4. Ecosystem Governance Complexity Flashcards
How does the MEA (2005) define ecosystem services?
The benefits people obtain from ecosystems.
Give an example of an ecosystem disservice.
- Pathogens
- Loss of crops because of a monkey stealing crops
What was the main critique on the MEA?
The notion of “benefits to people” was considered too utilitarian, ignoring other values such as the benefits to nature itself.
Name 3 characteristics of the Millennium Assesment.
- It is a framework
- It is the most cited and used one
- It focuses on well-being concepts by Amartya Sen
- It has been criticised for putting too much emphasis on provisioning services and tangible services
Name 2 characteristics of the Cascade model.
- It focuses on the systems behind services
- It recognises that ecosystem services depend on the structure and functions of other services
- It also includes capital inputs other than money, such as labor, machinery and infrastructure
Name 2 characteristics of TEEB: The Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity.
- A framework popular among environmental economists
- Uses 3 pillars: sustainability, governance, valuation
- Uses direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss
Name 2 characteristics of the IPBES framework
- Steps away from ESS and towards NCPs (Nature’s Contributions to People)
- Sees humans as part of ecosystems
- Recognises nature is not there to serve us
- Uses a different terminology: Mother Earth, nature’s gift, living in harmony with nature
Name 4 of the 6 reasons why ecosystem governance is complex.
- Intergenerational choices
- Trade-offs
- Public good characteristics
- System complexity and uncertainty
- Multi-scale pressures and drivers
- Multi-actor/sector
Name 2 questions that explain the intergenerational issue.
- Who will pay for the costs of ecosystem service management?
- What do future generations want and need?
- Can we substitute ecosystem services with artificial techniques?
- How much should we protect?
What may trade-offs lead to?
Conflicts and morally unacceptable outcomes.
Describe two trends identified by Howe et al. (2014) due to trade-offs arising in ecosystem governance.
- Often there is an increase in provisioning services and a reduction in regulating, cultural and supporting services.
- Rich people tend to gain more while poor people tend to lose out.
- Private beneficiaries tend to gain more while public owners tend to lose out.
- Provisioning services are often privatized.
- Conservation may lead to local losers and global winners.
Why may it be better to address trade-offs at the start in assessments? Name 2 reasons.
- Avoid conflict at the end
- Makes trade-offs negotiable
- Gives recognition to local actors
What are the two characteristics of public goods?
- Individuals cannot be excluded from enjoying the benefits of provision
- Consumption is non-rival
True or false: the public good character of ecosystem services depends on the extent to which property rights are assigned.
True.
What may happen if there are no clearly defined property rights?
Actors may have an incentive to free-ride.
