Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010

Utilizing the ESA for WFD Utilizing the ESA for WFD implementation: opportunities and implementation: opportunities and

challengeschallenges

Eduard Interwies

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010 2

BackgroundBackgroundEnvironmental policy consulting:Environmental policy consulting:

Focus on water management (WFD, Focus on water management (WFD, international), but also marine, international), but also marine, agriculture, energy policyagriculture, energy policy

Economics: methods/policy support and Economics: methods/policy support and instrumentsinstruments

But also:But also:

Science-policy interfacing in research Science-policy interfacing in research projects (e.g. ESAWADI – see working projects (e.g. ESAWADI – see working group hydromorphology)group hydromorphology)

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010 3

ESA-WFD: opportunitiesESA-WFD: opportunities Support answering open issues from 1st Support answering open issues from 1st

RBMP (Economics? Exemptions?)RBMP (Economics? Exemptions?)

Better understanding of ecosystem Better understanding of ecosystem functions, roles and interactions (land-sea functions, roles and interactions (land-sea etc.)etc.)

Good „linking element“ for policy Good „linking element“ for policy integration: „bridge“ (nature protection, integration: „bridge“ (nature protection, water management, energy et al.)water management, energy et al.)

Communication: illustrative and Communication: illustrative and understandable (more than WFD!)understandable (more than WFD!)

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010 4

Boring?Boring?

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010 5

ESA-WFD: challengesESA-WFD: challenges

Anthropocentric approach: focus on “what Anthropocentric approach: focus on “what nature provides humans“: sufficient for nature provides humans“: sufficient for sustainability in the long run? Existence sustainability in the long run? Existence values considered sufficiently?values considered sufficiently?

Ecosystem services: even if activities Ecosystem services: even if activities putting pressure on the ecosystem (e.g. oil putting pressure on the ecosystem (e.g. oil extraction, hydropower)? Do not confuse extraction, hydropower)? Do not confuse ESA valuation with “recognition of the ESA valuation with “recognition of the value to protect ecosystems” in the policy value to protect ecosystems” in the policy process! But: „nice wrong numbers“ for process! But: „nice wrong numbers“ for benefits…benefits…

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010 6

ESA-WFD: challengesESA-WFD: challenges Links between the WFD objectives and Links between the WFD objectives and

ecosystems? Maybe “good status”-WFD but ecosystems? Maybe “good status”-WFD but not well-functioning ecosystem & vice-versa?not well-functioning ecosystem & vice-versa?

Scale issues: broad-scale (WFD) assessment Scale issues: broad-scale (WFD) assessment of ES difficult-expensive, even not useful?of ES difficult-expensive, even not useful?

Measurement: usual issue of „illusion of Measurement: usual issue of „illusion of precision“ when trying to monetize: just the precision“ when trying to monetize: just the known benefit valuation problems – or known benefit valuation problems – or beyond?beyond?

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010 7

Way ahead for 2. RBMP & Way ahead for 2. RBMP & beyondbeyond

Scale: ESA supporting:Scale: ESA supporting: strategic assessments (at RB scale?) for balancing strategic assessments (at RB scale?) for balancing

policies / selecting policy options andpolicies / selecting policy options and local (group of WBs?)/specific situations in „hot local (group of WBs?)/specific situations in „hot

spots“ with societal conflicts / high ecological threatsspots“ with societal conflicts / high ecological threats

ESA as focal point in understanding policy links ESA as focal point in understanding policy links and interactions (e.g. MSFD-WFD)and interactions (e.g. MSFD-WFD)

Good basis for international understanding and Good basis for international understanding and coordination: common language (even beyond coordination: common language (even beyond EU?)EU?)

Clear link of ESA to understanding the „well-Clear link of ESA to understanding the „well-functioning“ of ES: don´t just hunt for functioning“ of ES: don´t just hunt for numbers…numbers…

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010 8

Way ahead for 2. RBMP & Way ahead for 2. RBMP & beyondbeyond

CENTRAL: communicate! ESA can help CENTRAL: communicate! ESA can help discussing effects of measures/their discussing effects of measures/their feasibility (“disproportionality”, feasibility (“disproportionality”, Art.4)/acceptance with the stakeholders/the Art.4)/acceptance with the stakeholders/the public!public!

Overall: on content, the ESA does not Overall: on content, the ESA does not fundamentally bring new „content“ to fundamentally bring new „content“ to modern WFD-implementation – but helps modern WFD-implementation – but helps focusing on what is important – and provides focusing on what is important – and provides a good (necessary!) communication and a good (necessary!) communication and exchange tool!exchange tool!

ESA is not the “egg-laying wool-milk-pig”…ESA is not the “egg-laying wool-milk-pig”…

Implementation of the WFD: when ecosystem services come into play, Brussels, 29&30.9.2010

Thank you for Thank you for listening!listening!

Eduard Interwies

Kontakt: Interwies@intersus.euKontakt: Interwies@intersus.eu