Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened in the world, while providing numerous essential ecosystem services (ES) to humans. Despite their importance, research on freshwater ecosystem services is limited. Here, we examine how freshwater studies could help to advance ES research and vice versa. We summarize major knowledge gaps and suggest solutions focusing on science and policy in Europe. We found several features that are unique to freshwater ecosystems, but often disregarded in ES assessments. Insufficient transfer of knowledge towards stakeholders is also problematic. Knowledge transfer and implementation seems to be less effective towards South-east Europe. Focusing on the strengths of freshwater research regarding connectivity, across borders, involving multiple actors can help to improve ES research towards a more dynamic, landscape-level approach, which we believe can boost the implementation of the ES concept in freshwater policies. Bridging these gaps can contribute to achieve the ambitious targets of the EU’s Green Deal.

/pdf/freshwater-systems-and-ecosystem-services-challenges-and-31qkvy29jz.pdf

Freshwater systems and ecosystem services: Challenges and chances for cross-fertilization of disciplines.

Practical applications of ecosystem services in spatial planning: Lessons learned from a systematic literature review

Fresh waters and estuaries of the Great Barrier Reef catchment: Effects and management of anthropogenic disturbance on biodiversity, ecology and connectivity.

We argue for improved conservation of freshwater ecosystems at catchment or eco-regional scales by explicit assignment of values to all river sections and wetlands, recognising current disturbance, and aiming for ‘no further harm’ to the commons. The need is indicated by the global deterioration of biodiversity and ecosystem services of rivers and wetlands, increasing demands on water and land resources, and climate change. Regional pressures include multiple jurisdictions, competing demands, piecemeal management, pollution and habitat impacts. Effective resource and conservation management needs to integrate multiple uses via governance of activities of stakeholders, recognising hydrogeomorphic, water quality and ecological properties of ecosystems. Complete ecological protection is impractical amidst water-resource and land-use development, but we suggest that all river reaches and wetlands be given a conservation rating based on habitat, biodiversity and connectivity values. We present a straightforward approach to spatial conservation rating of freshwaters, using hydrogeomorphic typology and assignment of conservation values on the basis of available information and expert elicitation. We illustrate the approach by using the large Burdekin River catchment in north-eastern Australia. This approach is complementary to more spatially focused conservation prioritisation and could greatly improve management for sustainability, reduce further decline in conservation values, and facilitate rehabilitation. 

/pdf/enhancing-whole-of-river-conservation-9m8i19ii.pdf

Enhancing whole-of-river conservation

Framework for the application of ecosystem services based urban ecological carrying capacity assessment in the urban decision-making process

11.1 AN ECOSYSTEM SERVICES-BASED APPROACH TO INTEGRATED REGIONAL CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT The importance of ecosystem services to sustainable development and the well-being of communities is well recognised and has been emphasised in many international policies and programmes (World Commission on Environment and Development 1987; Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005; European Commission et al . 2012). In recognition of this importance, stakeholders (e.g. government, non-government, business, industry, community, Traditional Owners, researchers) across South East Queensland (Australia) came together to develop the South East Queensland Ecosystem Services Framework, a tool to identify, measure, and value the ecosystem services provided by the region (Maynard et al . 2010, 2012). The Framework, which operationalises an ecosystem services-based approach, is described briefly in this chapter; also given is an example of the Framework's application to better align land use planning and on-ground catchment management. Box 11.1 Evolution of integrated catchment management in South East Queensland, Australia • Community-led watershed management was underway in the Lockyer catchment, the ‘food bowl’ of the South East Queensland region, in the early 1980s. • Integrated Catchment Management was officially adopted as a natural resource management programme in the state of Queensland in the early 1990s. • Integrated Catchment Management emerged from concerns relating to the degradation of natural resources; conflicting government policies; and increasing public expectations for involvement in decision-making. • The national Regional Natural Resource Management Body network established by the Australian government evolved from these initiatives. • Each region has a Regional Body whose primary role is to work with stakeholders to better manage the natural resources of the region. ‘Integrated Catchment Management’ takes a catchment-scale approach to the management of natural resources (Murray Darling Basin Commission 2001; Falkenmark 2004). Catchments are explicitly defined structures; they represent the natural order of landscape processes and provide spatial gradients and thus water pathways and soil generation profiles. These gradients determine the vegetation cover and ecological structure of the catchment, which in turn influence the spatial organisation of human settlements (Priscoli 1999).

Water Ecosystem Services: An ecosystem services-based approach to integrated regional catchment management: the South East Queensland experience

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Water Ecosystem Services: An ecosystem services-based approach to integrated regional catchment management: the South East Queensland experience