Bridging Scales and Epistemologies in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

1. Bridging Scales and Epistemologies in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Alexandria, Egypt March 17-20, 2004 Walter V. Reid Director Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

2. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment • Seeks to dramatically increase the information available for resources managers and policymakers to better manage the environment. • Established in response to: • The growing challenge of balancing multiple demands on the environment, e.g. • Food • Water • Biodiversity • Recreation • Urban development • The vast scale of the changes now being made in global ecosystems • Land cover, nitrogen flows, climate change etc.

3. Stakeholders: • Governments • Private Sector • Civil Society Assessment Monitoring Research Science Assessment: • A social process to bring the findings of science to bear on the needs of decision-makers

4. Science Assessment • Authoritative • Policy relevant, not policy prescriptive • Stakeholders feel ownership in process and findings • Reflect ‘consensus’ of science (while identifying areas of scientific disagreement)

5. Who established the assessment? • UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called for the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in his 2000 Report to the UN General assembly • Parties to four conventions took decisions establishing the MA as one source of assessment input. • Convention on Biological Diversity • Convention to Combat Desertification • Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar) • Convention on Migratory Species • UN Secretary General launched the MA in June 2001

6. Who governs the assessment? Board represents “Users” of the MA findings • Conventions • CBD, UNCCD, UNFCCC, Ramsar, CMS • UN Agencies • UNEP, UNDP, FAO, WHO, UNESCO • Donors • GEF, UN Foundation • International science organizations • CGIAR, ICSU, IUCN • At large representation • Private sector • NGOs • Scientists • indigenous people

7. Ecosystem Services The benefits people obtain from ecosystems Regulating Benefits obtained from regulation of ecosystem processes • climate regulation • disease regulation • flood regulation Provisioning Goods produced or provided by ecosystems • food • fresh water • fuel wood • genetic resources Cultural Non-material benefits from ecosystems • spiritual • recreational • aesthetic • inspirational • educational Supporting Services necessary for production of other ecosystem services • Soil formation • Nutrient cycling • Primary production

8. Security Freedoms and Choice Basic Material for Good Life Supporting Services Provisioning Services Health Regulating Services Good Social Relations Cultural Services Consequences of Ecosystem Change for Human Well-being Ecosystem Services Constituents of Well-being

9. MA Framework Human Wellbeing and Poverty Reduction Indirect Drivers Of Change Life on Earth: Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Direct Drivers Of Change

10. Human Wellbeing and Poverty Reduction Indirect Drivers Of Change Life on Earth: Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Direct Drivers Of Change MA Framework • Human Wellbeing and • Poverty Reduction • Material minimum for a good life • Health • Good Social Relations • Security • Freedom and Choice • Indirect Drivers of Change • Demographic • Economic (globalization, trade, market and policy framework) • Sociopolitical (governance and institutional framework) • Science and Technology • Cultural and Religious • Direct Drivers of Change • Changes in land use or land cover • Species introductions or removals • Technology adaptation and use • External inputs (e.g., irrigation, fertilizer use, pest control) • Harvest and Resource Consumption • Climate Change • Natural physical and biological drivers (e.g., volcanoes, evolution)

11. Climate Change Climate Change Land Cover Change Biodiversity Loss Nutrient Loading Etc. Energy Sector Biodiversity Food Supply Water Ecosystems Health Health Economics Economics Social Social Millennium Assessment IPCC Framework Examines Multiple Drivers as they Influence Ecosystems and Human Well-being Driver Response Human Impact

12. Framework allows examination of trade-offs among services Water availability Food supply and demand Freshwater supply and demand Water use and nutrient loss Erosion andwater flow Land transformation Hydrologic CO2 and temperature changes N, CH4, N20 emissions Forest product supply and demand Precipitation & temperature Climatechange Habitat loss Habitat loss Loss and fragmentation of habitat Loss of crop genetic diversity Reduced resilience to change Habitat change Change in transpiration & albedo Biodiversityloss Source: Ayensu et al. 1999. Science 286:685-686.

13. Launch and design Core assessment work Review process Board approval 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Release of Assessment Reports Release of Conceptual Framework report UN Launch Timeline

14. MA Products MA Conceptual Framework 2003 Assessment Reports 2005 Summary for Decision-makers Synthesis Reports

15. Sub-Global Assessment Working Group Condition Scenarios Response MA Structure Committees: Executive Budget Communications MA Board Review Board Chairs Assessment PanelWorking Group Chairs Support Functions Director, Administration, Logistics, Data Management Outreach & Engagement Chapter Review Editors Global Assessment Working Groups

16. Sub-Global Assessment Working Group All of the above… at sub-global scales MA Working Groups Condition Working Group • What is the current condition and historical trends of ecosystems and their services? • What have been the consequences of changes in ecosystems for human well-being? Scenario Working Group • Given plausible changes in primary drivers, what will be the consequences for ecosystems, their services, and human well-being? Responses Working Group • What can we do to enhance well-being and conserve ecosystems?

17. Northern Wisconsin MA includes global, regional, national, and local assessments

18. Regional and National Assessments Global Assessment Users Regional Development Banks, etc. Regional National Government National Local Community Local

19. MA is a Multi-scale Assessmente.g., Southern Africa Millennium Assessment SADC region 3 drainage basins Local assessments Zambezi Gariep Source: Reyers, B., SAfMA Lessons Learned (Panama, June 2002)

20. Sub-global Assessments also provide a means of incorporating indigenous and traditional knowledge Cabecar view of ecosystems • Earth is a circle surrounded by sea. There is a balance between upper and lower worlds • Habitat as a conic house • Special areas and places protected by guardians that regulate access and use of resources • Each living entity is a seed that deserves respect. Human beings are maize seeds

21. Human Wellbeing and Poverty Reduction Indirect Drivers Of Change Life on Earth: Biodiversity Ecosystem Services Direct Drivers Of Change MA seeks to incorporate indigenous knowledge Cabecar view of ecosystems MA view of ecosystems

22. MA Sponsors Financial contributions (~ $17 million) In-kind contributions (~ $6 million) • Sponsors • Global Environment Facility • United Nations Foundation • Packard Foundation • World Bank • United Nations Environment Program • Other Donors • Government of Norway • Kingdom of Saudi Arabia • Rockefeller Foundation • NASA • ICSU • Swedish International Biodiversity Programme • Christensen Fund • Norway • China • India • Japan • Germany • Netherlands • United States (NASA, USGS, ORNL, USDA) • European Commission • FAO, UNDP, WHO, UNESCO, UNEP • ICRAF, ICLARM • Numerous other countries, NGOs, Universities and other institutions are supporting travel costs of experts

23. Visit the New MA Website www.millenniumassessment.org