Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Recognizing Ecosystem Services from Wetlands of International Importance: An Example from Sussex, UK

  • Article
  • Published:
Wetlands Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The benefits human societies derive from wetlands are well established, although not necessarily enshrined in legislation or incorporated into local management regimes. The wise use of wetlands, as promulgated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, is intended as a mechanism to ensure that the benefits delivered to society through ecosystem services are maintained and, where appropriate, restored. The designation process for Ramsar Sites explicitly records information on ecosystem services as well as the more traditionally recorded information on the biodiversity and management procedures. Analysis of four Ramsar Sites from the county of Sussex in southeast England showed that even for internationally important wetlands there is a failure to recognize the full value of the benefits provided and, importantly, several valuable ecosystem services remain unrecognized. The gap between recognized and unrecognized ecosystem services has implications for the consideration of wetlands in decision-making and the protection and wise use of all wetlands within Sussex and beyond. Conclusions drawn from the analysis of the examples presented are used to assist the future development of guidance for wetland managers and decision makers regarding the recognition of ecosystem services.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abril G, Nogueira M, Etcheber H, Cabeçadas G, Lemaire E, Brogueira MJ (2002) Behaviour of organic carbon in nine contrasting European estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 54:241–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Apitz SE, Elliott M, Fountain M, Galloway TS (2006) European environmental management: moving to an ecosystem approach. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management 2:80–85

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Assessment ME (2005) Ecosystems and human well-being: Wetlands and water synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington DC, 80pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowman MJ (2002) The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: Has it made a difference? In: Thommessen SOS, Thommessen OB (eds) Yearbook of International Cooperation on Environment and Development. Earthscan, London, pp 61–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler CD, Corvalan CF, Koren HS (2005) Human health, well-being, and global ecological scenarios. Ecosystems 8:153–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai WJ (2011) Estuarine and coastal ocean carbon paradox: CO2 sinks or sites of terrestrial carbon incineration? Annual Review of Marine Science 3:123–145

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chumura GL, Anisfeld SC, Cahoon DR, Lynch JC (2003) Global carbon sequestration in tidal, saline wetland soils. Global Biogeochemical Cycles 17:1111

    Google Scholar 

  • Constanza R, d’Arge R, de Groot R, Farber S, Grasso M, Hannon B et al (1997) The value of the world’s ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature 387:252–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cowling RM, Egoh B, Knight AT, O’Farrell PJ, Reyers B, Rouget M, Roux DJ, Welz A, Wilhelm-Rechman A (2008) An operational model for mainstreaming ecosystem services for implementation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105:9483–9488

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cundy AB, Long AJ, Hill CT, Spencer C, Croudace IW (2002) Sedimentary response of Pagham Harbour, southern England to barrier breaching in AD 1910. Geomorphology 46:163–176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daily GC (1997) Nature’s Services: Societal Dependence on Natural Ecosystems. Island Press, Washington D.C, 412 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Daily GC, Matson PA (2008) Ecosystem services: from theory to implementation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105:9455–9456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Daily GC, Polasky S, Goldstein J, Kareiva PM, Mooney HA, Pejchar L, Ricketts TH, Salzman J, Shallenberger R (2009) Ecosystem services in decision making: time to deliver. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 7:21–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davis J, Brock M (2008) Detecting unacceptable change in the ecological character of Ramsar wetlands. Ecological Management and Restoration 9:26–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Groot RS, Stuip MA, Finlayson CM, Davidson N (2006) Valuing wetlands: guidance for valuing the benefits derived from wetland ecosystem services. CBD Secretariat: Montreal: Ramsar Convention Secretariat: Gland, 54pp

  • de Groot RS, Alkemade R, Braat L, Hein L, Willemen L (2010) Challenges in integrating the concept of ecosystem services and values in landscape planning, management and decision making. Ecological Complexity 7:260–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DEWHA (2008) Mapping Specifications for Australian Ramsar Wetlands. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra, 10pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Erwin KL (2009) Wetlands and global climate change: the role of wetland restoration in a changing worlld. Wetlands Ecology and Management 17:71–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everard M, Colvin JD, Mander M, Dickens C, Chimbuya S (2009) Integrated catchment value systems. Journal of Water Resource and Protection 3:174–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Everard M, Shuker L, Gurnell A (2011) The Mayes Brook Restoration in Mayesbrook Park, East London: An ecosystem services assessment. Environment Agency, Bristol, 32pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Finlayson CM, Davidson N, Pritchard D, Milton GR, Mackay H (2011) The Ramsar convention and ecosystem-based approaches to the wise Use and sustainable development of wetlands. Journal of International Wildlife Law and Policy 14:176–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisher B, Turner RK, Morling P (2009) Defining and classifying ecosystem services for decision making. Ecological Economics 68:643–653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gardner RC, Davidson N (2011) The Ramsar Convention. In: Le Page B (ed) Wetlands: Integrating Multidisciplinary Concepts. Springer, New York, pp 189–203

