Landscape-scale analysis of ecosystem risk and returns: A new tool for ICZM

By CostBenefit on Sep 15, 2009 | In Land + Water, U.K., Europe, Academic Study/Journal Article, Preservation & Open Space, Endangered Species, Agriculture, Forestry and Food, Ecosystem Valuation, Regulatory Analysis, Computer Software/Database/Model, Costs and Benefits

Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2009.04.017

Abstract:
Management of the coastal zone often focuses on “islands” of high value ecosystems, in terms of economic value or conservation. However, integrated management requires landscape-level analysis of all ecosystem values. The biodiversity portfolio analysis (BPA) method is derived from the logic used in share (equity) portfolio management in terms of balancing within a portfolio the returns with the risks. Optimising the returns from a share portfolio, or a suite of ecosystems in a landscape, is dependent on the relationship between the units in terms of risk and return. Three case studies are then presented to test the applicability of the BPA method at the international (North West Europe), regional (Durham Heritage Coast, UK) and local (part of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, UK) spatial scale. The Biodiversity Portfolio Analysis for NW Europe showed that risk and return were highly correlated in the studied Member States. The ranking of risk and return, with the highest first, was Ireland > UK > France=Netherlands > Belgium. For these Member States the risks to ecosystem service provision were positively correlated with GNI (r=0.97, P<0.01); suggesting that the higher the economic importance of coastal and marine resources in a Member State the more at risk the resources are. The regional and local case studies were more focussed on providing information on which to base Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) decision making; both case studies used stakeholder participation to determine risks and returns. The conclusions from these two case studies show how the BPA method can be useful in terms of setting ICZM priorities and in addressing local coastal issues. The BPA involves making a number of assumptions, however, it does provide coastal managers with a potential tool to strategically plan due to increased awareness of the interaction between the ecosystems in the portfolio.

There is a need for such techniques, which involve stakeholder participation and which create objective outcomes, to support the implementation of ICZM.

by Jeremy Hills 1, Margaret Carlisle 2, Martin Le Tissier 1, David Muir 3, and Caroline Robinson 4
1. Envision, 9 Stephenson House, Horsley Business Centre, Horsley, NE15 0NY, UK
2. Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Sciences and Management (AICSM), University of Aberdeen, St Mary's, Kings College, Aberdeen, UK
3. Comhairle nan Eilan Siar, ICZM Officer, Outer Hebrides Council, Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, UK
4. School of Marine Science & Technology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle, NE1 7RU, UK

Marine Policy via Elsevier Science Direct www.ScienceDirect.com
Volume 33, Issue 6; November, 2009; pages 887-900
Special Issue: Coastal Management in Northwest Europe

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