Elias2 Ecological and social functions in rural landscape · Two basic systems Nature (Ecosystems) ... The concept of ecological and social functions of vegetation (Eliáš, ... The

Ecological and social functions of

plant communities and

ecosystem services

in rural landscape

Pavol Eliáš

Dept. of Ecology, Slovak Agricultural University,

Nitra

Landscape and Landscape Ecology, Nitra, ILE, 27.05.2015Landscape and Landscape Ecology, Nitra, ILE, 27.05.2015

1. Introduction

Two basic systems

Nature (Ecosystems)

Human Society


Two basic systems

Nature (Ecosystems)

the physical world and everything in it (such as

plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.) plants, animals, mountains, oceans, stars, etc.)

that is not made by people.

(Dictionary)


Two basic systems

Human Society

The totality of people regarded as forming a

community of interdependent individuals: community of interdependent individuals:

working for the benefit of society. (Dictionary)


Society-Nature Interaction

„Functions of Nature“ served human societies

Anthropocentrism: an inclination to evaluate reality exclusively in terms of human values.


Society-Nature Interaction

The concept of ecological and social functions of

vegetation (Eliáš, 1983)

Ecological functions

Social functions


The concept of ecological and social

functions of vegetation (Eliáš, 1983)

Eliáš, P., 1983. Ecological and social functions of

vegetation. Ekológia (CSSR), 2 (1) : 93-104.vegetation. Ekológia (CSSR), 2 (1) : 93-104.

Ecological functions

Social functions

(socio-economic functions)




Ecological functions are considered within a system

of ecological relationships.of ecological relationships.

They are important for existence of natural

ecosystems.

They do not depend on human and his egotistical requirements.




Social functions of vegetation are considered in the

system of social/socio-economic relationships. system of social/socio-economic relationships.

They are products of the society’s needs and make

use of the properties and effects of the

vegetation/ecosystems.

They exhibit anthropocentric features.


The concept of environmental functions

Maarel, E. van der, 1979: Optimazing land use throught establishment of environmental compartments and zones. In: Vth Int. Symp. On Problems of Ecological Landscape Research, Vth Int. Symp. On Problems of Ecological Landscape Research, November 19-23, 1979, High Tatras/Vysoké Tatry, UEBE SAV,

Bratislava, p. 433-441.


The concept of environmental functions

Systém funkcií je založený na jednoduchom modely, ktorý uvažuje toky hmoty a energie a informačné toky z prírodného prostredia do spoločnosti.toky z prírodného prostredia do spoločnosti.


Four groups of Environmental functions

Tabuľka 1 Funkcie prírodného prostredia (van der Maarel 1977, 1979).1979).

Produkčné funkcieNosičové funkcieInformačné funkcieRegulačné funkcie


2. Basic principles („axiomes“)

1/ Natural Resources are integral part of

Ecosystems

2/ Ecosystems are basic functional units of

nature


Basic principles

3/ Ecosystem functioning depends on

(biophysical) structure of ecosystems and

interactions between organisms and their interactions between organisms and their

environment.


Basic principles

4/ Ecosystem structure and processes represent

a capacity for provisioning / provision of

goods and services („ecosystem services“). goods and services („ecosystem services“).


Basic principles

5/ Ecosystem services satisfied human needs /

human society needs and contribute to

quality of life (well-being)


Odvodené závery

i/ Ecosystems represent a natural capital (in

ecological economy).

ii/ Ecosystem approach in (managemet)

natural capital use is necessary.


Odvodené závery

iii/ Ecological and social (socio-ekonomic)

functions of ecosystems have to be assess functions of ecosystems have to be assess

and valuated in socio-economic relations.


Odvodené závery

iv/ Management and marketing of

ecosystem services is important. ecosystem services is important.

Payments for ecosystems services, have to

be developed.


Odvodené závery

v/ Use of ecosystem services do not disturb

functioning of the ecosystems and functioning of the ecosystems and

environment.


Odvodené závery

Vi/ Environmental management based on

ecosystem services is necessary

(Ecosystem protection, conservation of

biophysical structure and ecosystem

processes)


3. The concept of ecosystem services

� Nature´s functions

� Vegetation functions, forest functions

� Environmental functions of ecosystems

� Concept of ecosystem services (CES)


Concept of

Ecosystem Services


Concept of

Ecosystem Services

� The concept can includes all benefits (also non-monetary character), which nature, its ecosystems, monetary character), which nature, its ecosystems, provide for human society.


Concept of

Ecosystem Services

� The concept demonstrates dependence of quality

of human life („well-being“) on ecosystems statusof human life („well-being“) on ecosystems statusand provision of ecosystem services which satisfiedhuman needs.


The concept of ecosystem services


Concept of

Ecosystem

Services



� The concept support the role of biodiversity forecosystem functioning and provisoning of ecosystemservices.services.


Concept of

Ecosystem

Services



� The concept show new possibilities for innovationof modern management of environment andecosystems.ecosystems.


4. The identifying of ecosystem services

Two research approaches

(i) Deductive approach

(ii) Inductive approach

Two research approaches are quite different, but they can also be complementary.


The identifying of ecosystem services

(i) Deductive approach („top-down“)

� it is conserning with deducing ecosystem

services in a landscape from current services in a landscape from current

categorizations (e.g. MA, TEEB, CICES)



Deductive approach („top-down“)

� more general levels and methods are used for

the service assessment.



