Ecosystem Services and Sussex Wetlands
Robert McInnes
Director RM Wetlands & Environment Ltd
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
The bad news . . .
UK wetlands No completely pristine freshwater ecosystems remain in the
UK. Over 40% of all floodplains in England and Wales have been
separated from their river. Only 18.4% of all English SSSI rivers are in favourable
condition. Less than 14% of the original extent of the UK lowland raised
bog remains in a semi-natural condition. UK breeding populations of redshank, curlew and lapwing
continue to decline at rates in excess of 20%. Globally the position is even worse . . . .
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
From Maltby & Ormerod (2011)
The degradation and loss of wetlands is more rapid than that for other
ecosystems
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)
How are things in Sussex?
Protected wetlands in Sussex
Analysis of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
There are 142 SSSIs in Sussex. Over 75% of all biological SSSIs support a wetland habitat.
How are things in Sussex?
Protected wetlands in Sussex
Analysis of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
4500
5000
Hab
itat
are
a (h
a)
Wetland SSSIs habitat ≈ 8,120ha (38%) excluding neutral grassland and shrub heath Approximately 2.2% of Sussex
How are things in Sussex?
Protected wetlands in Sussex
Analysis of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Over 90% of wetland SSSIs
habitat is not in a favourable state
-
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
Destroyed Partdestroyed
Unfavourabledeclining
Unfavourableno change
Unfavourablerecovering
Favourable
- - 0.6 3.3
87.6
8.5
Co
nd
itio
n (
% h
abit
at a
rea)
How are things in Sussex?
Protected wetlands in Sussex
Analysis of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
Bogs -lowland
Fen, marshand swamp -
lowland
Rivers andstreams
Standingopen waterand canals
Co
nd
itio
n (
% a
rea)
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
4000
Bogs -lowland
Fen, marshand swamp -
lowland
Rivers andstreams
Standingopen waterand canals
Co
nd
itio
n (h
a)
Destroyed Part destroyed
Unfavourable declining Unfavourable no change
Unfavourable recovering Favourable
How are things in Sussex?
Protected wetlands in Sussex
Analysis of Ramsar Sites
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
There are four Ramsar Sites in Sussex. 1. Arun Valley 2. Chichester and Langstone Harbour 3. Pagham Harbour 4. Pevensey Levels
How are things in Sussex?
Protected wetlands in Sussex
Analysis of Ramsar Sites
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
1
3
4
How are things in Sussex?
Protected wetlands in Sussex
Analysis of Ramsar Sites
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
Broadleaved,mixed and yew
woodland -lowland
Fen, marsh andswamp - lowland
Littoral sediment Neutralgrassland -
lowland
Standing openwater and canals
Supralittoralsediment
Are
a (h
a)
Destroyed
Part destroyed
Unfavourable declining
Unfavourable no change
Unfavourable recovering
Favourable
Over 84% of Ramsar site habitats are not in a favourable state
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Ecosystems are critically important to our well-being and economic
prosperity but . . .
are consistently undervalued in
conventional economic analyses and decision-making
UK National Ecosystem Assessment (2011)
Ecosystem services
The benefits humans derive from the natural world
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) proposed a four-fold classification of ecosystem services:
Provisioning services Regulating services Cultural services Supporting services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Work has progressed through TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) and nationally through the UK National Ecosystem Assessment.
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Wetlands deliver a disproportionate about of benefits
Costanza, et al. (1997)
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Provisioning Services
Food for humans Sustenance for humans (e.g. fish, molluscs)
Fresh water
Drinking water for humans and/or livestock
Water for irrigated agriculture
Water for industry
Water for energy production (hydro-electricity)
Wetland products non-food products
Timber
Fuel wood
Peat Livestock fodder Reeds and fibre
Other
Biochemical products Extraction of material from biota
Genetic materials
Medicinal products
Genes for tolerance to certain conditions (e.g. salinity)
Genes for resistance to plant pathogens
Ornamental species (live and dead)
Regulating Services
Maintenance of hydrological regimes Groundwater recharge and discharge
Storage and delivery of water for agriculture and industry
Erosion protection Soil, sediment and nutrient retention
Pollution control and detoxification Water purification/waste treatment or dilution
Climate regulation Local climate regulation/ buffering of change
Regulation of climactic processes
Biological control of pests and disease Support of predators of agricultural pests
Hazard reduction Flood control, flood storage
Coastal shoreline and river bank stabilization and storm protection
Pollination Acts a source for pollination of other areas
The benefits humans derive from the natural world
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
The benefits humans derive from the natural world
Cultural Services
Recreation and tourism
Recreational hunting and fishing
Water sports and activities
Picnics, outings, touring
Nature observation and nature-based tourism
Spiritual and inspirational
Inspiration
Cultural heritage
Contemporary cultural significance
Spiritual and religious values
Aesthetic and “sense of place” values
