"We use it because it's

valuable,

we lose it because it's free.“

Pavan Sukhdev. TEEB Study Leader

Chair of the Advisory Board

1. What´s TEEB?

Beginning: March 2007 Postdam

G8+5.

• Drawing attention to the economic benefits

of biodiversity

• Growing cost of biodiversity loss and

ecosystem degradation.

TEEB presents an approach that can help decision-makers

recognize, demonstrate and capture the values of ecosystem

services & biodiversity. In order to size the global problem of

biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation

The Economics of Ecosystems

and Biodiversity (TEEB) is a

global initiative focused on:

1. W

ha

t´s

TEEB

?

Main goals:

Recognizing, demonstrating, and capturing the values of

ecosystem services

The importance of wetlands:

• In Water cycle

• Adressing water objetives (Rio+20, MDG and 2015

SDG)

TEEB FOR WETLANDS

In order to…

• better informed,

• more efficient,

• fairer decision making

1. W

ha

t´s

TEEB

?

• Benefits and risks of loss

Role of wetlands and their values

What does TEEB try to answer?

1. W

ha

t´s

TEEB

?

• Measuring to manage

Measure helps to manage

• Integrating the values into decision making

improve the consideration of the values and

benefits

• Transforming TEEB approach

Scales

Ecosystem

2.

Ec

osy

ste

m s

erv

ice

s

• Goal:

Ecosystem

Function

Ecosystem

Services

Understanding and comunicating:

- Economic value

- Social value

- Cultural value

In order to foster:

- Restoration, conservation and

management and “wise use” of wetlands

(1)

(1) Adaptado de Martínez Anguita et al. 2010

2.

Ec

osy

ste

m s

erv

ice

s

1. Provisioning

services genetic resources,

biochemical, natural

medicines and

pharmaceuticals

MA (2005)

2. Regulating services erosion regulation, water

purification, waste regulation,

climate regulation

and natural hazard regulation

(e.g. droughts, floods, storms).

4. Supporting services those that are necessary for

the production of all other

ecosystem services

3. Cultural services cognitive development,

reflection,

recreation, and aesthetic

experiences

What is the value of wetlands?

2.

Ec

osy

ste

m s

erv

ice

s

Carbon storage Organic carbon stored per unit area of seagrass

meadows is similar to that of forests

(2) Scholz et al., 2012)

Data:

Surface Inland wetlands cover at least 9.5 million km2 (6.5% of

the Earth’s)

Peatlands 3% sup 30% C of the land 75% CO2 atmospheric

twice carbon stock in the global forest biomass.

Inactive floodplains in Germany €267 billion (nitrogen retention, carbon sequestration…

(2)

2.

Ec

osy

ste

m s

erv

ice

s 1. Inland wetlands: services and value Inland wetlands other than rivers and lakes (floodplains,

swamps/ marshes and peatlands)

TEEB (2010); de Groot et al. (2010); See also Brander et al. (2006, 2011), Ghermandi et al. (2011), Barbier 2011 and TEEB (2010)

provisioning services 34 2 9,709

regulating services 30 321 23,018

habitat services 9 10 3,471

cultural services 13 648 8,399

Total 86 981 44,597

(Int.$/ha/year – 2007 values)

2.

Ec

osy

ste

m s

erv

ice

s …but:

- Relation between wetlands landscape

- Ecosystem services not synergistic

- Interconnectivity

- People

- Value ≠ Price

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

sme

nt

Measurement & Assesment:

Adapted from Braat and ten Brink et al (2008)

The values of nature:

• Qualitative analysis based on non-numerical

information.

• Quantitative data represent state, changes in

the ecosystems and the services they provide

using numerical units of measurement

• Geospatial mapping allows the quantitative

data to be linked with geographical information

• Monetary valuation can build on biophysical

information on the services provided by

ecosystems to derive values

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

Indicators:

• Natural capital information

• Ecosystem services flows

i.e. Cultural & social services

Landscape & amenity values:

amenity of the ecosystem, cultural

diversity and identity, spiritual

values, cultural heritage values etc.

