Introduction to the ecosystem approach as a framework for management of ecosystem use

Introduction to the ecosystem
approach as a framework for
management of ecosystem use
Kevern Cochrane and Warwick Sauer

CBD Definition of an EcosystemCBD Definition of an Ecosystem
ApproachApproach
 The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integratedThe ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated
management of land, water and living resources thatmanagement of land, water and living resources that
promotes conservation and sustainable use in anpromotes conservation and sustainable use in an
equitable way. …It is … focused on levels of biologicalequitable way. …It is … focused on levels of biological
organization which encompass the essential processes,organization which encompass the essential processes,
functions and interactions among organisms and theirfunctions and interactions among organisms and their
environment. It recognizes that humans, with theirenvironment. It recognizes that humans, with their
cultural diversity, are an integral component ofcultural diversity, are an integral component of
ecosystems.ecosystems.
http://www.cbd.int/ecosystem/

FAO Definition ofFAO Definition of
EAFEAF
An Ecosystem Approach to FisheriesAn Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries
strives tostrives to balance diverse societalbalance diverse societal
objectivesobjectives, by taking account of the, by taking account of the
knowledge and uncertainties aboutknowledge and uncertainties about
biotic, abiotic and human componentsbiotic, abiotic and human components
of ecosystems and theirof ecosystems and their interactionsinteractions
and applyingand applying an integrated approachan integrated approach
to fisheries withinto fisheries within ecologicallyecologically
meaningful boundariesmeaningful boundaries.. (FAO, 2003)(FAO, 2003)

Legal Framework - CBDLegal Framework - CBD
 The primary principle (Article 3, CBD 1992 ) ofThe primary principle (Article 3, CBD 1992 ) of
the CBD is that:the CBD is that:
 ““States have, in accordance with the Charter ofStates have, in accordance with the Charter of
the United Nations and the principles ofthe United Nations and the principles of
international law, the sovereign right to exploitinternational law, the sovereign right to exploit
their own resources pursuant to their owntheir own resources pursuant to their own
environmental policies, and the responsibility toenvironmental policies, and the responsibility to
ensure that activities within their jurisdiction orensure that activities within their jurisdiction or
control do not cause damage to the environmentcontrol do not cause damage to the environment
of other States or of areas beyond the limits ofof other States or of areas beyond the limits of
national jurisdiction.”national jurisdiction.”

Legal Framework – CBD (cont.)Legal Framework – CBD (cont.)
 Decision II/10 of the 2nd CoP to CBD,Decision II/10 of the 2nd CoP to CBD,
1995 “Encourages the use of integrated1995 “Encourages the use of integrated
marine and coastal area management asmarine and coastal area management as
the most suitable framework forthe most suitable framework for
addressing human impacts on marine andaddressing human impacts on marine and
coastal biological diversity and forcoastal biological diversity and for
promoting conservation and sustainablepromoting conservation and sustainable
use of this biodiversity.”use of this biodiversity.”

UN Law of the Sea: Art. 61UN Law of the Sea: Art. 61
 2. The coastal State, shall ensure ... that the2. The coastal State, shall ensure ... that the
maintenance of the living resources in the EEZ is notmaintenance of the living resources in the EEZ is not
endangered by over-exploitation. ... the coastal Stateendangered by over-exploitation. ... the coastal State
and competent international organizations...shalland competent international organizations...shall
cooperate to this end.cooperate to this end.
 3. Such measures shall also be designed to maintain or3. Such measures shall also be designed to maintain or
restore populations of harvested species at levels whichrestore populations of harvested species at levels which
can produce the MSY, as qualified by......, thecan produce the MSY, as qualified by......, the
interdependence of stocks and any generallyinterdependence of stocks and any generally
recommended international minimum standards, whetherrecommended international minimum standards, whether
subregional, regional or global.subregional, regional or global.
 4. ....the coastal State shall take into consideration the4. ....the coastal State shall take into consideration the
effects on species associated with or dependent uponeffects on species associated with or dependent upon
harvested species with a view to maintaining or restoringharvested species with a view to maintaining or restoring
populations of such ...species above levels at which theirpopulations of such ...species above levels at which their
reproduction may become seriously threatened.reproduction may become seriously threatened.

