Linking Coastal Ecosystems And Human Well Being

Ecosystems and Human Well-Being is the first product of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, a four-year international work program designed to meet the needs of decisionmakers for scientific information on the links between ecosystem change and human well-being. The book offers an overview of the project, describing the conceptual framework that is being used, defining its scope, and providing a baseline of understanding that all participants need to move forward. The Millennium Assessment focuses on how humans have altered ecosystems, and how changes in ecosystem services have affected human well-being, how ecosystem changes may affect people in future decades, and what types of responses can be adopted at local, national, or global scales to improve ecosystem management and thereby contribute to human well-being and poverty alleviation. The program was launched by United National Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June 2001, and the primary assessment reports will be released by Island Press in 2005. Leading scientists from more than 100 nations are conducting the assessment, which can aid countries, regions, or companies by: providing a clear, scientific picture of the current sta

This report is a sysnthesis of the findings of the MA on marine and coastal ecosystems, taken from the global and sub-global assessments. This synthesis report sets out to provide answers to a series of questions that all stakeholders not just decision makers may ask : what is at stake, what is the current status of marine and coastal ecosysytems, why should we care if we lose marine and coastal ecosystems, and what can be done to ensure that marine and coastal ecosystems and services are conserved.

This book applies the ‘ecosystem services’ framework to coastal environments, showing how it could facilitate an adaptive management strategy. The contributors describe a decision support system (DSS) based on the 3 Ps – pluralism, pragmatism and precaution – that leads to a more flexible, ‘learn by doing’ approach to the stewardship of coastal environments. The book lays out a “Balance Sheets Approach” to formatting, interrogating and presenting data and findings. The opening chapter defines coastal zones, their characteristics and natural resources, and describes their complex and dynamic nature. The chapter shows that large-scale trends and pressures have led to a global loss of 50% of marshes, leading to significant declines in biodiversity and habitat. Part I presents a conceptual framework, describes natural science techniques for coastal and shelf modeling, and describes valuation of ecosystem services. Part II outlines practical ecosystem indicators for coastal and marine ecosystem services, reviews literature on valuation of coastal and marine ecosystem services, explores scenarios, outlines marine and coastal ecosystem services data and offers tools for incorporating data into decision-making. PART III offers case studies including one linking the ecosystem services of Marine Protected Areas to benefits in human wellbeing; and another on valuing blue carbon captured by oceans and coastal ecosystems. Also included are a study of managed realignments and the English coastline and their value estimate transferability; and studies of the impact of jellyfish blooms on recreation in the UK and on fisheries in Italy.

What can ecological science contribute to the sustainable management and conservation of the natural systems that underpin human well-being? Bridging the natural, physical and social sciences, this book shows how ecosystem ecology can inform the ecosystem services approach to environmental management. The authors recognise that ecosystems are rich in linkages between biophysical and social elements that generate powerful intrinsic dynamics. Unlike traditional reductionist approaches, the holistic perspective adopted here is able to explain the increasing range of scientific studies that have highlighted unexpected consequences of human activity, such as the lack of recovery of cod populations on the Grand Banks despite nearly two decades of fishery closures, or the degradation of Australia's fertile land through salt intrusion. Written primarily for researchers and graduate students in ecology and environmental management, it provides an accessible discussion of some of the most important aspects of ecosystem ecology and the potential relationships between them.

Approximately 60% of the benefits that the global ecosystem provides to support life on Earth (such as fresh water, clean air and a relatively stable climate) are being degraded or used unsustainably. In the report, scientists warn that harmful consequences of this degradation to human health are already being felt and could grow significantly worse over the next 50 years.

Understanding the Connections Between Coastal Waters and Ocean Ecosystem Services and Human Health discusses the connection of ecosystem services and human health. This report looks at the state of the science of the role of oceans in ensuring human health and identifies gaps and opportunities for future research. The report summarizes a workshop convened by the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine. Participants discussed coastal waters and ocean ecosystem services in the United States in an effort to understand impacts on human health. Understanding the Connections Between Coastal Waters and Ocean Ecosystem Services and Human Health focuses on key linkages by discussing the ecosystem services provided by coastal waterways and oceans that are essential for human health and well-being; examining the major stressors that affect the ability of coastal waterways and ocean systems to provide essential services; and considering key factors that can enhance the resiliency of these systems.

Human health and well-being are tied to the vitality of the globalocean and coastal systems on which so many live and rely. Weengage with these extraordinary environments to enhance both ourhealth and our well-being. But, we need to recognize thatintroducing contaminants and otherwise altering these ocean systemscan harm human health and well-being in significant and substantialways. These are complex, challenging, and critically importantthemes. How the human relationship to the oceans evolves incoming decades may be one of the most important connections inunderstanding our personal and social well-being. Yet, ourunderstanding of this relationship is far too limited. This remarkable volume brings experts from diverse disciplinesand builds a workable understanding of breadth anddepth of the processes – both social and environmental– that will help us to limit future costs and enhance thebenefits of sustainable marine systems. In particular, theauthors have developed a shared view that the global coastalenvironment is under threat through intensified natural resourceutilization, as well as changes to global climate and otherenvironmental systems. All these changes contributeindividually, but more importantly cumulatively, to higher risksfor public health and to the global burden of disease. This pioneering book will be of value to advanced undergraduateand postgraduate students taking courses in public health,environmental, economic, and policy fields. Additionally, thetreatment of these complex systems is of essential value to thepolicy community responsible for these questions and to the broaderaudience for whom these issues are more directly connected to theirown health and well-being. "The seas across this planet and their effects on human societyand its destiny are a fascinating subject for analysis and insightsderived from intellectual inquiry. This diverse and complex subjectnecessarily requires a blending of knowledge from differentdisciplines, which the authors of this volume have achieved withremarkable success." "The following pages in this volume are written in a lucid andvery readable style, and provide a wealth of knowledge andinsightful analysis, which is a rare amalgam of multi-disciplinaryperspectives and unique lines of intellectual inquiry. It isvaluable to get a volume such as this, which appeals as much to anon-specialist reader as it does to those who are specialists inthe diverse but interconnected subjects covered in thisvolume." (From the "Foreword" written by, R K Pachauri, Director General,TERI and Chairman, IPCC)