictable and comprehensive legislative, financial and administrative support for landowners willing to conserve these valuable ecosystem services (Figgis et al. 2015). Conservation incentive programs offering rate relief or other discounts of some sort to stakeholders with private protected areas need to be introduced to all areas of Queensland. ...
... They believe that the protection of natural biological values on their land via international protective legislation provides a higher level of security and permanence than legislative measures offered by state and territory governments, since existing national protective legislation is subject to changes with changing governments. Indeed, changing market conditions and government policies have been identified as threats to the permanence of private land conservation (Figgis et al. 2005(Figgis et al. , 2015 and the preservation of native vegetation (Reside et al. 2017). Of particular concern are mineral exploration and extraction rights, which jeopardise the conservation of natural assets on covenanted land (Adams and Moon 2013). ...
Australia has one of the highest rates of biodiversity loss globally. Both a lack of long-term monitoring and inefficient management have been identified as major contributing factors. Reviewing national and international reports, perspectives and scientific studies on Australia’s biodiversity management, I propose five steps to promote more effective management and monitoring of protected biodiversity assets by utilising available resources more efficiently. These steps involve: (1) better promotion of existing legislative instruments to protect biodiversity on private land; (2) creating strategic buffer zones around Australia’s World Heritage Areas (WHAs) – such buffer zones would provide opportunities to reduce threats to the biological assets of WHAs that emanate from adjacent areas; (3) better engagement with stakeholders of the buffer zones in managing WHAs through their participation in evidence-based monitoring and early-threat detection (e.g. as ‘Buffer-based Heritage Watch’); (4) targeted and coordinated restoration of native habitats adjacent to WHAs that are supported by effective carbon sequestration schemes; and (5) periodic integration of private protected areas within buffer zones into adjacent WHAs in accordance with the guidelines for extensions of WHAs by the World Heritage Committee. I demonstrate and justify the proposed steps using a spatial analysis of protected areas in Far North Queensland, but the proposed steps have relevance to protected areas in other Australian jurisdictions. The proposed steps would make current efforts of biodiversity protection and monitoring more efficient and would thus contribute to Australia’s response to its current loss of biodiversity.
... It is also likely to raise concerns about the implied need for (potentially large) increases in public spending on the environment. However, protected areas also have multiple economic benefits, including nature tourism income, the provision of clinics, education and other forms of support to local communities, improved health outcomes, and avoidance of catastrophic losses due to the degradation of nature (the essence of the World Economic Forum's risk warning) 2, [14][15][16][17] . The benefits of expanding PAs therefore need to be weighed against the costs. ...
Working paper analysing the economic implications of the proposed 30% target for
areal protection in the draft post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
... Nature reserves will face an unprecedented challenge for maintaining long-term sustainable development within this context. This requires policymakers to formulate policies that minimize trade-offs of ecosystem services and maximize win-win relationships between society and ecosystems in nature reserves [25]. Therefore, it is necessary to identify the dynamics and relationships of ecosystem services in nature reserves to provide valid ecological management proposals [26]. ...
Ecosystem services are directly related to human well-being. Previous studies showed that
management policies and human activities alter the trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services.
Taking effective measures to manage the trade-offs and synergies of ecosystem services is essential to
sustain ecological security and achieve a “win-win” situation between society and ecosystems. This
study investigated the spatiotemporal changes of water yield, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration in the Jiulianshan National Nature Reserve from 2000 to 2020 based on the InVEST model.
We distinguished spatial patterns of trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services using the
correlation relationship analysis. Then we analyzed the response of ecosystem services relationships
among different vegetation types and elevation bands. The results showed that water yield and
carbon sequestration presented an overall upward trend, while soil conservation remained a marginal
degradation. Rising ecosystem services were mainly in the central, western, and southeastern regions,
and declining areas were mainly distributed in the midwestern and northeastern fringes. Synergies
spatially dominated the interactions among water yield, soil conservation, and carbon sequestration,
and the trade-offs were primarily concentrated in the northern, southern, and southwestern fringes.
Among the different vegetation types, synergies dominated ecosystem services in broad-leaved
forests, coniferous forests, mixed forests, and Moso bamboo forests and in grass. The trade-offs
were gradually reduced with elevation. This study highlighted that trade-off of ecosystem services
should be incorporated into ecological management policies, strengthening the effectiveness of nature
reserves in protecting and improving China’s ecosystem services.
... The valuation per unit area of lakes, rivers, swamps, and floodplains for the ecosystem services they provide exceed those of forests, grasslands, croplands, and urban areas, highlighting their importance for protection [45]. Accounting for ecosystem services has gained attention, particularly for the significance of their protection [46]. Through market-based ecosystem services payments (e.g., ecotourism, recreation charges, and sustainable resource extraction fees), intact freshwater ecosystems also provide avenues of long-term financing of protection [47]. ...
