Mapping ecosystem services provided by benthic habitats in the European Atlantic Ocean

Mapping and Assessment Ecosystem Services and Links to Good Environmental Status Mapping ecosystem services provided by benthic habitats in the European Atlantic Ocean Ibon Galparsoro, Angel Borja and María C. Uyarra AZTI-Tecnalia; Marine Research Division igalparsoro@azti.es Coastal Ecosystem Services and the Land-Sea Interface International Workshop 22 nd -25 th March 2015 Kiel, Germany

This presentation 1. Legal framework 2. End-point of mapping and assessing marine ES 3. Mapping ES provided by European Atlantic benthic habitats: step by step 4. Main outcomes 5. SWOT analysis 6. What next? 13-4-2015

1. Legal framework Action 5 of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 calls EU Member States, with the assistance of the European Commission, to: map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territory by 2014 assess the economic value of such services promote the integration of these values into accounting and reporting systems at EU and national level by 2020 Good progress on terrestrial ES, but little done on mapping marine ES 13-4-2015

2. End-point of mapping and assessing ES It is a keystone of the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (and the MSFD) Maps are useful for prioritisation and problem identification Evaluating the synergies and tradeoffs among different services Understanding how provision of services are affected by human actions Useful tool for communicating with stakeholders and decision-making processes 13-4-2015

3. Mapping ES provided by European Atlantic benthic habitats: step-by-step Objective Qualitative assessment and mapping of the ESs provided by benthic habitats within the European Atlantic Ocean; and To determine their spatial distribution pattern 13-4-2015 NE Atlantic sub-regions based on the MSFD

3. Mapping ES provided by European Atlantic benthic habitats: step-by-step Data 1. Cartographic information (publically available) Bathymetry Benthic habitats EUSeaMap 1 Mapping European seabed habitats http://www.meshatlantic.eu http://www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/ http://www.emodnet.eu/ Geographic Information System 250 m res. DTM 250 m res. benthic habitat map EUNIS habitat classification whenever possible; otherwise EUSeaMap 13-4-2015

3. Mapping ES provided by European Atlantic benthic habitats: step-by-step Data 2. Benthic habitats services assessment (based on expert judgement) Classification of ES: adapted from MEA 2005 & Beaumont et al. 2007 13-4-2015

3. Mapping ES provided by European Atlantic benthic habitats: step-by-step Data 2. Benthic habitats services assessment (based on expert judgement) PROVISIONING REGULATING CULTURAL Food provision Air quality and climate regulation Cognitive value Raw materials (biological) (incl. biochemical, medicinal and ornamental) 13-4-2015 Primary production (Photosysthesis and chemosynthesis) Disturbance and natural hazard prevention Nutrient cycling Reproduction and nursery Maintenance of biodiversity Water quality regulation and bioremediation of waste Leisure, recreation and cultural inspiration Feel good or warm glow

3. Mapping ES provided by European Atlantic benthic habitats: step-by-step Data 2. Benthic habitats services assessment (based on expert judgement) For each habitat, the level of provisioning of each ES was established at 3-different levels, based on Salomidi et al. 2012: Negligible/Irrelevant/Unknown (white): 0 Low (light blue): 1 High (dark blue): 3

3. Mapping ES provided by European Atlantic benthic habitats: step-by-step Data 1. Cartographic information (publically available) Bathymetry Benthic habitats EUSeaMap 1 Mapping European seabed habitats http://www.meshatlantic.eu http://www.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/ http://www.emodnet.eu/ 250 m res. DTM 250 m res. benthic habitat map 2. Benthic habitats services (expert judgement) Integration of cartographic information and ES information

4. Main outcomes Mapping 1.7million km 2 map 38.9% EEZ - 88% continental shelf - 18% deeper areas 62 benthic habitats and seabed seascape features Celtic sea (98%) vs. Bay of Biscay (20%)

4. Main outcomes Mapping 10 habitats = 75% mapped area 33 habitats = 0.5% mapped area None provides 12 ES 4 habitats: 11 ES at high levels

4. Main outcomes Outcomes: provisioning services

4. Main outcomes Outcomes: regulating services

4. Main outcomes Outcomes: cultural services

4. Main outcomes Outcomes: Aggregated ecosystem services Provisioning services are supplied at significantly higher levels than both regulating and cultural services Regulating services are also provided at significantly higher levels than cultural services

4. Main outcomes Outcomes: total ecosystem services A decreasing gradient on the level of services provision, seawards and towards deeper areas The level of service provision varies significantly across subregions

5. SWOT analysis STRENGTHS Use of published/available/free data Large spatial scale Pragmatic approach to provide a first snapshot of the distribution of ES

5. SWOT analysis WEAKNESSES For some areas, limited habitat mapping is available Level of detail of habitat mapping is variable; quality and reliability would need further consideration EUNIS classification is used, but this classification is being revised Not all habitats considered in the mapping have been classified under EUNIS Accurate valuations of services provided by ecosystems is at most cases not available Economic valuation considerations are under-rated

5. SWOT analysis WEAKNESSES Assessment of ES is limited to experts that participated in Salomidi et al. 2012 (need for better expert assessment) Limited basic knowledge regarding the provision of certain ES (e.g. nursery) by certain habitats Only benthic (not pelagic) habitats have been considered: relatively small area providing services These are static maps : Same ecosystem at different depths, distances from shore, locations or times, provide different services. Not considered.

5. SWOT analysis OPPORTUNITIES Define the ES classification to be used for marine ecosystems Enhance scientific knowledge on marine ecosystem functioning by finalizing detailed benthic habitats Opportunity for exploring deeper and pelagic habitats Promote multidisciplinary (and wide geographical coverage) discussions among experts for qualitative ES assessment

5. SWOT analysis OPPORTUNITIES Need for integrating future scenarios (e.g. climate change, exploration, etc.) No single ecological, socio or economic methodology can capture the total value of ecosystem. New approaches may need developing.

5. SWOT analysis THREATS Potential lack of comparability if each study uses different classifications (e.g. habitats, ecosystems, etc.), different approaches to ES valuations Integration issues

6. What next? Welcome papers on mapping marine ecosystem services!

4. Main outcomes Free access at: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/10.3389/fmars.2014.00023/abstract Maps downloadable at: http://maps.devotes.eu/

Mapping and Assessment Ecosystem Services and Links to Good Environmental Status Ibon Galparsoro, Angel Borja and María C. Uyarra AZTI-Tecnalia; Marine Research Division igalparsoro@azti.es Annual Meeting, 2 nd - 5 th December, Ancona