Applying an Ecosystem Approach: Coastal Management

1. Applying an Ecosystem Approach: Coastal Management Major topics for this week The history and common elements of ecosystem approaches Influence and applications of ecosystem approaches in resource and environmental management, especially coastal management Case study from the Arctic Ocean Large Marine Ecosystems Challenges and emerging trends in the application of ecosystem approaches Guest talk by Dr. Anne Salomon, REM

2. Ecosystem Approaches Address Problems in Management “Thinking” Viewing people and their activities as separate from nature Fragmenting by disciplines, jurisdictions and management responsibilities Emphasizing single resource uses and ignoring conflict over possible alternate uses Failing to recognize the many ways in which ecological and socio-economic systems are interconnected Ignoring the tendency of biophysical and socio-economic systems to change, sometimes rapidly and unexpectedly Attempting to eliminate uncertainty by trying to control complex, dynamic systems instead of adapting to them

3. Roots of Ecosystem Approaches Ecology is defined as “the study of the distribution, abundance and the interrelationships, of organisms” In 1935, Arthur Tansley coined term “ecosystem” to provide a comprehensive term describing the set of biological and physical factors that affect an organism In doing so, he went beyond considering only organisms to include things like soils, water, weather and climate During 1960s to 1990s, growth in usage of the term in various contexts and applications Today, the concept has developed to where it includes human and social (economic, political, cultural) aspects

4. What are Ecosystem Approaches? Systems focus, multi-/inter-disciplinary and often have conservation-oriented aims (e.g. integrated pest management) Promote ecosystem integrity and involve the study of conservation biology and landscape ecology Major international programs recently: • International Geosphere-Biosphere (IGBP) http://www.igbp.kva.se/ • Human Dimensions of Global Change http://www.ihdp.unu.edu/ • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment http://www.maweb.org/en/index.aspx In Canada: Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (1972) Adopted an ecosystem approach to management in 1978: "to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the waters of the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem."

5. Elements of Ecosystem Approaches Ecosystem approaches, like all systems approaches, tend to be different things to different people This is both a strength and a weakness However, there are some basic characteristics: • Recognizing the parts of the system and their interactions • Using holistic, comprehensive and interdisciplinary analysis • Considering people and their activities as part of the ecosystem • Describing system dynamics with concepts: homeostasis (self-regulation) feedback effects cause-and-effect relationships self-organization, etc.

6. Elements of Ecosystem Approaches, cont’d… • Define the ecosystem biophysical and/or cultural terms—instead of arbitrarily • Look at different levels and scales of system structure, process and function • Use a flexible research and planning process • Invoke an ethic of well-being and integrity • Recognize goals and adopt an active management orientation • Consider stakeholder relationships and interactions, along with institutional factors in analysis • Recognize systemic limits to action

7. Ecosystem Approaches in Canada: Watershed Management Ecosystem Approach is well-established Example: Great Lakes Basin management approach includes many biophysical/social factors and interactions Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) were included in original 1972 Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement Remedial Action Plans (RAP) embody principles of the EA: • Broad-based stakeholder involvement and commitment of top leaders • Agreement on information needs and interpretation • Action planning within a strategic framework • Indicators to measure results and progress • Systematic review and feedback involving stakeholders

8. Examples: Ecosystem Approach in Forest Management Concepts such as multiple use and integrated resource management have emerged from forest management Ecosystem approaches well-developed in forestry in the USA and, to a lesser degree, in Canada Ecosystem approach in forestry: • focus on whole rather than the parts • seek sustainable resource use by not “mining” the forest • emphasize multi-dimensional aspect of landscapes and waterscapes (where more than timber is valued) Example: Canada’s ‘Model Forest’ program

9. Ecosystem Approach in Regional Land Use Planning Comprehensive regional land use planning overlaps with ecosystem approaches (and integrated resource management) Distinction: former emphasizes zoning and assigning land uses to specific land areas Also focuses on data collection to assess resource potential (inventories) and actual use, and on spatial mapping using remote sensing Examples: • In BC, Commission on Resources and Environment (CORE), early 1990s .. included Clayoquot Sound (recall Ken Lertzman); succeeded by Land Resource Management Plans (LRMP) • In Ontario, Oak Ridge Moraine Plan and Act (2001–02) and Green Belt Plan and Act (2005)

10. Ecosystem Approach in Protected Areas Management Parks and protected areas management has been a major application of ecosystem-based management Development of two core themes to support management: • natural science information • processes, institutions and social science Example: Biosphere reserves (UNESCO) Defined as .. “Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.” (http://www.unesco.org.uk/) Currently 621 biosphere reserves in 117 countries, including 12 transboundarysites

11. Principles of the Ecosystem Approach Applied to Biosphere Reserves Land, water, and renewable resource objectives are matters for societal choice. Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level. The effects of actions on adjacent and other ecosystems should be considered. Ecosystems must be understood in an economic context to recognize potential gains from management. Conserving ecosystem structure and function to maintain ecosystem services should be a priority. Ecosystems should be managed within the limits of their functioning. The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. Ecosystem management objectives should be set for the long term. Change is inevitable. An appropriate balance should be sought between biodiversity conservation and use, and an integration of these two goals should be pursued. All forms of relevant information—scientific, indigenous, and local—should be considered. All relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines should be involved.

12. Ecosystem Approach in Environmental Monitoring Monitoring in the ecosystem approach requires that we set ecosystem goals and objectives The starting point is to ask questions: • What do we have now? • What do we want in future? • How do we get there? • Are management activities working? The adoption of an ecosystem approach underscores the co-evolution of societal and ecological systems. There has been extensive development of methodologies for assessing management effectiveness of protected areas However, assessing conservation effectiveness remains less studied.

13. Ecosystem Approach in Coastal, Ocean and Fisheries Management Canada has one of the world’s longest coastlines and some of its major fisheries Yet, absence of national or even provincial coastal zone management programs Errors in fisheries management are well-known (e.g. cod collapse) In 1997, Oceans Act created marine protected areas (MPAs) and integrated coastal zone management plans that apply the ecosystem approach Example: East Scotian Shelf Integrated Management Initiative Another example: Arctic Ocean Large Marine Ecosystem (LME)

14. Case Study: Management of Large Marine Ecosystems (LME) Sherman et al. (1995) LMEs are ocean regions encompassing their coastal areas from river basins and estuaries to the seaward boundaries of continental shelves and the outer margins of the major oceans The 64 LMEs produce 95% of the world's marine fishery yields and most global ocean pollution, overexploitation and coastal habitat alteration occur within their waters

15. Five-module Strategy to Measure Changes in Large Marine Ecosystems

17. Map of the Arctic showing approximate extent of marine regions www.arctic.noaa.gov

18. Managing Canada’s Arctic LMEs (adapted from Siron et al. 2008) Arctic Council identified 17 Arctic LMEs, of which 5 involve Canada Management basis is Oceans Act (1996) but … 50 other federal statutes and 80 provincial laws Implementation via Canada’s Oceans Strategy (2002) and Oceans Action Plan (2004), requiring: • integrated management • sustainable development • precautionary approach EBM methods: selection of ecological indicators for “State of the Arctic” report Also using traditional knowledge (TEK) and Western scientific modeling

19. EBM: Challenges and Opportunities Ecosystem approaches are not a panacea for the problems of resource and environmental management How they are implemented is key; opportunities lie in learning lessons and applying them to new cases Ecosystem approaches are subject to criticism on various grounds—questioning the very need for such management Yet ecosystem approaches can reduce conflict and uncertainty through combining better information and understanding Also, changed expectations and interactions among people and organizations, leading to reduced demands on nature