Ecosystem Services Assessment and

Mapping – development and

application of Bulgarian

methodology, relation to IAS Dr Svetla Bratanova-Doncheva

Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Research

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Contents • Introduction – the context

• Ecosystem services

• Climate changes

• Trend of ecosystem changes

• Drivers and pressures of changes

• Invasive Alien Species

• How do invasive species impact ecosystem services?

– Mechanismes

– Impacts

• Science and policy recommendations

In the context of global changes, the biodiversity loss and degradation of ecosystems and their services are becoming one of the bigest problems of the planet.

Effective societal responses are needed to manage sustainably complex socio-ecological (SE) interactions.

The institutional capacities to

manage the earth’s ecosystems are

evolving more slowly than man’s

overuse of the same systems

Key problem

Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020

foresees that Member States will map and assess the

state of ecosystems and their services in their

national territory by 2014.

The Working Group MAES-EC steers the

implementation of Action 5.

A coherent analytical framework has been

developed to be applied by the EU and its Member

States in order to ensure consistent approaches.

The MAES second technical report proposes

indicators that can be used at European and Member

State's level to map and assess biodiversity,

ecosystem condition and ecosystem services.

Knowledge:

What drives the major European ecosystems and socio-ecological systems? What are the main pressures provoked by them?

Policy and management:

How can Ecosystem Services be sustainably secured across all scales?

Key questions

Ecosystem services

• ES are the benefits that people obtain from biodiversity, ecosystems and their functions.

• Biodiversity has multiple roles supporting the delivery of ecosystem services and the status of ecosystems. Connecting biodiversity to ecosystem state but also to particular ecosystem functions and ecosystem services entails thus defining multivariate combinations of these different dimensions of biodiversity and using them for mapping and assessment. (MAES 1&2)

Ecosystem processes

Ecosystem functions

Ecosystem services

Ecosystem functions and biodiversity

Biodiversity

The biodiversity has a crucial role in the ecosystem processes

• The concepts to analyse complex SE interactions: ecosystem integrity, resilience and ecosystem services

• The objective: to develop framework to assess resilience of ecosystem services, based on DPSIR, indicators and scenarios

Ecosystem integrity -

definition

The ability of ecosystem for self organization and self maintenance of ecosystem structures and functions

Ecosystem integrity

Conceptual

framework

Ecosystem services

MAES

CICES

• The Ecosystem services are 48

BG 03 Biodiversity and

ecosystem services - EEA

PDP2 Methodological assistance for ecosystem assessment and biophysical valuation

(MetEcoSMap)

Funding by FM of EEA

• EEA Technical report No 1/2014 - Terrestrial habitat mapping in Europe: an overview - Joint MNHN-EEA report

• MAES – documents – 3 Reports 2013,2014,2016

• Concept of ecosystem integrity - ENVEurope Project – 2010-2013

• Burhard’s matrix – 2009, 2010, 2013,2014

The concepts of ecosystem condition and services assessment is based on:

Urban Cropland Grassland

Woodland and forest Heathland and shrub

Sparsely vegetated land Wetlands

Rivers and lakes Marine inlets and transitional v.1aters

Coastal Shelf

Open ocean

(2) Assess the condition

of ecosystems

Indicators Conservation status of habitats and species Ecofog;cal status of water bodies Environrnental status of seas

Ecosystem status and biodiversity

Data

Art.17 assessment

WFD assessment

MSFD assessment

data including air pollutant concentration, habitat connectivity,. land use change. soil degradation.

t

Land use land cover data,. e.g. Corine Land Cover

Copernicus high r esolution data Elevation data Seabed maps

National datasets

Models for spatially delineat.ing wetlands or natural, unmanaged ecosystems

Supply indicators: Indicators for stock and flow of ecosystem functions and ecosystem services

Demand indicators: rndJcators for the human demand for ecosystem services

t

Different sources of environmenta I data and models

Different socio­economic statistics

MetEcoSMap

• The national methodological framework on mapping and assessment of ecosystem services aims to streamline the national ecosystem mapping and biophysical assessment process in Bulgaria.

• The methodology is not aimed to complete the full cycle of ecosystem service valuation and reporting.