(ii) Inductive approach (bottom-up)

is based on observations of ecosystems which

occurr in the study area, on collecting relevant

data, the localisation and geographical (spatial)

distribution of the ecosystems in the area.




Ecosystem services are identified by ecosystem

types (structure, biodiversity), and ecological

functions.




The atomistic approaches are applied in the

assessment.



(ii) Inductive approach

Ecosystem properties

Functional structure

Functional Diversity

Plant Traits


4. Application of the concept of ES

� Paradigm shift

� Ecosystem approach� Ecosystem approach

� Ecosystem management

� Anthropocentrisms versus ecocentrisms


Application of the concept of ES












Ecosystem Services Research

Research Project VEGA

„ „Ecosystems and their effects - ecosystem „ „Ecosystems and their effects - ecosystem

services in rural areas“




Microregion Tribečsko (MAS)Microregion Tribečsko (MAS)

Nitriansky samosprávny kraj


Ecosystem Services ResearchMicroregion Tribečsko (MAS)

� Danubian Lowland (Podunajská nížina)

� Tribeč Mts

� Pohronský Inovec Mts


Microregion Tribečsko (MAS)




� Inductive approach� Inductive approach

� Ecosystems (Plant Communities)

� Ecological Functions

� EF Use – Ecosystem Services



Inductive approach

Identifying

Mapping Mapping

Valuation

� Eliáš, P. 2014. Identifying of ecosystem services in rural landscape. In: Venkovská krajina. České Budějovice: Česká společnost pro ekologii, 2014, p. 20-27. ISBN 978-80-7458-056-7.



Inductive approach

Steps

Ecosystems / Plant communities1. Ecosystems / Plant communities

2. Distribution of the PC

3. Ecological functions

4. Potential / Capacity


Mikroregión Tribečsko (MAS)

Inductive approach


Methods of ecological and social-economic

valuation of vegetation (Jurko, 1990)

They are based on semi-quantitative analysisThey are based on semi-quantitative analysis

of species diversity.

� specimen vegetation relevés

� other parameters characterizing plant

communities.



� Ekosystémový prístup

� Ekosystémový manažment� Ekosystémový manažment




„Ecosystems and their effects - ecosystem „Ecosystems and their effects - ecosystem

services in rural areas“


Case studies

1. Forage potential

Food qualityFood quality

Food quantity


Case studies

1. Forage potential

•forage values of plant species as food for animals (wild •forage values of plant species as food for animals (wild

herbivores, livestock) and

•forage potential of plant communities (meadows and

pastures, forest communities and ruderal communities

etc.) for using as a forage ecosystem service.


Case studies

1. Forage potential

We evaluated forage ecosystem service of plant We evaluated forage ecosystem service of plant

communities, which is based on ecological and socio-

ecological evaluation of vegetation (forage potential

according to Jurko and grassland quality according to

Novák)


Case studies

1. Forage potential

We found out significant differences between plant We found out significant differences between plant communities and also seasonal differences in providing of forage service. Ways of evaluation of forage potential, grassland quality and carrying capacity by authors are different.


Case studies

2. Ornamental Potential

Decorative Plant SpeciesDecorative Plant Species

Population Size, Density and Structure

Ecosystem Service Provision


Case studies

3. Hydric Ecological Functions

ELIÁŠ, P., 1992: Water regime of an oak-hornbeam forest at Báb,SW Slovakia. In: Teller, A., Mathy, P., Jeffers, J.N.R. [eds],Responses of Forest Ecosystems to Environmental Changes.Elsevier Applied Science, London and New York, p. 619-620.


Case studies


water storage capacity (retention capacity),

forest evapotranspiration (interception, evaporation, forest evapotranspiration (interception, evaporation, transpiration, transpiration flow), stemflow,

surface storage capacity/soil surface capacity, infiltration, soil water storage, soil water content recharge, soil moisture depletion, water retention capacity of soil humus horizon.


Case studies


They are closely related to water and wind erosion They are closely related to water and wind erosion protection / to reduction of water erosion of soils in hilly landscape of SW Slovakia, to protection of quantity and quality of surface waters resources.


ES Use

Usability

LimitsLimits

Barriers

Usability of the socio-economic functions depends on local environmental and economic (market) conditions

as well as externalities.


ES Use

UsabilityEliáš, P., 2013. Ecosystem services in rural landscape Eliáš, P., 2013. Ecosystem services in rural landscape

and their usability. In: INTECOL 2013. London.

2013.

URL: http://eventmobi.com/INTECOL2013/#!/sessio

n/182728/.


Conclusions

In the microregion, provisioning and

regulating services are better recognizedregulating services are better recognized

in forest ecosystems, while provision of

food in agro-ecosystems.


Conclusions

Many of the semi-natural grasslands and

vineyards were abandoned which hasvineyards were abandoned which has

resulted in degradation of the ecosystem

services provided.


Conclusions

Field studies of ecosystem functions and/or

services are needed to assess/estimate the services are needed to assess/estimate the

capacity/potential of ecosystems and

quantify the ecosystem services in the

countryside.


Conclusions

More data are needed

Field ResearchField Research

Eliáš 1988?


Acknowledgement

The project No. 1/0813/14 is supported byThe project No. 1/0813/14 is supported by

VEGA, fund agency of the Ministry of

Education of the Slovak republic.


Thank You !Thank You !

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Elias2 Ecological and social functions in rural landscape · Two basic systems Nature (Ecosystems) ... The concept of ecological and social functions of vegetation (Eliáš, ... The