Long-term protection is needed to secure threatened freshwater ecosystems and the social and biodiversity values they provide. In the face of existing and future pressures, current approaches to freshwater protection are often inadequate for maintaining ecosystem values into the future. While terrestrial and marine ecosystem protection are well recognized and have area-based protection goals in global conventions, freshwater ecosystem characteristics have remained poorly represented in these goals. Freshwater ecosystems are commonly secondary or unaddressed components of area-based terrestrial protection. The design and management for terrestrial-based protection are generally inadequate for addressing freshwater ecosystem processes and attributes critical for maintaining their natural patterns and the values they provide to people and nature. Given that freshwater-dependent species are declining at a faster rate than marine and terrestrial species, and the reliance and use of freshwater ecosystems by people living around such areas, approaches to protect them must balance the needs of people and nature and accommodate these complexities.
... In the United States, population growth and domestic migration is placing increasing pressure on natural landscapes and the array of ecosystem services they afford (Figgis, Mackey, Fitzsimons, Irving, & Clark, 2015;Radeloff et al., 2010). The growth has given rise to the paradox of resource depletion through fragmentation and development (Poudyal, Elkins, Nibberlink, Cordell, & Gyawali, 2016) while at the same time increasing the demand and need for these resources (White et al., 2016;Winter & Chavez, 1999). ...
In the U.S., population growth and domestic migration is placing increasing pressure on natural landscapes and their provision of ecosystem services. In this investigation, we document residents' perceptions of shifting use patterns of an aquatic nature-based resource situated in a rapidly growing urban area over an eight-year period from 2008 to 2016. Specifically, we examined the drivers of residents' perceptions of setting density and the cognitive and behavioral coping strategies they employed to maintain psychological homeostasis. While we saw no statistical mean difference in our measure of crowding from 2008 to 2016, crowding's normative antecedents (preference for and expectation of encounters) and affective outcome (enjoyment) all varied over time. In 2016, respondents' preferences and expectations for encounters with others were both more than preferred or expected compared to 2008. Nevertheless, 2016 respondents reported a significantly more enjoyable experience compared to those sampled in 2008. Path modeling revealed that the negative effect of expectation and preference on respondents' perceptions of crowding and enjoyment was significantly stronger in 2008 resulting in diminished enjoyment when compared to 2016. Findings illustrate that despite substantive change in social and environmental conditions over time, residents have maintained their enjoyment by modifying their normative expectations and preferences. This is despite changes in encounter norm expectations and preference. As urban proximate communities continue to grow in the U.S., tradeoffs will occur in the quality of nature-based recreation opportunities. Managing this transition requires an understanding of the psychological mechanisms people use to navigate change.
... It is also likely to raise concerns about the implied need for (potentially large) increases in public spending on the environment. However, protected areas also have multiple economic benefits, including nature tourism income, the provision of clinics, education and other forms of support to local communities, improved health outcomes, and avoidance of catastrophic losses due to the degradation of nature (the essence of the World Economic Forum's risk warning) 2, [14][15][16][17] . The benefits of expanding PAs therefore need to be weighed against the costs. ...
... It is also likely to raise concerns about the implied need for (potentially large) increases in public spending on the environment. However, protected areas also have multiple economic benefits, including nature tourism income, the provision of clinics, education and other forms of support to local communities, improved health outcomes, and avoidance of catastrophic losses due to the degradation of nature (the essence of the World Economic Forum's risk warning) 2, [14][15][16][17] . The benefits of expanding PAs therefore need to be weighed against the costs. ...
... Ao longo do tempo, as áreas marinhas protegidas tornaram-se um componente chave das estratégias de conservação dos oceanos em nível global 62 . As áreas de proteção podem, com devido manejo, restaurar a biomassa e densidade de espécies, aumentar a diversidade de aglomerações, melhorar a produtividade da pesca e manter os serviços ecossistêmicos essenciais para a humanidade 63,64 Ambientes fisicamente e ecologicamente separados podem ser considerados como interligados através do ciclo de vida de organismos que os utilizam em épocas distintas de suas vidas. Estuários, por exemplo, são ambientes fundamentais para juvenis de muitas espécies de peixes costeiros e recifais. ...
An increasing amount of information is being collected on the ecological and socio-economic value of goods and services provided by natural and semi-natural ecosystems. However, much of this information appears scattered throughout a disciplinary academic literature, unpublished government agency reports, and across the World Wide Web. In addition, data on ecosystem goods and services often appears at incompatible scales of analysis and is classified differently by different authors. In order to make comparative ecological economic analysis possible, a standardized framework for the comprehensive assessment of ecosystem functions, goods and services is needed. In response to this challenge, this paper presents a conceptual framework and typology for describing, classifying and valuing ecosystem functions, goods and services in a clear and consistent manner. In the following analysis, a classification is given for the fullest possible range of 23 ecosystem functions that provide a much larger number of goods and services. In the second part of the paper, a checklist and matrix is provided, linking these ecosystem functions to the main ecological, socio–cultural and economic valuation methods.