FAO Code of ConductFAO Code of Conduct
States and users of living aquatic resourcesStates and users of living aquatic resources
should conserve aquatic ecosystemsshould conserve aquatic ecosystems. The. The
right to fish carries with it the obligation toright to fish carries with it the obligation to
do so in a responsible manner so as todo so in a responsible manner so as to
ensure effective conservation andensure effective conservation and
management of the living aquaticmanagement of the living aquatic
resourcesresources..

A Sectoral Example - theA Sectoral Example - the
Rationale for EAFRationale for EAF
The purpose of an ecosystem
approach to fisheries is to
plan, develop and manage
fisheries in a manner that
addresses the multiplicity of
societal needs and desires,
without jeopardising the
options for future generations
to benefit from marine
ecosystems.
the full range of goods and

The underlying rationale of single-speciesThe underlying rationale of single-species
approaches: the Schaefer Modelapproaches: the Schaefer Model
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
0 200 400 600 800 1000
Stock size
Surplusproduction
BMSY
B0
MSY

The ecological reality:The ecological reality:

Ecosystem approaches to sectorsEcosystem approaches to sectors
in the broader EA frameworkin the broader EA framework
Authority for
Management of
Marine zone
Coastal zone
development
Management
agency
for EAF
Conservation &
environmental
interests
Large-scale
sector
Small-scale
sector
Offshore oil, gas
and mining
Agencies for
land-based impacts
Authority for
Management of
Marine zone
Coastal zone
development
Management
agency
for EAF
Conservation &
environmental
interests
Large-scale
sector
Small-scale
sector
Offshore oil, gas
and mining
Agencies for
land-based impacts

Interim Agreement on the Establishment ofInterim Agreement on the Establishment of
the Benguela Current Commissionthe Benguela Current Commission
PREAMBLE
 “Contracting Parties”:
 Recognising the unique character of the Benguela
Current Large Marine Ecosystem, the threats to it, and
its significance for their socio-economic development
and for the wellbeing of their people;
 Conscious of their joint responsibility as custodians of
this globally significant large marine ecosystem to
conserve it for the benefit of present and future
generations;
 Recognising that effective long-term cooperation
between them in implementing an ecosystem approach
to the management of human activities affecting the
Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem requires the
establishment of stable institutional arrangements;

Article 1.Use of TermsArticle 1.Use of Terms
 For the purposes of this Interim Agreement -
“Adverse impact”
 (a) includes any actual or potential detrimental effect on
the BCLME that results directly or indirectly from human
conduct originating wholly or partly within the territory of
a Contracting Party or from a vessel or aircraft under its
jurisdiction or control; and
 (b) includes any actual or potential detrimental effect on
legitimate uses of the BCLME, on the health of people in
the Contracting Parties or on their ability to provide for
their health, safety and cultural and economic wellbeing,
which occurs or may occur as a consequence of a
detrimental effect referred to in (a); but
 (c) does not include any actual or potential detrimental
effect that is negligible or which has been assessed and
determined to be acceptable under this Interim
Agreement;

ARTICLE 9. ECOSYSTEM ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
1. The Ecosystem Advisory Committee shall consist of
experts ...... supervised by the Management Board.
 2. The role of Ecosystem Advisory Committee is –
 (a) to support decision-making by the BCC and the
Contracting Parties by providing them with the best
available scientific, management, legal and other
information, and expert advice concerning the
conservation and ecologically sustainable use and
development of the Benguela Current Large Marine
Ecosystem; and
 (b) to build capacity within the Contracting Parties to
generate and provide the information and expert advice
referred to in (a) on a sustainable basis.

Recognising and Acknowledging theRecognising and Acknowledging the
Impacts and InteractionsImpacts and Interactions
Sector or Subsector
Ecological
wellbeing
Human Wellbeing
(Social, economic, cultural)
Ability to achieve
Commercially
important species or
habitat
Species of
conservation
concern
General Ecosystem
Local/Community
Sector/Subsector
Governance in
Same Sector
Governance in
Other Sectors
Impact of the
environment
Other Sectors
National
Health

