An Ecosystem Approach:The Route to Alignment Across Government and its Agencies?

Dr Roddy FairleyDr Roddy Fairley

Programme ManagerProgramme Manager

Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Natural Heritage

An Ecosystems Approach An Ecosystems Approach

+ What is it?What is it?

+ What do we need it for?What do we need it for?

+ How do we apply it? How do we apply it?

What is an Ecosystems What is an Ecosystems Approach?Approach?

• ““integrated” “cost/benefit” integrated” “cost/benefit” “landscape scale” “multiple “landscape scale” “multiple benefits” “sustainable”benefits” “sustainable”

• Ecosystem – what it says on Ecosystem – what it says on the tin!the tin!

• Interacting dynamic systems Interacting dynamic systems …. complexity, emergence …. complexity, emergence

What is an Ecosystems What is an Ecosystems Approach?Approach?

• Take account of how nature works: Take account of how nature works: scale, interaction, capacity, scale, interaction, capacity, thresholds, non linearity, thresholds, non linearity, uncertaintyuncertainty

• Take account of the benefits nature Take account of the benefits nature provides: supporting, regulating, provides: supporting, regulating, provisioning, culturalprovisioning, cultural

• Engage with all the people who Engage with all the people who enjoy these benefits - values enjoy these benefits - values

What do we need an What do we need an Ecosystems Approach for?Ecosystems Approach for?

+ Already embedded (Marine (Scotland) Already embedded (Marine (Scotland) Act, Climate Change (Scotland) Act.Act, Climate Change (Scotland) Act.

+ Land Use Strategy – Objectives, Land Use Strategy – Objectives, Guidance Guidance

+ Convention on Biological Diversity; EU Convention on Biological Diversity; EU Biodiversity StrategyBiodiversity Strategy

+ UK National Ecosystems Assessment UK National Ecosystems Assessment (UKNEA)(UKNEA)

+ The Economics of Ecosystems and The Economics of Ecosystems and biodiversity (TEEB) biodiversity (TEEB)

What do we need an What do we need an Ecosystems Approach for?Ecosystems Approach for?

+ BUT - As an “approach” it only has BUT - As an “approach” it only has traction when applied to a problem traction when applied to a problem and delivers a solution.and delivers a solution.

+ Priorities; National and LocalPriorities; National and Local

+ Shared agenda across GovernmentShared agenda across Government+ Unified agenda across outcomes: Unified agenda across outcomes:

climate change adaptation, water framework climate change adaptation, water framework directive, biodiversity targets, forest expansion, directive, biodiversity targets, forest expansion, NATURA 2000, ecosystem resilience, green-NATURA 2000, ecosystem resilience, green-space, green networks, green infrastructure, space, green networks, green infrastructure, sustainability. sustainability.

How do we Apply an How do we Apply an Ecosystem Approach?Ecosystem Approach?

+ ScaleScale

+ Data / informationData / information

+ Process – engagementProcess – engagement

+ Dealing with uncertaintyDealing with uncertainty

+ Direction rather than Direction rather than destinationdestination

+ Learning rather than reportingLearning rather than reporting

Ecosystem Health / Ecosystem Function

Ecosystem Services

Physical EnvironmentGeodiversity

WaterAir

BiodiversityHabitatsspecies

Environmental management

Applying an Ecosystem Applying an Ecosystem Approach to build a new Approach to build a new agendaagenda+ Build on what has gone before: Build on what has gone before:

catchment management catchment management (existing (existing institutional structure, stakeholder engagement, institutional structure, stakeholder engagement, comprehensive cover, shared problems, integrative, comprehensive cover, shared problems, integrative, river “systems”)river “systems”)

+ Ecosystem measures – Ecosystem measures – ecosystem healthecosystem health

+ Adaptive Management Adaptive Management (uncertainty, (uncertainty, learning)learning)

Applying an Ecosystem Applying an Ecosystem Approach to build a new Approach to build a new agendaagenda+ Ecosystem HealthEcosystem Health

+ Evidence to make diagnosisEvidence to make diagnosis

+ Analysis to inform prognosisAnalysis to inform prognosis

+ Proposals for TreatmentProposals for Treatment

Applying an Ecosystem Applying an Ecosystem Approach to build a new Approach to build a new agendaagenda+ Ecosystem Health – a simple health Ecosystem Health – a simple health

check? Accept complexity – but need check? Accept complexity – but need simple place to begin. simple place to begin.

1.1. soil quality,soil quality,

2.2. water quality, water quality,

3.3. habitat quality, habitat quality,

4.4. extent of semi-natural land,extent of semi-natural land,

5.5. an index of connectivity, an index of connectivity,

6.6. a measure of diffuse pollution, a measure of diffuse pollution,

7.7. the presence or absence of functional groups, the presence or absence of functional groups,

8.8. some measure of species diversity, andsome measure of species diversity, and

9.9. a measure of penetration by invasive non-native a measure of penetration by invasive non-native species. species.

Applying an Ecosystem Applying an Ecosystem Approach to build a new Approach to build a new agendaagenda+ Assessment of ecosystem health to Assessment of ecosystem health to

informinform+ National priorities: which in greatest National priorities: which in greatest

need of remediation/treartmentneed of remediation/treartment+ National priorities: what is most National priorities: what is most

prevalent/ systemic problemprevalent/ systemic problem+ Local priorities – what issues matter Local priorities – what issues matter

most in individual catchmentsmost in individual catchments+ Local priorities – how do we add Local priorities – how do we add

value locally value locally

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

+ Defined clear priorities – the shared Defined clear priorities – the shared agenda for all of government and its agenda for all of government and its agencies (roles and responsibilities; agencies (roles and responsibilities; joined-up)joined-up)

+ Health indicators – assess success Health indicators – assess success of treatment; inform adaptive of treatment; inform adaptive managementmanagement

+ One simplified agenda for land One simplified agenda for land managers. Increased confidence managers. Increased confidence and success.and success.

+ Opportunity for reduced regulationOpportunity for reduced regulation