Scientific and educational
Educational activities and opportunities
Important knowledge systems, and importance for research
Long-term monitoring site
Major scientific study site
‘Type location’ for a taxon
Supporting Services
Biodiversity Supports a variety of all life forms
Soil formation Sediment retention
Accumulation of organic matter
Nutrient cycling Storage, recycling, processing and acquisition of nutrients
Carbon storage/ sequestration
Ecosystem services Ecosystem services and Ramsar sites in Sussex
Methodology
Reviewed Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS) Listed ecosystem services Explicit recognition
Key word searched Interpreted language SSSI information Peer-reviewed and grey literature GoogleEarth review
{
{ Recognised
Unrecognised
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Ecosystem services and Ramsar sites in Sussex
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Provisioning Services Sustenance for humans (e.g. fish, molluscs)
Drinking water for humans and/or livestock
Water for irrigated agriculture
Water for industry
Water for energy production (hydro-electricity)
Timber
Fuel wood
Peat
Livestock fodder
Reeds and fibre
Other
Extraction of material from biota
Medicinal products
Genes for tolerance to certain conditions (e.g. salinity)
Genes for resistance to plant pathogens
Ornamental species (live and dead)
Unrecognised
Recognised
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Regulating Services Groundwater recharge and discharge
Storage and delivery of water for agriculture andindustry
Soil, sediment and nutrient retention
Water purification/waste treatment or dilution
Local climate regulation/ buffering of change
Regulation of climactic processes
Support of predators of agricultural pests
Flood control, flood storage
Coastal shoreline and river bank stabilization andstorm protection
Acts a a source for pollination of other areas
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Ecosystem services and Ramsar sites in Sussex
Unrecognised
Recognised
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Cultural Services Recreational hunting and fishing
Water sports and activities
Picnics, outings, touring
Nature observation and nature-based tourism
Inspiration
Cultural heritage
Contemporary cultural significance
Spiritual and religious values
Aesthetic and “sense of place” values
Educational activities and opportunities
Important knowledge systems, and importance forresearch
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Ecosystem services and Ramsar sites in Sussex
Unrecognised
Recognised
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
Pagham Harbour
Arun Valley
Pevensey Levels
Supporting Services
Supports a variety of all life forms
Sediment retention
Accumulation of organic matter
Storage, recycling, processing and acquisition ofnutrients
Carbon storage/ sequestration
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Ecosystem services and Ramsar sites in Sussex
Unrecognised
Recognised
Ecosystem services
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Ecosystem services and Ramsar sites in Sussex
0.0
0.5
1.0Provisioning Services
Regulating Services
Cultural Services
Supporting Services
Chichester & Langstone Harbour
0.0
0.5
1.0Provisioning Services
Regulating Services
Cultural Services
Supporting Services
Pagham Harbour
0.0
0.5
1.0Provisioning Services
Regulating Services
Cultural Services
Supporting Services
Arun Valley
0.0
0.5
1.0Provisioning Services
Regulating Services
Cultural Services
Supporting Services
Pevensey Levels
Recognised Unrecognised
Recognition Gap
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
When both the market and non-marketed economic benefits of
wetlands are included, the total economic value of unconverted
wetlands is often greater than that of converted wetlands
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005)
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Recognizing value in ecosystems, landscapes, species and other aspects
of biodiversity is a feature of all human societies and communities, and is
sometimes sufficient to ensure conservation and sustainable use.
TEEB (2010)
Ecosystem services
Understanding value is a means to an end, not an end in itself
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
“The benefits that inland wetlands bring to water quality are worth up to £1.5billion per year to the UK.”
“The amenity benefits of living close to rivers, coasts and other wetlands is worth up to £1.3billion per year to the UK.” Defra (2011)
Ecosystem services We need to understand value in order to reverse degradation of wetland ecosystems and to improve human-well being:
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Just like “built” capital assets and infrastructure, investment in wetland conservation and wise use yields tangible returns and cost savings
Ecosystem services
Some key messages
ALL of the wetlands in Sussex have value.
Need to consider both the threatened or rare and the common and mundane.
Need to be better at recognising, demonstrating and capturing value.
Need to communicate in different languages.
If designated sites are in unfavourable condition what does this mean for undesignated wetlands?
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
Habitats for Species Provisioning Food
Provisioning Fresh Water
Regulating Carbon
Regulating Floods
Regulating Water Treatment
Regulating Pollination
Cultural Service: Aesthetics
Cultural Service: Recreation
Cultural Service: Tourism
So, what is the value of the Arun Valley Ramsar Site?
Thank you
Water and Wetlands: Key Issues and Future Priorities for Sussex January2012
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