Some examples of “EAF Issues”Some examples of “EAF Issues”
from the Benguela Currentfrom the Benguela Current
countriescountries
 Bycatch of species that are important target species forBycatch of species that are important target species for
other fisheries.other fisheries.
 Mortality to threatened sharks, seabirds and otherMortality to threatened sharks, seabirds and other
species of conservation concernspecies of conservation concern
 Limited knowledge of true biodoiversity and impacts ofLimited knowledge of true biodoiversity and impacts of
fishery on biodiversityfishery on biodiversity
 Conflicts between industrial and small-scale fisheriesConflicts between industrial and small-scale fisheries
 Impacts of trawls on the benthic fauna and floraImpacts of trawls on the benthic fauna and flora
 Increasing impacts on fisheries of offshore mining and oilIncreasing impacts on fisheries of offshore mining and oil
exploration and extractionexploration and extraction
 Environmental impacts (e.g. Benguela Niño andEnvironmental impacts (e.g. Benguela Niño and
deoxygenation events)deoxygenation events)

EA Management andEA Management and
Institutions – Responding atInstitutions – Responding at
Different ScalesDifferent Scales

ManagementManagement
ProcessesProcesses
i) Developing ai) Developing a
managementmanagement
planplan
4.1.2 Scoping
[Fishery & area,
Stakeholders,
Broad issues]
4.1.3 Background information & analysis
4.1.5 Formulating rules
Implementation &
enforcement
4.1.4 Setting objectives
[Broad objectives,
Operational objectives,
Indicators & performance
measures]
4.1.6 Monitoring
4.1.6 Long-term review
4.1.6 Short-term review
Consultationwithstakeholders
C

Multi-scale Requirements of EBMMulti-scale Requirements of EBM
Governance StructureGovernance Structure
Fanning et al. 2007. A large marine ecosystem governance
framework

Challenges to Application of EA:
Institutional Needs in the BCLME*
Management structures
 Stakeholder participation
 Access rights
 Management plans
 Inter-agency cooperation
 International (outside BCLME)
Information and research
 Data
 Research staff
 Science and decision-making
 Information dissemination
Legal
Monitoring, control and surveillance
 Enforcement
 Observer coverage *From the BCLME/FAO Project on EAF
Implementation 2004-2006

Priority Issues for Implementation ofPriority Issues for Implementation of
EAF the BCLMEEAF the BCLME
 Lack of capacity is a major constraint in the attempt to implementLack of capacity is a major constraint in the attempt to implement
EAF.EAF.
 All countries need a resource management structure that:All countries need a resource management structure that:
 is suitable for EAF;is suitable for EAF;
 includes the main stakeholders; andincludes the main stakeholders; and
 encompasses direct involvement of stakeholders in the decision-encompasses direct involvement of stakeholders in the decision-
making process.making process.
 In Angola and Namibia communications with the oil industry andIn Angola and Namibia communications with the oil industry and
marine diamond mining respectively must be improved.marine diamond mining respectively must be improved.
 Improved capacity for long-term ecosystem monitoring, placementImproved capacity for long-term ecosystem monitoring, placement
of scientific observers and improved data management are required.of scientific observers and improved data management are required.
 Angola requires:Angola requires:
 improved surveillance and compliance;improved surveillance and compliance;
 a suitable system of access rights for the artisanal fisheriesa suitable system of access rights for the artisanal fisheries
 Inadequate capacity should not preclude the implementation of EAFInadequate capacity should not preclude the implementation of EAF
measures.measures.
 Single species approaches are an essential component of theSingle species approaches are an essential component of the
fisheries management but need to be broadened for EAF.fisheries management but need to be broadened for EAF.

ConclusionsConclusions
 The recent awareness of importance of EA recognisesThe recent awareness of importance of EA recognises
interactions and impacts between different humaninteractions and impacts between different human
sectors and ecosystemsectors and ecosystem
 Implementation of EA builds on sectoral approaches butImplementation of EA builds on sectoral approaches but
requires addition of wider knowledge and encompassingrequires addition of wider knowledge and encompassing
institutionsinstitutions
 Optimal use of natural resources requires that negativeOptimal use of natural resources requires that negative
impacts and conflicts are addressed and resolved: thisimpacts and conflicts are addressed and resolved: this
requires compromises and trade-offsrequires compromises and trade-offs
 Best-available information on ecological, social andBest-available information on ecological, social and
economic costs and benefits of activities and decisionseconomic costs and benefits of activities and decisions
affecting activities important for wise decision-making.affecting activities important for wise decision-making.
Economic valuations contribute to that information.Economic valuations contribute to that information.

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