• It delivers a practical step-by-step guidance to the process of:

– Assessing the ecosystems condition, and

– Assessing the ecosystems’ potential to deliver ecosystem services (biophysical valuation).

Where we stand:

timeline

MetEcoSMap project in context

Framework structure Context

Context: international, EU and national efforts; definitions and terms

9 mapping and assessment methodologies

Snapshot 2016: Mapping and assessment of ecosystems condition & services

On-the-spot verification guide

Verifying the mapping methodologies for several ecosystems at once, in one place Monitoring guide

Methods, frequency of monitoring, annual planning, capacity building

The road ahead

Connection to Monetary valuation and Natural Capital Accounting

The Indicator approach

Ecological integrity indicators

Ecosystem types - level 2

U r b a n C r o p l a n d G r a s s l a n d W o o d l a n d a n d F o r e s t H e a t h l a n d a n d s h r u b S p a r e s l y v e g e t a t e d l a n d W e tl a n d s R i v e r s a n d l a k e s M a r i n e

Ecosystem types - level 3 (попълва се от всяка работна група)

Ecos

ytem

str

uctu

re

Biotic diversity

flora diversity v v v v v

fauna diversity v v v v

habitat diversity v v v

additional variable (invasive species)

additional variables (naturalness) v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

Abiotic heterogeneity

soil heterogeneity v v

water heterogeneity

air heterogeneity v

habitat heterogeneity

additional variables (pollution) v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

Ecos

yste

m p

roce

sses

Energy balance

input exergy capture v v v v

storage exergy storage

output entropy production

other state variables meteorology v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

efficiency measures metabolic efficiency

Matter balance

input matter input

storage matter storage v v

output matter loss v

other state variables regeneration

other state variables element concentrations v v v

efficiency measures nutrient cycling v

Water balance

input water input v

storage water storage v

output water output

other state variables element concentrations v

efficiency measures biotic water flow v

Mapping methodologies:

Preparation Step 1: Collecting data for ecosystem

condition parameters (methodologies contain typical border parameters and available data on each)

Step 2: Assessment based on available data: calculate for each polygon, fill database (uniform between ecosystem types)

Each polygon represents one ecosystem type at level 3

One record in the vector dataset for each polygon. The ID of the polygon used for relation with metadata.

Description of the data sources used for type determination.

Resulting table from validation.

Mapping methodologies:

Assessment Step 3: Fill in 0-5 scores for each parameter or for each ecosystem condition indicator, for example:

• ecosystem condition parameter:

Step 4: For condition, calculate Index of Performance IP for the polygon’s ecosystem condition and enter into database: IP=ni/ni(max),

where: ni – sum of parameter assessment scores; ni(max) – sum of the maximum of parameter assessment scores (i.e. n *5); IP – a real number with values between 0 and 1

Parameter Unit Methodology Assessment scale

Score 1

(bad) Score 2

(poor) Score 3

(moderate) Score 4

(good) Score 5

(very good)

Plant Diversity % Statistic 0-20 20-40 40-60 60-80 80-100

Parameter Unit Methodology Assessment scale

Score 0 Score 1

(bad) Score 2

(poor) Score 3

(moderate) Score 4

(good) Score 5

(very good)

Crop Yield t/ha Statistic No relevant

0-1.0 >1-1.5 >1.5-2.0 >2-3.0 >3

• ecosystem service parameter:

• For services, calculate MEAN value for Real (expert assessed) Ecosystem service Capacity (RESsC) for the polygon’s ecosystem services and enter into database: MEAN (RESsC) = ni/ni(max),

where ni – sum of parameter assessment scores (RESsC ); ni(max) – sum of the maximum of parameter assessment scores (i.e. n *5); MEAN(RESsC) – a real number with values between 0 and 1

Step 5: Fill in 0-5 scores for each parameter or for each ecosystem service indicator, for example:

Mapping methodologies:

Creating maps Step 6: Preparation of Digital Maps for ES types at level 3

– GIS compatible vector format - geospatial standards of OGC and INSPIRE;

– One complete coverage in a single layer;

– Cartographic projection: ETRS89-LAEA;

– Scale between 1:10 000 and 1:25 000;

– All other details – provided in the methodology

Step 7: Generation of metadata

Step 8: Putting the puzzle together:

• Digital Maps – example

• Color coding: comply with common EU standards; details in the methodology

The message

Ecosystem services assessment:

AN ADAPTIVE PROCESS!

