Ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea ... - Naturvårdsverket

More documents

Recommendations

Info

SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Report 5873 • Ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak Economic Marine Information Cultural ecosystem services C6: The legacy of the sea Definition The legacy of nature is a non-use benefit. The service refers to an appreciation of nature for ethical reasons (existence value), which is often accompanied by a willingness to preserve the intrinsic value of nature for future generations (bequest value). In this context, the legacy of nature is replaced by the legacy of the sea, referring to all aspects of the coastal and marine environment. Extent of appreciation and importance to society The legacy of nature cannot be quantified, nor can the legacy of the sea. Nevertheless, its importance to humans can be evaluated, even in monetary terms (24). The beneficiaries of this service are believed to be numerous. They are limited neither to coastal residents, nor to recreational users or visitors to seaside communities. The legacy of the sea may be equally important to an inland resident who has never visited the coast. To many people, nature does not need to be generating measurable services or providing goods; it just needs to be, in order to deserve concern and good management. Take for example the harbour porpoise or the white-tailed sea eagle. The number of people that have seen these animals is minimal, yet many of us are prepared to invest in their conservation, and many of us would even experience a sense of loss were they to disappear. It would signal that our generation has failed to protect the legacy of sea for future generations. Although the ethical values responsible for our appreciation certain animals are typically considered less worth, they may in fact constitute the foundation for our wish to maintain biodiversity and conserve our natural environment. Assurance that all components of nature will persist, for no other reasons than ethical, adds to the well-being of many people. The extent of appreciation and thus its importance are strictly individual. How this service is valued is nevertheless likely to vary with economic development and levels of welfare; the value of participation in the conservation of nature for ethical purposes is, after all, a luxury. If one is poor, the main incentive for conservation is likely to be related to nature’s capacity of producing food or generating income. Interaction with other ecosystem services The more nature is degraded, the less value does this service provide. The extent to which individuals recognise this legacy of the sea is, however, strictly individual and the factors affecting it remain unknown. However, the appreciation of the sea 159
SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Report 5873 • Ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea and Skagerrak Economic Marine Information for ethical reasons may (or may not) result in action promoting sustainable management or protection, which could be anything from joining a local NGO to cleaning a beach from litter. The combined influence of many such actions may affect the maintenance and provision of various ecosystem services. Status threats and consequences Status Sustainability of use Level of threat Expected consequences Moderate Sustainable High Limited As awareness of the marine and coastal environment is rising, the value of this service may become reduced. Yet, its use is inherently sustainable. Threats to this service include loss of biodiversity and deterioration of ecosystem processes and function. However, in relation to other ecosystem services, the consequences to this ecosystem service are limited. Examples of knowledge gaps Attitudes and ethics in regard to the marine environment remains a largely unexamined field of research. 160
Page 1 and 2:
Effective July 1, 2011, this public
Page 3 and 4:
Orders Phone: + 46 (0)8-505 933 40
Page 5 and 6:
SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AG
Page 7 and 8:
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102:
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110: SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AG
Page 159: SWEDISH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AG
Page 193: Ecosystem services provided by the
show all

Ecosystem services provided by the Baltic Sea ... - Naturvårdsverket

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?