Week 5 & 6 Flashcards
(86 cards)
What are ecosystem functions?
Ecosystem functioning reflects the collective activities of organisms (plants, animals, etc.) and their effects (e.g., feeding, growing, moving, excreting waste) on the physical and chemical conditions of their environment.
What are ecosystem services?
Ecosystem services are ecosystem functions that provide goods and services that satisfy human needs, either directly or indirectly.
Definition of ecosystem services according to TEEB?
The definitions of ecosystem services reflect their purpose:
“The (in)direct contribution to human well-being”
What are some examples of indicators that give information on the flow of ecosystem services?
- the species richness of a grassland
- photosynthesis rate of an ecosystem
True or false:
Institutional change is easy and helps actors find optimal solutions to biodiversity problems
False.
Actors often seek good enough rather than optimal solutions because of their imperfect mental models and the high cost of achieving institutional change.
True or false:
A difference between collaborative governance and policy networks is that collaborative governance draws upon explicit and formal strategies in decision-making processes, while policy networks may also operate in informal ways.
True
The panacea problem of common pool resource management refers to….?
Prescribing blueprint institutional solutions across common pool resources
Pollination and carbon sequestration are both examples of what?
Regulating ecosystem services
Which type of network structure is appropriate when there is a high degree of trust between partners and the level of goal consensus is high?
A shared-governance network
According to the IUCN, what is the definition of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS)?
Actions to protect, (..) manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, addressing societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.
In the social network diagram below what role does the actor labeled Crd1 have in this network and why?
Crd1 is a broker in the network given that they have a bridging role in connecting spatial planning groups with nature and flood protection actors. It is characterized by having a high degree centrality.
What could be two examples of the ecological characteristics that are key when evaluating the nature-based solution ‘dealing with high rainfall intensity’?
1) Canopy cover of the vegetation
2) Permeability of the soil
ES Framework - Cascade Model
- ecosystem is regarded in an abstract way
- ecosystems have properties & these properties underlie capacity
- capacity is the ‘stock’ that can be used for services, e.g., a tree’s capacity to be cut down > that’s the service it provides (also carbon sequestration)
- services are linked to benefits & benefits provide value
- values: provide directions in which actors would like to move (values are very actor- and objective-oriented)
- Valuation (in economics): understanding of the worth or importance of something
» There can be economic, socio-cultural, ecological values
» ‘economic’ isn’t necessarily the same as ‘valuation’, and ‘valuation’ doesn’t necessarily = monetary valuation alone (economic valuation of nature also includes intrinsic values)
What are provisioning services?
Products, goods obtained from nature; are the ones being extracted, removed from a system ie. have consequences on a system & how it should be managed
» e.g. food, water, fibre, biochemicals
What are regulating services?
Regulation of ecosystem processes; relates more strongly to ecosystem functions & biodiversity
e.g. climate regulation, pollination, disease regulation.
What are cultural services?
Relates to non-material benefits (for well-being), difficult to quantify, ‘fluffy one’ e.g. spiritual, aesthetic, recreation, tourism, educational, cultural heritage.
6 most imp lessons from Ruckelhaus et al. (2015) paper?
- iterative science policy process
- building trust among all stakeholders - don’t be afraid to simplify
- show changes in ES through decisions - empower local experts — on-going learning
- it’s not always about the money
-monetary benefits are rarely what’s needed - relate BES to livelihoods & other wellbeing
- report uncertainty
-continue relationship of trust
→ think, so when does (sustainability) info speak to decision makers? what is a good indicator?
- the role of information: 1) credibility, 2) salience: relevance to decision makers, and 3) legitimacy: meaningful, inclusive process
What are indicators of ES?
- indicators = variables which present information of relevance to decision-makers and that have a logical connection to the object or process being measured (Ash 2010)
- w/ indicators, policymakers can base decisions on evidence & track progress toward goals
Stock or state indicators–what does this mean?
- Essentially ecological indicators
» Information on ecosystem functions
» What is at stake (or in stock) - Actual vs. potential provision
» Sustainability notion - Decision/policy relevant
» Consequences of choices, trade-offs
State, flow, well-being, etc indicators examples (hint: think of the excel exercise)
Ecosystem services: flow
- “Contribution to human wellbeing”
- Flow indicators (performance, outcome)
- Actual use, flow, contribution, extraction
In regard to ES indicators, what do we mean when we talk about scientific credibility?
- Valid, unambiguous
- Backed by experts
- Backed by scientific literature
- Be embedded in a framework
- Quantifiable (if needed)
In regard to ES indicators, what do we mean when we talk about salience (useful, relevant)?
- Indicators are salient if they are relevant to the involved stakeholder
- Clear, understandable (not hyper scientific for example)
- Generate action through the information they provide
- Monitor change
» See progress, relatable to drivers / policies - Scalable (does not always apply)
- Transferable (widely applicable)
» Example: can the same indicator be used e.g., in Paris and also in NY? (transferability)
In regard to ES indicators, what do we mean when we talk about legitimacy (meaningful, inclusive process)?
- Selected through inclusive process
- Widely accepted (or will a certain formulation cause offensive reaction? E.g., use “resource extraction” instead of deforestation rate because Brazil might get offended)
- Non-offensive interpretation
- Legitimacy is also an approach that:
» incorporates all relevant disciplines
» recognizes and respects the contribution of indigenous and local knowledge to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems