How can we help the planet work for us? A brief overview of ecosystem services

Transcription

1 How can we help the planet work for us? A brief overview of ecosystem services Dr. Jeremy Brooks School of Environment & Natural Resources Tools for Measuring Sustainability - Professional Development Workshop Environmental Policy Initiative, The Ohio State University

2 Biodiversity Loss

3 Biodiversity Loss Rockstrom et al Nature

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6 Defaunation Palearctic Nearctic Indo-Pacific Neotropical Afrotropical The loss of species and populations of wildlife as well as local declines in abundance of individuals (Dirzo et al Science) (Dirzo et al Science)

7 Defaunation Palearctic Focus on Nearctic extinction is important, but it has blinded us to the effects of population declines in common species that may have a bigger impact on ecosystem function Indo-Pacific Gatson and Fuller (2008) Neotropical Afrotropical (Dirzo et al Science)

8 McCauley et al. (2015) - Science Dirzo et al Science

9 Land degradation 50% - 67% of major biomes converted to agriculture by 1990 More cropland converted than from % of coral reefs lost, 20% degraded, and 35% of mangroves lost by 2000

10 What are the consequences of these changes?

11 Dirzo et al Science

12 Dirzo et al Science

13 Ecosystem Services Ecosystem: a co-existing set of species and their habitat, characterized by a particular climatic regime, physical characteristics, and the species present Ecosystem processes/functioning: interactions among species and the non-living parts of the environment that entail transfers, transformation and storage of energy and materials Ecosystem services: the results of ecosystem processes that confer benefits on human society President s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (2011) Sustaining Environmental Capital: Protecting Society and the Economy

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17 Forests & Trees Global & Local Benefits

18 Forests & Trees Global & Local Benefits Carbon sequestration Climate regulation Food, timber, fiber Recreation, aethetics, awe

19 Forests & Trees Global & Local Benefits Carbon sequestration Climate regulation Food, timber, fiber Recreation, aethetics, awe Temperature regulation Air quality regulation Psychological benefits

20 Regional Food provision Flood control Water purification Recreation Cultural value Pollination/ food production

21 Microorganisms & Microbiomes VERY Local: - Digestive health - Immune system function - Weight regulation

22 Specific examples: Whale Poop! Boost fisheries Climate regulation

23 Absorbs CO 2 Bring iron to surface fertilize oceans, stimulate phytoplankton growth

24 Specific examples: Coastal flood protection Superstorm Sandy Hurricane Katrina

25 Green Infrastructure in Salisbury, Massachussets Major coastal floods in 2005, 2006, 2007 Restoring tidal flows - Dam deconstruction, culvert replacement, streamflow enhancement Flood protection, improved water quality, climate change mitigation, aesthetic improvements

26 Not all services are benign

27 Comberti et al Global Environmental Change

28 How do we protect/manage the ecosystems that are functioning well? How can we restore ecosystems that have lost key functions/services? How can we enhance critical ecosystem services?

29 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services

30 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Scientific consensus: Impact of BD loss rivals other drivers of environmental change Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

31 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Scientific consensus: Impact of BD loss rivals other drivers of environmental change BD loss reduces capture of resources, production of biomass, cycling of nutrients Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

32 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Scientific consensus: Impact of BD loss rivals other drivers of environmental change BD loss reduces capture of resources, production of biomass, cycling of nutrients BD increases stability of ecosystem functions over time Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

33 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Scientific consensus: Impact of BD loss rivals other drivers of environmental change BD loss reduces capture of resources, production of biomass, cycling of nutrients BD increases stability of ecosystem functions over time Functional traits of organisms more important than specific organisms (impact of extinctions depends on which biological traits are gone, not just which species) Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

34 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Scientific consensus: Impact of BD loss rivals other drivers of environmental change BD loss reduces capture of resources, production of biomass, cycling of nutrients BD increases stability of ecosystem functions over time Functional traits of organisms more important than specific organisms (impact of extinctions depends on which biological traits are gone, not just which species) Higher levels of BD are needed to maintain multiple, simultaneous services Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

35 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Scientific consensus: BD loss reduces capture of resources, production of biomass, cycling of nutrients BD increases stability of ecosystem functions over time Functional traits of organisms more important than specific organisms (impact of extinctions depends on which biological traits are gone, not just which species) Higher levels of BD are needed to maintain multiple, simultaneous services Impact of BD loss is non-linear; change accelerates with species loss Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

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37 Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services BD directly related to, or influences, provisioning and regulating services Services are often regulated by multiple underlying functions (e.g. carbon sequestration depends on photosynthesis, biomass production and decomposition rates) Ecosystems deliver multiple services, so pay attention to tradeoffs (e.g. Afforestation to increase carbon sequestration may reduce water supplies) Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

38 ~60% of ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably (e.g., capture fisheries, water supply/purification, regulation of air quality, regulation of climate) The use of two services (capture fisheries and fresh water) is well above sustainable levels even at current demands

39 Optimizing ecosystems for certain provisioning services has greatly simplified their structure, compositioning and function. Simplification has enhanced some services but reduced others Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

40 How might declines in ecosystem services impact businesses? Could lead to increased regulatory constraints Risks to reputation and brand image if ecosystem services are threatened Affect supply chains - increase in costs of important inputs Increased vulnerability of assets to natural hazards Increase in conflict and corruption in areas facing scarcity of ecosystem services. Modified from MEA - Opportunities and Challenges for Business and Industry (2005)

41 Opportunities for businesses New markets, product opportunities for addressing ecosystem service scarcities Enhance image, reputation, political capital and brand value for proactive management Cost and operational advantages from early recognition and action to address ecosystem service scarcity Modified from MEA - Opportunities and Challenges for Business and Industry (2005)

42 Thank you! (and some foreshadowing..)

43 Indirect drivers: Population growth Economic growth Socio-political factors (terrorism) Cultural factors (medicinal value) Technological change