Scientific challenges

• How many species are needed for an ecosystem to

be in a good functional condition?

Scientific challenges

• How is biodiversity related to the nitrogen

budget of the ecosystem?

Scientific challenges

How to enhance the resilience of ecosystem services?

Area: 110 912 sq. km.

Mammal species: 94

Bird species: 383

Reptile species 36

Amphibia species 16

Fish species: 207 (marine and freshwater)

Insects and other invertebrates: about 27 000

Vascular plant species: 3 500 to 3 750

Non vascular plant species and fungi: 6 500

Forested area: 34% of total

a country of exceptionally high biodiversity

Trends

DPSIR

Main pressures

in Europe

Trends

Climate change

Trends

IAS

INVASIVE SPECIES

PROBLEMS • World-wide problem

• Increase in travel and trade open routes

IAS trends

• Approximately 42% of Threatened or Endangered species are at risk due to non-native, invasive species.

• Raise negative changes in ecosystems and threaten species diversity

INVASIVE SPECIES

PROBLEMS

Effects of Invasive Species

on Ecosystems

• Direct competition with native species

• Lose of species diversity – may cause native species to become endangered

• Short-circuit interactions in natural communities & disrupt natural food web

• Affect entire ecosystem functions as water availability and nutrient cycle

Characteristics of

Invasive Species

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem?

Mechanisms:

• Competition, predation, herbivory, parasitism, changing soil chemistry, hydrology, fire

frequency or nutrient cycling. • IAS affect ecosystem services at four levels of

complexity

Species

• result in loss of biodiversity used for food, fiber, fuel, medicine

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services? Communities

• disrupt mutualisms important for pollination

and pest control;

• change physical environment

• degrade or enhance aesthetic value

Ecosystems

• alter hydrology and nutrient cycling

Atmosphere

• affect carbon sequestration

Provisioning Services: Food, Fiber and Fuel

• IAS are a blessing and a curse for agriculture and food security

• 98% of food crops are non-native:

• Weeds reduce crop yields by -12%

• Non-crop IAS are sometimes incorporated into local livelihoods

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Provisioning Services: Fresh Water

• Several well-documented examples demonstrate that some IAS can fundamentally change the flow of water

for drinking and irrigation. Tamarisk in the Southwestern U.S. (Zavaleta2000)

Woody plants in South Africa (Gorgensand van Wilgen 2004)

Pasture grasses in Midwest (Holmes and Rice 1996)

• Water is increasingly limited yet indispensable. Understanding how IAS affects hydrology, calculating costs, and making both transparent, is key for gathering important information and support for protecting water resources.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Regulating Services: Pollination • Honeybees may displace native bees, potentially better

pollinators (Spira, 2001).

• Invasive plants can also distract pollinators from native species (Chittkaand Schurkens, 2001).

• Invasive parasites can lead to the extinction of native pollinators.

Partly stimulated by recent honeybee deaths, much research is now underway on how non-native and native bees pollinate plants and contribute to a variety of ecosystem services including food, fiber, aesthetic, and cultural values.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Regulating Services: Climate • When IAS replace native species, differences in carbon storage

could affect the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Non-native pasture grasses replace rainforest in Brazil (Kaufman et al. 1995;1998)

IAS Woody species replace native grassland (Robles and Chapman 1995)

• Non-native timber species may sequester more (or less) carbon than native trees.

Although there is much focus on how climate change will affect IAS, the extent and implications of the impact of IAS on climate change is poorly understood.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Regulating Services: Water Purification • Zebra Mussels filter water but have negative impacts on other ecosystem

services (Nalepaand Schloesser1993).

• Golden apple snails alter food webs, transforming Southeast Asia’s wetlands from clear to turbid and algae-dominated (Carlssonet al. 2004) and damaging rice production

• Common Carp degrade water quality in Spain by increasing nutrient concentrations (Angeleret al. 2002).