Understanding how biological conservation and socioeconomic development can be harmonized in social-ecological systems is at the core of sustainability science. We present the case of a Mediterranean marine protected area (MPA), the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo MPA, that exhibits high ecological performance under intense pressure from fishing, tourism, and coastal development. This case study illustrates how socioeconomic development and significant conservation benefits can coexist, even in a challenging context. Based on this case study, we present a framework for what elements and interactions have determined the high ecological performance of this MPA, and highlight the key leverages that have enabled ecosystem recovery. In particular, the most critical elements underlying high performance were sufficient leadership and knowledge to identify a conservation vision and to catalyze some key actors in the implementation of this vision. Thus, success was ultimately determined by the ability of the leadership of the MPA to devise and implement an effective strategy, with the support and participation of key actors that were external to the MPA organization. The insights from this case study may be applicable to improving MPA management in other systems with similar characteristics, including high human pressures and the presence of an MPA authority.
Savannas constitute the most fire-prone vegetation type on earth and are a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. Most savanna fires are lit by people for a variety of livelihood applications. ‘Savanna burning’ is an accountable activity under the Kyoto Protocol, but only Australia, as a developed economy, accounts for emissions from this source in its national accounts. Over the past decade considerable effort has been given to developing savanna burning projects in northern Australia, combining customary indigenous (Aboriginal) approaches to landscape-scale fire management with development of scientifically robust emissions accounting methodologies. Formal acceptance by the Australian Government of that methodology, and its inclusion in Australia’s developing emissions trading scheme, paves the way for Aboriginal people to commercially benefit from savanna burning projects. The paper first describes this Australian experience, and then explores options for implementing community-based savanna burning emissions reduction projects in other continental savanna settings, specifically in Namibia and Venezuela. These latter examples illustrate that savanna fire management approaches potentially have broader application for contributing to livelihood opportunities in other fire-prone savanna regions.
The single most important asset for the conservation of Australia’s unique and globally significant biodiversity is the National Reserve System, a mosaic of over 10,000 discrete protected areas on land on all tenures:
government, Indigenous and private, including on-farm covenants, as well as state, territory and Commonwealth marine parks and reserves. In this report, we cover major National Reserve System initiatives that have occurred in the period 2002 to the present and highlight issues affecting progress toward agreed national objectives. We define a minimum standard for the National Reserve System to comprehensively, adequately and representatively protect Australia’s ecosystem and species diversity on sea and land. Using government protected area, species and other relevant spatial data, we quantify gaps: those areas needing to move from the current National
Reserve System to one which meets this standard. We also provide new estimates of financial investments in protected areas and of the benefits that protected areas secure for society.
A high and sustainable quality of life is a central goal for humanity. Our current socio-ecological regime and its set of interconnected worldviews, institutions, and technologies all support the goal of unlimited growth of material production and consumption as a proxy for quality of life. However, abundant evidence shows that, beyond a certain threshold, further material growth no longer significantly contributes to improvement in quality of life. Not only does further material growth not meet humanity's central goal, there is mounting evidence that it creates significant roadblocks to sustainability through increasing resource constraints (i.e., peak oil, water limitations) and sink constraints (i.e., climate disruption). Overcoming these roadblocks and creating a sustainable and desirable future will require an integrated, systems level redesign of our socio-ecological regime focused explicitly and directly on the goal of sustainable quality of life rather than the proxy of unlimited material growth. This transition, like all cultural transitions, will occur through an evolutionary process, but one that we, to a certain extent, can control and direct. We suggest an integrated set of worldviews, institutions, and technologies to stimulate and seed this evolutionary redesign of the current socio-ecological regime to achieve global sustainability.
In this update to the 2008 Garnaut Climate Change Review, Ross Garnaut re-examines the case for action in the aftermath of the global financial crisis and recent developments by major countries to reduce emissions and prepare for a low-carbon future. He guides the reader through the climate change debate, and explains why Australia's contribution is vital to the national interest and matters to the global effort. He outlines a set of policies through which Australia can contribute its fair share without damaging Australian prosperity. The Garnaut Review 2011: Australia in the Global Response to Climate Change extends the analysis to contemporary economic, political and environmental conditions in a way that is clear and easy to understand. It is an essential resource for all who care about the future of our economy and environment. © Commonwealth of Australia 2011 and Commonwealth of Australia 2011 and Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency) 2011.
Uses both an economic willingness-to-pay and an energy analysis method of establishing the social value of a wetlands system. The economic approach considers the commercial, recreational and storm protection value of wetlands. The energy analysis evaluates the energy processed by the wetlands system. These methods are applied to the wetlands system in S Louisiana. -Authors