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

Biodiversity Loss

Biodiversity Loss

http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/all_publications/living_planet_report/living_planet_report_graphics/lpi_interactive/ Rockstrom et al. 2009 Nature

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/01/opinion/sunday/are-we-in-the-midst-of-a-sixth-mass-extinction.html

Nearctic

Neotropical

Palearctic

Afrotropical

Indo-Pacific

(Dirzo et al. 2014 Science)

Defaunation

“The loss of species and populations of wildlife as well as local declines in abundance of individuals”

(Dirzo et al. 2014 Science)

Nearctic

Neotropical

Palearctic

Afrotropical

Indo-Pacific

(Dirzo et al. 2014 Science)

“Focus on 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”

Gatson and Fuller (2008)

Defaunation

McCauley et al. (2015) - Science

Dirzo et al. 2014 Science

�  50% - 67% of major biomes converted to agriculture by 1990

�  More cropland converted 1950-1980 than from 1700-1850

�  20% of coral reefs lost, 20% degraded, and 35% of mangroves lost by 2000

Land degradation

What are the consequences of these changes?

Dirzo et al. 2014 Science

Dirzo et al. 2014 Science

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

Forests & Trees Global & Local Benefits

Forests & Trees Global & Local Benefits

Carbon sequestration Climate regulation Food, timber, fiber Recreation, aethetics, awe

Forests & Trees Global & Local Benefits

Carbon sequestration Climate regulation Food, timber, fiber Recreation, aethetics, awe

Temperature regulation Air quality regulation

Psychological benefits

Regional

Pollination/ food production

Food provision Flood control Water purification Recreation Cultural value

VERY Local: -  Digestive

health -  Immune

system function

-  Weight

regulation

Microorganisms & Microbiomes

Specific examples: Whale Poop!

Boost fisheries Climate regulation

Bring iron to surface “fertilize” oceans, stimulate phytoplankton growth

Absorbs CO2

Specific examples: Coastal flood protection

Hurricane Katrina

Superstorm Sandy

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

http://www.mass.gov/eea/docs/dfg/der/pdf/eco-services-summary-ma-der.pdf

Not all “services” are benign

Comberti et al. 2015 Global Environmental Change

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?

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services

Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services Scientific consensus:

�  Impact of BD loss rivals other drivers of environmental change

Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

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

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

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

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

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

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

�  ~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

Cardinale et al. (2014) - Nature

�  Optimizing ecosystems for certain provisioning services…has greatly simplified their structure, compositioning and function. Simplification has enhanced some services but reduced others

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)

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)

Thank you!

(and some foreshadowing..)

Indirect drivers:

Population growth

Economic growth

Socio-political factors (terrorism)

Cultural factors (medicinal value)

Technological change