Eutrophication 6 Socio-Economics of Eutrophication Alice Newton University of Algarve

Economic Cost of Eutrophication?

Costs were estimated using indirect methods considering that a response to algal blooms consists of: Short term measures (e.g. importing drinking water, erecting warning signs, treating with algicide) Medium term (e.g. new groundwater resources, improving water treatment, relocate production) Long term (e.g. restoring river flows, effluent reuse schemes and rehabilitation of riparian land) (National Eutrophication Management Program, Australia 2001)

Ecosystem services

Valuation?

Ecol. processEnv. functionGood/serviceUser Fixation of solar energy and biomass production Production of food Fish and shellfish Crabs Artisanal fisheries Geomorphology (sediment control) Prevention of erosion Regulation of env. quality Shoreline protection Assimilation of wastes Local communities (Gilbert & Janssen, Evaluation of management alternatives - Mangrove ecosystem)

Drivers Pressures State Impacts Responses D P SApproach I R

AB C Nutrient concentration Cost Environmental state Nutrient input Environmental state Cost Nutrient concentration Talk by Fred Wulff, Antwerp, 8 Oct 2002

General land-use Ecological processes Environmental function good or service BENEFIT and/or AVOIDED COST (impaired?) COST NET VALUE (Gilbert & Janssen, 1998) Submodels built using STELLA Evaluation of management alternatives - Mangrove ecosystem

(Gilbert & Janssen, 1998) Evaluation of management alternatives - Mangrove ecosystem Conservation Forestry Aquaculture etc Goods (quantitative) Fisheries Forestry Aquaculture Mangrove nursery Services (qualitative) Assimilation of waste Sea defense Ecotourism Intrinsic value Scientific/education value

Identification of the main aspects of the degradation of the lagoon (what is the problem?) Identification of critical environmental parameters (How does the system function?) Definition of target conditions (What do we want?) Identification of intervention options (How do we deal with the problem?) Validation of the selected target conditions and identification of critical areas using GIS (Where should we act?) Assessment of the effectiveness of the most promising restoration measures using mathematical models Problems in Venice Lagoon : hydromorphological changes (to avoid siltation), increased nutrient discharges, erosion, decrease in self- purification (Bettinnetti et al, Integrated Management Approach of the Venice Lagoon)

(Bettinnetti et al, 1996)

(Bettinnetti et al, Integrated Management Approach of the Venice Lagoon)

Nutrient reductions to the Baltic Sea: Ecology, Costs and Benefits. J. Env.Mgt (1997)

Managing Nutrient Fluxes and Pollution in the Baltic: an interdisciplinary study

Contingent valuation (willingness to pay) (Turner et al, 1999)

MARE (Marine Research on Eutrophication) Programme (funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research) - Objective: To develop a decision support system (DSS) to be used as a tool for developing and testing cost-effective strategies to reduce eutrophication in the Baltic Once a target (e.g. Secchi disk depth, reduction of nutrient concentration, in a specific area) is decided the programme indicates which (combination of) measure(s) are most cost- effective for a particular area in the Baltic (by country and sector). Model:

(de Jonge et al)

Some thoughts…. Decision-making - triggering the process Burden of costs Economic aspects not the same as social aspects Time-lag Approach Data required Data available Detail etc... To consider:

Politics Economics & Eutrophication...discussion  EU water framework directive WFD  Fertiliser Industry  Farmers and Common Agricultural Policy  Tourism industry  Fishermen  Aquaculturists  Ecology-Green parties

DPSIR of Eutrophication  Policies  Economic  Monitoring  Assessment  Management