Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Strategies

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of creating a biodiversity strategy in the context of pollination and crop dependency?

To ensure supply and set restoration targets based on actual supply data.

What advantages does using proxy-based expert knowledge methods offer?

They are quick, easy, consistent, and can be combined with socio-economic variables across all scales.

Identify two major drawbacks of proxy-based expert knowledge methods.

They are constrained by available data and lack fine resolution.

What is a significant limitation of using 'The Matrix' for assessing ecosystem services?

It disregards management and spatial context, making it less applicable in diverse settings. Signup and view all the answers

For what purpose are process-based models primarily applied?

To represent environmental processes such as water regulation and carbon storage. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key feature of participatory mapping in assessing ecosystem services?

It utilizes local knowledge by involving community members in mapping their experiences. Signup and view all the answers

How does a phenomenological model differ from other ecosystem assessment methods?

It focuses on perceived environmental experiences and emotional qualities projected onto the environment. Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to consider both supply and demand in ecosystem assessments?

It helps to formulate effective biodiversity strategies and restoration targets tailored to specific needs. Signup and view all the answers

What does complementarity refer to in conservation planning?

Complementarity refers to the extent to which an area contributes unrepresented features to an existing network of protected areas. Signup and view all the answers

What does the law of diminishing returns imply about adding more of a resource?

It implies that adding more of a resource may not necessarily lead to better outcomes or increased satisfaction. Signup and view all the answers

How is irreplaceability defined in the context of conservation areas?

Irreplaceability is defined as the importance of a specific area for the efficient achievement of conservation objectives. Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of endemism in biodiversity conservation?

Endemism signifies the degree to which species in an area are unique to that area, highlighting the area's biodiversity value. Signup and view all the answers

Define the Marginal Rate of Utility Substitution (MRUS).

MRUS is the extent to which one good can be substituted for another while maintaining the same level of utility. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between WTP and WTA?

WTP is the Willingness to Pay for a good, while WTA is the Willingness to Accept compensation for income loss after a decline. Signup and view all the answers

Define the term threat in the context of areas considered for protection.

Threat refers to the degree to which an area is endangered or at risk due to human activities or environmental changes. Signup and view all the answers

What shift in focus occurred between 2005 and 2017 regarding ecosystem assessments?

The shift occurred from using Ecosystem Services (ESs) to using Nature's Contributions to People (NCPs). Signup and view all the answers

Name two primary valuation methods used in economic assessments.

Revealed preferences and stated preferences are two primary valuation methods. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key critique of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment?

A key critique is that it is too human-centric and does not sufficiently account for non-human perspectives. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'existence value' in the context of ecosystem services?

Existence value is the satisfaction derived from knowing that ecosystems and biodiversity exist, regardless of their use. Signup and view all the answers

What does the TEEB framework focus on and what is its main critique?

The TEEB framework focuses on the supply side of ecosystem services, with the main critique being its lack of attention to demand-side factors. Signup and view all the answers

How does bequest value differ from altruistic value?

Bequest value pertains to the satisfaction of ensuring ecosystems will be available for future generations, while altruistic value focuses on providing for the enjoyment of current generations. Signup and view all the answers

What role does meta-analysis play in secondary valuation methods?

Meta-analysis helps in obtaining and explaining value estimates from existing literature for better decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the evolution of frameworks for studying Ecosystem Services and Nature's Contributions to People.

Frameworks have evolved from purely utilitarian and human-centric models to more holistic and flexible approaches. Signup and view all the answers

Why is measuring environmental values important in decision making?

Measuring allows comparisons, facilitates communication, and supports informed decision-making regarding resource management. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary limitation of neoclassical economic theory in valuing ecosystem services?

It is imperfect, but currently the best available method. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the purpose of contingent valuation (CV).

CV is used to ask willingness to pay (WTP) or willingness to accept (WTA) when no market exists. Signup and view all the answers

What common factor leads people to overstate their willingness to pay in hypothetical scenarios?

Warm glow, where individuals feel good about giving, causing them to exaggerate their contributions. Signup and view all the answers

List one advantage of choice experiments (CE) over contingent valuation (CV).

Choice experiments are considered more intuitive and less prone to hypothetical bias. Signup and view all the answers

Describe a critical step in the design of contingent valuation studies.

Defining the problem is a critical first step in the research design process. Signup and view all the answers

How is 'perceived legitimacy of the question' related to overstating donations?

If respondents believe the question is legitimate, they may feel compelled to overstate their donation amounts. Signup and view all the answers

What role do income and education play in willingness to pay assessments?

Higher income and education levels can lead to increased willingness to pay or overstate contributions. Signup and view all the answers

What is an important aspect of choice attributes in choice experiments?

They describe the characteristics of choices and how these vary in the presented scenarios. Signup and view all the answers

What is the concept behind the replacement/substitute cost method in valuing ecosystem services (ES)?

It values an ecosystem service based on the cost of replacing it with an artificial alternative. Signup and view all the answers

What are two advantages of using simple economic valuation methods for ecosystem services?

They are simple to apply and relatively inexpensive. Signup and view all the answers

Identify a disadvantage of the hedonic pricing method in ecosystem service valuation.

It may be difficult to control for all factors influencing house prices. Signup and view all the answers

Why might the estimates from the replacement/substitute cost method underestimate the true value of ecosystem services?

