Assessment of Ecosystems and Ecosystem Services in Romanian

22
Po li cy
sec tor
Cli mate
Change
– Mitiga
tion
(and
Adaptation)
Sustaina
ble
De ve lopment
Fisheries
and
aqua culture
Na tural
Resource
Fish
Eco system
Typo
lo gy
(MAES
Le vel 2)
ALL –
including
urban
and
except
ocean
ALL –
including
urban
and
except
ocean
Rivers
and lakes
Coastal
(50-70
m)
Shelf
(200 m)
Conceptual Integration
The National Strategy for Climate Change
(Part I on Mitigation) mentions the capacity
of Romanian forests to sequester carbon as
well as the fact that water ecosystems from
forest habitats (e.g. floodplains along river
sectors, lakes, swamps, peat bogs, marshes)
deliver ecosystems goods and services that
are important in forest ecology. However, no
e x p l i c i t r e f e r e n c e t o h u m a n w e l l - b e i n g i s m a d e .
Furthermore, Objective no. 4 under the
Biodiversity Chapter no. 4.9 of the biodiversity
Action Plan mentions the “assessment of
ecosystem services and the implementation of
the Ecosystem Approach in decision-making”.
Operational Integration
Green Certificates are foreseen in national
legislation to encourage energy production from
renewable sources (sun, wind, hydro, geothermal);
however, conditions for biodiversity conservation
are not included with the risk of negative impact on
the adaptation potential of ecosystems to climate
change.
Besides, the biodiversity Action Plan foresees
instruments to be developed such as: payments for
ecosystem services in the context of climate change
to support adaptation; national bonifications scheme
for afforestation, reafforestatin and conservation
of virgin forests (a need foreseen in the National
Biodiversity Strategy).
Furthermore, related to Objective no. 4 under the
Biodiversity Chapter no. 4.9 are foreseen actions
such as: taking into consideration the phenomenon
of climate change in establishing payments for
ecosystems services; and taking into consideration
economic arguments in favor of investments in
natural solutions to address climate change. Also,
the Transport Chapter, Objective no. 1 mentions
the introduction of economic incentives (e.g. price
instruments) for a system of ecological transport
and includes a measure to raise taxes on carbon
price, car registration, parking, etc. during 2016-
2022. However, the approach is not efficient nor
socially fair (e.g. higher costs for using private
transport) if measures to improve public transport
are not implemented first (Objective no. 2 and no.
3).
With respect to ES, the Strategy recognizes the
benefits from forest and aquatic ecosystems in
reducing GHG emissions. Objective no. 4 of the
Action Plan - Biodiversity Chapter no. 4.9 foresees
the “Assessment of ES and the implementation of
the Ecosystem Approach into decision-making”,
with actions like: inclusion of ES assessment and
Ecosystem Approach into management of natural
resources; inclusion of Ecosystem Approach within
the context of climate change into university
programs; inclusion of climate change consideration
in the development of PES and of economic
arguments for investments in nature based solutions;
improving the capacity of public authorities to
understand ES values and the Ecosystem Approach
in the context of climate change; establishment of
an inter-governmental platform on biodiversity and
ES to provide decision makers with the necessary
knowledge to elaborate biodiversity policies in
the context of climate change; training of natural
resources managers and natural protected areas
administrators on the Ecosystem Approach in
order to adapt to climate change; assessment of
ES delivered by natural protected areas or of the
protected areas network contribution to climate
change control.
- -
The concept of aquatic ecosystem is better
integrated in the case of aquaculture given
its clearer geographical delimitations.
Less considerations and consequently less
measures are provided for the fishery sector.
Natural ecosystems are recognized as well
as the necessity to maintain biodiversity.
The concept of ecosystem and in particular
of marine ecosystems, are taken from UE
legislation terminology.
Ecosystem services are mentioned only in
the case of aquaculture; however, they are
not completely listed. The improvement of
production capacity is especially mentioned.
The economic importance of aquaculture as
well as of activity diversitification (in particular
at local community level) is recognized. Thus,
ecosystem services are indirectly recognized
as underpinning well-being.
The Operational Program for Fisheries and Maritime
Affairs (POPAM - Programul Operational pentru
Pescuit si Afaceri Maritime), includes a measure for
the improvement of the aquatic environmentl, which
gives the opportunity to integrate the delivery of
ecosystem services e.g. water quality and quantity;
however, a clear and approved methodology for the
identification, maintenance and management of
ecosystem services does not exist.