Ecotourism & recreation: hiking,

camping, nature walks, jogging,

skiing, recreational fishing, diving,

animal watching etc.

Cultural values: e.g. education, art

and research

Changes in the number of residents and real

estate values

Nº of visitors to sites per year

Amount of nature tourism

Total number of educational excursions at a

site

Nº of TV programmes, studies, books etc.

featuring sites and the surrounding area

Number of scientific publications and patents

(TEEB Wetlands 2013)

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

Indicators

(SCBD 2011, MRC 2003)

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

Monetary valuation:

• Indication of the society preferences

• Easily understandable

• Easily communicable

• Help to reflect hidden cost (externalities)

• Provisioning services vs. other less visible

ecosystem services

(Zavestoski, 2004)

CONTRIBUTE TO CHANGE THE WAY IN WHICH SOCIETY MANAGE WETLANDS

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

Monetary valuation:

• Choice of valuation methods: Socio-

cultural context

• Methods (categories) • Based on markets. Market prices, avoided

cost, mitigation o restoration options

• Based on revealed preferences. Travel cost

method, Hedonic Pricing method…

• Based on stated preferences: Contingence

Valuation

(Zavestoski, 2004)

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

Monetary valuation: Limitations

• A range of methodologies are needed

• Both biophysical and monetary

approaches

• Ethical values, cultural needs, ancestral

rights?

• Anthropocentric focus (ignores ecosystem

that do not provide directs benefits to people or

economy Based )

IGNORE ECONOMIC VALUE IS REDUCE THE ABILITY TO MAKE ROBUST ARGUMENTS FOR THE CHANGE

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

TEEB 6-step approach (I)

Step 1: Problem with stakeholders

Step 2: Most relevant ecosystem services

most relevant

Step 3: Identify information needs:

• Methods

• Information

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

TEEB 6-step approach (II)

Step 4: Assess expected changes in

ecosystem services: • availability

• Distribution

Step 5: Identify and appraise policy options

Step 6: Assess social and environmental

impacts of policy options

3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

Summary • Complexity of the processes

Information helps to manage. Indicators for

wetlands management

• Interactions not well known enough. Transparent

assessment

What cover and what dos not cover.

Appreciate hydrological function to understand benefit for people and economy

• Economic value of ecosystem services when

possible.

Single not enough, combine • Contribution to social and economic

development

Identify opportunities on wetland degradation. 3. M

ea

sure

me

nt

& A

sse

ssm

en

t

Choice among a lot of tools that:

- Let understand the value of wetlands

- Multi-objetive management

(ecosystem services)

- Synergies (policy making)

- Combination of tools

- Property rights

- Local people

- Communication

4. T

oo

ls

Tools (I):

- Site management

- Land planning & Regulation - Regulation of water discharges

- Regulation of products

- Spatial planning

- Liability

- Property rights

4. T

oo

ls

Tools (II): Market Based Instruments (MBI)

- Price influencing in people

- Externalities (price not always takes account

all costs)

- MBI as a way for integrating loss of

value into cost

- Taxes, subsidies…

- Tradable permits (markets)

- PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services)

4. T

oo

ls

Tools (III): Market Based Instruments (MBI)

- Flexibility (choice)

- Effective when cause degradation is

mainly economic

- Questioned (right to pollute)

- Lack of genuine incentives (ethics,

culture…)

4. T

oo

ls

Which are the main goals of the TEEB approach? (I)

- Knowledge of the critical role of

ecosystem services (in this case wetland

ecosystem)

- Multi-objetive management (do not

focus in biodiversity or single ecosystem

services (ES))

- Involve and engage local communities

- Value of restored ES more than

restoration cost

5.

“N

ee

d f

or

Ac

tio

n”

Which are the main goals of the TEEB approach? (II)

- Sustainability (all sustainability vectors:

social, economical and natural)

- Traditional knowledge and practices

- Manage transition (evaluate the way for

the transition among winner and losers)

- Education, communication,

(communication and more communication)

5.

“N

ee

d f

or

Ac

tio

n”

davidalvarez@ecoacsa.com

Ecoacsa Reserva de Biodiversidad, S.L. Tlf: 911252203

info@ecoacsa.com

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