Estimates may be low if the ecosystem service is considered unimportant. Signup and view all the answers

What data requirement makes the travel cost method (TCM) difficult to apply in poorly documented areas?

TCM requires comprehensive data on the travel patterns of visitors. Signup and view all the answers

How does the hedonic pricing method use revealed preferences in its valuation process?

It examines the implicit prices of non-marketed ecosystem services reflected in real estate prices. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key challenge when applying the replacement/substitute cost method?

Finding exact replacements for ecosystem services is often very difficult. Signup and view all the answers

What is one advantage of using standard economic techniques for measuring value in non-market valuation methods?

It applies standard economic techniques to measure value accurately. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss one reason why the indirect market valuation methods can be inconsistent estimators of the value of ecosystem services.

Higher levels of ecosystem services may incur higher costs for additional improvements. Signup and view all the answers

Why is revealed behavior preferred over stated behavior in the context of non-market valuation?

Revealed behavior reflects actual choices made by individuals, providing more accurate data. Signup and view all the answers

Name one major disadvantage of the contingent valuation method (CVM).

Answers are hypothetical and may not reflect true behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What complex requirement is necessary when implementing CVM surveys?

They require complex data collection, statistical analysis, and modeling. Signup and view all the answers

In the choice experiment method (CEM), what is the primary goal of asking respondents to select between alternatives?

The goal is to derive values from the trade-offs respondents make among different scenarios. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation related to measuring the opportunity cost of time in non-market valuation methods?

It's difficult to define and measure the opportunity cost of time accurately. Signup and view all the answers

How can the availability of substitute sites impact the valuation of a specific recreational site?

The presence of substitutes may decrease the perceived value of the original site. Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential bias when using hypothetical scenarios in surveys for environmental valuation?

Respondents may misunderstand or find the scenarios unconvincing, leading to biased answers. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Introduction to Ecosystem Services

Ecosystems provide various services, crucial for human well-being.
These services include provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.
Defining and valuing these services is essential for conservation and sustainable development.

History and Milestones in Ecosystem Service Research

Early academic literature on ecosystem services included works by Westan (1977), Daily (1997), Costanza et al. (1997), and TEEB (2010).
These milestones highlighted the importance of valuing ecosystem services to protect nature.
The issue of putting a value on ecosystems, before decisions or policies are taken emerged as a topic needing more attention.

Critiques of Ecosystem Services as a Concept

The concept of ecosystem services has faced seven critiques:
- Being too anthropocentric in its focus.
- Promoting an exploitative human-nature relationship.
- Distraction from conservation.
- Reliance on economic valuation, potentially leading to monetization of nature.
- Commodification of nature.
- Vague definitions, which may hinder its application.
- Being too optimistic about normative aims.

Ecosystem Services and Human Well-being

Improving the health of ecosystems will enhance human well-being and quality of life.
The MEA (2005) framework is a common approach to evaluate and understand ESS, connecting human well-being with ecosystem services.

Decision Support Tools: Frameworks and Models

Frameworks (e.g., MEA, TEEB, CICES) guide theoretical and empirical research of topics (for example ecosystem services).
The choice depends on the subject of the study, context, research questions, and the scope of the analysis.
The difference between frameworks and models is that models are prefilled; frameworks need to be filled in.

Quantifying and Mapping Ecosystem Services

Mapping ES (Ecosystem Services) is essential for prioritizing and management.
Mapping ES supply, flow and demand requires models, expert knowledge, or direct measurements.

Key Concepts for Evaluating Ecosystem Services

Complementarity: More diverse systems often improve total outputs.
Stability/resilience: Increased diversity improves ecosystem resilience to changes.
Keystone species: Keystone species have a disproportionate impact on ecosystem functioning.
Redundancy: Some species' roles are redundant; a decline in their abundance is less consequential for system functions.
Idiosyncratic responses: Some ecosystem functions change unpredictably as species richness changes.

Classifying and Measuring Biodiversity

Biodiversity has three facets: taxonomic (variety of species), functional (species' roles), phylogenetic (evolutionary relationships).
Metrics used to measure biodiversity include alpha (diversity within a site), beta (difference in composition between sites), and gamma (total diversity across a region).

Valuation of Ecosystem Services

Values can include market values, but also non-market values such as the intrinsic value of nature.
There are different methods, such as the market price method, production function method, cost-based methods, hedonic pricing, and travel cost method.

Deliberative Monetary Valuation (DMV)

DMV involves a process of deliberation among stakeholders to establish value of ecosystem services.
It offers a more inclusive participatory approach compared to purely economic methods.
It acknowledges the perspectives of different stakeholders.
DMVs acknowledge the plural values of nature.

The Case of Small Islands

Small islands often experience rapid and significant ecosystem losses due to human impacts, and have unique pressures from factors such as tourism, population growth, erosion and water pollution.
Natural capital often plays a critical role in supporting the livelihoods and economies of small islands, and these valuations are often overlooked in traditional assessments.

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Description

This quiz explores various concepts related to ecosystem services, biodiversity strategies, and conservation planning. It assesses understanding of expert knowledge methods, participatory mapping, and the importance of considering both supply and demand in ecosystem assessments. Test your knowledge on critical terms such as irreplaceability, endemism, and utility substitution in the context of environmental science.