9.3 Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services

Natural resources and ecosystem services are vital for human well-being, providing essentials like food, water, and climate regulation. However, resource extraction often conflicts with ecosystem preservation, creating complex trade-offs between short-term gains and long-term sustainability.

Sustainable resource use strategies in forestry, fisheries, and agriculture aim to balance economic benefits with ecosystem protection. Market-based tools like certification schemes, payment for ecosystem services, and eco-labeling incentivize sustainable practices and inform consumer choices.

Ecosystem services and well-being

Defining ecosystem services

Top images from around the web for Defining ecosystem services

• 

  AboutHydrology: Ecosystem Services View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Editorial: Biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services: Interrelationship with ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | A standardised ecosystem services framework for the deep sea View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  AboutHydrology: Ecosystem Services View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Editorial: Biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services: Interrelationship with ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

Top images from around the web for Defining ecosystem services

• 

  AboutHydrology: Ecosystem Services View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Editorial: Biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services: Interrelationship with ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | A standardised ecosystem services framework for the deep sea View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  AboutHydrology: Ecosystem Services View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Frontiers | Editorial: Biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services: Interrelationship with ... View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 3

• Ecosystem services are the benefits humans derive from ecosystems
  • Clean air and water, food production, climate regulation, and recreational opportunities
• The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) categorized ecosystem services into four main types
  • Provisioning services: Production of food, water, timber, and fiber
  • Regulating services: Climate regulation, flood control, and disease regulation
  • Cultural services: Spiritual, recreational, and cultural benefits
  • Supporting services: Nutrient cycling, soil formation, and primary production

Importance for human well-being

• Ecosystem services support life, health, and economic activities
  • Provide essential resources (food, water, raw materials)
  • Regulate environmental conditions (climate, air and water quality)
  • Offer cultural and recreational opportunities (tourism, spiritual value)
• Loss of ecosystem services can have significant negative impacts on human societies
  • Reduced food security, increased vulnerability to natural disasters, and diminished quality of life
  • Example: Deforestation leading to soil erosion, reduced water quality, and loss of biodiversity

Resource extraction vs ecosystem services

Trade-offs between extraction and ecosystem services

• Resource extraction (mining, logging, fishing) can provide short-term economic benefits
  • Creates jobs, generates revenue, and supports local economies
• However, extraction often leads to the degradation of ecosystems and loss of valuable services
  • Habitat destruction, pollution, and overexploitation of resources
  • Example: Logging in the Amazon rainforest reducing carbon sequestration and biodiversity
• Trade-offs occur when the use of one ecosystem service diminishes the availability or quality of others
  • Timber production vs carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation
  • Intensive agriculture vs soil health and water quality

Balancing short-term gains with long-term sustainability

• The concept of "tragedy of the commons" describes how individual self-interest can deplete shared resources
  • Each user maximizes personal gain without considering the collective impact
  • Example: Overfishing leading to the collapse of fish stocks and loss of ecosystem services
• Decision-makers must carefully consider the long-term costs and benefits of resource extraction
  • Prioritize sustainable use of ecosystems to maintain their ability to provide essential services
  • Incorporate ecosystem service valuation into decision-making processes
  • Engage stakeholders in participatory resource management and conflict resolution

Sustainable resource use strategies

Forestry, fisheries, and agriculture

• Sustainable forestry practices
  • Selective logging, reforestation, and establishment of protected areas
  • Maintain forest ecosystem services while allowing for timber extraction
  • Example: Reduced-impact logging techniques minimizing damage to remaining trees and soil
• Sustainable fisheries management
  • Setting catch limits, protecting critical habitats, and reducing bycatch
  • Ensure long-term viability of fish populations and marine ecosystems
  • Example: Marine protected areas allowing fish populations to recover and replenish adjacent fishing grounds
• Sustainable agriculture practices
  • Crop rotation, integrated pest management, and agroforestry
  • Maintain soil health, reduce chemical inputs, and preserve biodiversity
  • Example: Intercropping legumes with cereals to improve soil fertility and reduce fertilizer use

Certification and standards

• Certification schemes promote sustainable resource management by setting standards and providing market incentives
  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for responsible forestry practices
  • Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for sustainable fisheries
  • Rainforest Alliance and Organic certifications for sustainable agriculture
• Certified products command higher prices and access to environmentally conscious markets
  • Incentivize producers to adopt sustainable practices
  • Provide consumers with information to make informed choices
• Challenges include ensuring the credibility and effectiveness of certification schemes
  • Preventing greenwashing and ensuring compliance with standards
  • Balancing the costs and benefits of certification for small-scale producers

Market incentives for sustainability

Market-based instruments

• Taxes, subsidies, and tradable permits can internalize environmental costs and incentivize sustainable practices
  • Carbon taxes or cap-and-trade systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • Fishing quotas or individual transferable quotas (ITQs) to prevent overfishing
  • Subsidies for renewable energy or sustainable agriculture practices
• Market-based instruments aim to correct market failures and align economic incentives with environmental goals
  • Encourage efficient use of resources and adoption of cleaner technologies
  • Generate revenue that can be invested in conservation and sustainable development

Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES)

• PES schemes compensate landowners or communities for managing resources to maintain or enhance ecosystem services
  • Carbon sequestration, watershed protection, biodiversity conservation
  • Example: REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) payments for forest conservation
• PES creates economic incentives for sustainable land use and resource management
  • Provides alternative income sources for rural communities
  • Encourages conservation and restoration of ecosystems
• Challenges include ensuring fair and equitable distribution of benefits and long-term sustainability of funding

Eco-labeling and consumer demand

• Eco-labeling programs provide consumers with information about the environmental impact of products
  • Energy efficiency labels for appliances, sustainable seafood guides, and eco-friendly clothing labels
  • Allow consumers to make informed choices and create market demand for sustainably produced goods
• Consumer demand for sustainable products can drive changes in production practices and supply chains
  • Encourage companies to adopt more sustainable sourcing and manufacturing processes
  • Example: Increasing demand for organic and fair-trade products leading to growth in sustainable agriculture
• Challenges include ensuring the reliability and transparency of eco-labels and overcoming information asymmetries

Subsidy reform

• Removing subsidies that encourage unsustainable resource use can level the playing field and promote sustainable alternatives
  • Fossil fuel subsidies incentivizing the continued use of non-renewable energy sources
  • Agricultural subsidies promoting intensive farming practices and overuse of chemical inputs
  • Fishing subsidies contributing to overcapacity and overfishing
• Subsidy reform can create economic incentives for the adoption of cleaner technologies and sustainable practices
  • Encourage investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency
  • Promote sustainable agriculture and fisheries management
• Challenges include overcoming political resistance and ensuring a just transition for affected communities and industries