Inclusion of condition in natural capital assessments is critical to the implementation of marine nature-based solutions

Watson, SCL, Watson, GJ, Beaumont, NJ and Preston, J 2022 Inclusion of condition in natural capital assessments is critical to the implementation of marine nature-based solutions. Science of The Total Environment, 838. 156026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156026

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Abstract/Summary

Current approaches to measure ecosystem services (ES) within natural capital (NC) and nature-based solutions (NbS) assessments are generally coarse, often using a single figure for ecosystem services (e.g., nutrient remediation or blue carbon sequestration) applied to the local or national habitat stock, which fails to take account of local ecosystem con�ditions and regional variability. As such, there is a need for improved understanding of the link between habitat con�dition and ES provision, using comparable indicators in order to take more informed management decisions. Here the UK, Solent Marine Sites (SEMS) is used as a case study system to demonstrate how Water Framework Directive (WFD) ‘ecological status’ and other indicators of ecosystem condition (state or quality) can be coupled with habitat extent information to deliver a more precise locally-tailored NC approach for active coastal and marine habitat restoration. Habitat extent and condition data are collected for seven NbS relevant coastal habitats (littoral sediment, matforming green macroalgae, subtidal sediment, saltmarsh, seagrass, reedbeds and native oyster beds). The workflow includes: 1) biophysical assessment of regulatory ES; 2) monetary valuation; and 3) compilation of future scenarios of habitat restoration and creation. The results indicate that incorporating classifications by condition indices into local NC extent accounts improved ES benefits by 11–67%. This suggests that omitting condition from NC assessments could lead to undervaluation of ES benefits. Future scenarios of restoration in the SEMS also show that the additional regulatory benefits of reaching ‘Good’ ecological status are £376 million annually, but could be as much as £1.218 billion if ‘High‘status and all habitat creation targets were met. This evidence of the potential value of restoration and importance of including condition indices in assessments is highly relevant to consider when investing in water ecosystems conservation and restoration as called for by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021−2030), and more generally in global nutrient neutrality and blue carbon policy strategies.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Additional Keywords:	Natural capital, Ecosystem services, Ecological status, Ecosystem condition, Nature-based solutions, Water framework directive, Habitat restoration
Divisions:	Plymouth Marine Laboratory > Science Areas > Sea and Society
Depositing User:	S Hawkins
Date made live:	17 Jun 2022 09:35
Last Modified:	17 Jun 2022 09:35
URI:	https://plymsea.ac.uk/id/eprint/9723

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