Wetlands are widely recognized as providing free water purification services that would otherwise be costly and chemical-intensive.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Regulating Service: Erosion • Introduced ungulates, particularly on islands, cause sever

erosion (Laughrinet al. 1994; North et al. 1994; Mack and D’Antonio 1998)

• IAS can impact soil properties, increasing erosion

• Sphaeromain San Francisco bay (Cohen and Carlton 1995)

• When IAS replace native plants, they may increase sediment loss - Casuarinain Florida (Schmitz et al. 1997)

Evidence exists that non-native species impact erosion through several mechanisms. These impacts, however, are rarely translated into economic terms.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Pest and Disease Regulation • Invasive plants can serve as novel habitat for vectors,

increasing incidence of disease Lantana camarais new habitat for tsetse fly in East Africa, spreading sleeping

sickness (Greathead1968)

• Invasive animals can change food web dynamics, making system more vulnerable to disease

Noisy miner bird in Australia excludes native birds, leading to insect outbreaks and reduced tree health (Grey 1998)

We need to better understand how invasive species make ecosystems less resilient to disease.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Regulating Services: Natural Hazards, Fire and Flood Control

• IAS can alter the frequency, intensity, extent, type and seasonality of fire

Bromus tectorumin shrub-steppe (Whisenaut1990)

• IAS can increase flood-risk by narrowing stream channels and decreasing holding capacity, causing millions in damages (Zavaleta2000)

By increasing the intensity or frequency of fires, IAS are exclude native species that may provide key ecosystem services, and increase risk to nearby human communities. The “fire-prevention” services that some native ecosystems supply are generally under-appreciated. These services should be accounted for in controlling IAS and paying for ecosystem services.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Cultural Services: Recreation, Ecotourism, Aesthetic Values and Cultural Heritage

• Land and water-based recreation are both impacted by IAS

Water milfoil in Lake Tahoe –500,000/yr (Eisworthet al. 2000;2005)

• Aesthetic services are difficult to assess because they are subjective. IAS are often imported as ornamentals but accidental IAS such as gypsy moths can be quite unpopular.

Impacts of IAS on recreation and tourism are far more likely to be quantified and incorporated into policy decision-making compared with cultural services such as aesthetic value and cultural heritage for which it is difficult to assign economic value.

How do invasive species

impact ecosystem services?

Invasion Curve

Timing for the

Control of Invasive Species

ECONOMIC EFFECTS

• Billions of dollars in damage to forests, property values, agricultural productivity, public utility operations, native fisheries, tourism, outdoor recreation

• Billions of dollars in programs to control invasive species

• Billions of dollars in damages per year

Control Methods

• Prevention

• Eradicating potential invaders soon after invasion

• Physical (manual & mechanical)

• Cultural – Ecosystem Management

• Biological – natural enemies

• Chemical - pesticides

• Integrated Pest Management – Uses a combination of methods – OFTEN MOST EFFECTIVE

Side Effects

of Control Methods

• Biological – control species can become invasive

• Chemical – may kill native species

• Physical – may miss removing some of the invasive species

• Prevention – apathy and lack of awareness

Science and Policy

Recommendations

1.Include all relevant ecosystem services in IAS impact assessments: decision-makers need full information to strategically allocate limited funds for control.

2.Focus new ecological and economic research on regulating and cultural services: of all services, these are least accounted for despite their value for human well-being.

3.Develop accurate predictions for which IAS groups are likely to have the greatest impact on important ecosystem services. It is easier to prevent introductions of IAS than to eradicate them.

4.Do better at controlling borders by making impacts of IAS on ecosystem services and human well-being explicit to the public.

5.Treat biological invasions more like global warming. Most research in invasion biology focuses on characteristics and control methods rather than negative impacts on ecosystems that result in economic damage to society. Science and policy should reflect the fact that IAS have taken their place next to human-caused global warming as a driver of global environmental change.

6.Measure the impacts of IAS using broader criteria than biodiversity. Because ecosystems provide life-support services to society, when using the ecosystem service framework for conservation it is particularly important to incorporate cultural and subsistence values into policy decisions.

Science and Policy

Recommendations

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