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghazoul J (2007) Recognising the complexities of ecosystem management and the ecosystem service concept. Gaia-Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society 16:215–221

    Google Scholar 

  • Gordon LJ, Finlayson CM, Falkenmark M (2010) Managing water in agriculture for food production and other ecosytem services. Agricultural Water Management 97:512–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrington R, McInnes RJ (2009) Integrated Constructed Wetlands (ICW) for livestock wastewater management. Bioresource Technology 100:5498–5505

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hedges JI, Keil RG (1995) Sedimentary organic matter preservation: an assessment and speculative synthesis. Marine Chemistry 49:81–115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hein L, van Koppen K, de Groot RS, van Ireland EC (2006) Spatial scales, stakeholders and the valuation of ecosystem services. Ecological Economics 57:209–228

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz P, Finlayson CM (2011) Wetlands as settings for human health: incorporating ecosystem services and health impact assessment into water resource management. BioScience 61:678–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kumar M, Kumar P (2007) Valuation of ecosystem services: a psycho-cultural perspective. Ecological Economics 64:808–819

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maltby E (2009) Functional assessment of wetlands: towards evaluation of ecosystem services. Woodhead Publishing Ltd, UK, 672pp

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Maltby E, Ormerod S (2011) Freshwaters—Openwaters, wetlands and floodplains. In: UK National Ecosystem Assessment Technical Report. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, pp 295–360

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews GV (1993) The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands: its History and Development. Ramsar Convention Bureau, Gland

    Google Scholar 

  • McInnes RJ (2007) Integrating ecosystem services within a 50-year vision for wetlands. England Wetland Vision Partnership, WWT, Slimbridge, 37pp

    Google Scholar 

  • McInnes RJ (2011) Managing wetland for multifunctional benefits. In: Page L (ed) Wetlands: Integrating Multidisciplinary Concepts. Springer, New York, pp 205–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell SB, Burgess HM, Pope DJ (2006) Stratification and fine sediment transport mechanisms in a semi–enclosed tidal lagoon (Pagham Harbour, West Sussex). Water and Environment Journal 20:248–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell RJ, Morecroft MD, Acreman M, Crick HQ, Frost M, Harley M et al (2007) England Biodiversity Strategy—towards adaptation to climate change. Department for Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, London, 194pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Ramsar Convention Secretariat (2010) Designating Ramsar Sites: Strategic Framework and guidelines for the future development of the List of Wetlands of International Importance, vol 17, 4th edn. Ramsar Convention Secretariat, Gland, 120pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Raymond CM, Bryan BA, Hatton MacDonald D, Cast A, Strathearn S, Grandgirard A et al (2009) Mapping community values for natural capital and ecosystem services. Ecological Economics 68:1301–1315

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Resolution XI.8 (2012) Streamlining procedures for describing Ramsar Sites at the time of designation and subsequent updates. Resolutions of the 11th meeting of the conference of the contracting parties. Bucharest, Romania, 6–13 July 2012

  • Ring I, Hansjurgens B, Elmqvist T, Wittmer H, Sukhdev P (2010) Challenges in framing the economics of ecosystems and biodiversity: the TEEB initiative. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability 2:15–26

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russi D, ten Brink P, Farmer A, Badura T, Coates D, Forster J, Kumar R, Davidson N (2013) The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Water and Wetlands. IEEP, London and Brussels: Ramsar Secretariat, Gland. 84pp

  • Southgate F (2012) The Wetland Potential of Sussex. Sussex Wildlife Trust, Henfield, 86pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor D (2002) The Ramsar convention on wetlands. Parks 12:42–49

    Google Scholar 

  • TEEB (2010) The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Mainstreaming the Economics of Nature: A synthesis. Retrieved August 15, 2011, from http://www.teebweb.org

  • Troy A, Wilson MA (2006) Mapping ecosystem services: practical challenges and opportunities in linking GIS and value transfer. Ecological Economics 60:435–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zedler JB, Kercher S (2005) Wetland resources: status, trends, ecosystem services and restorability. Annual Review of Environmental Resources 30:39–74

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge the crucial role of the Sussex Water and Wetlands Conference hosted by the School of Environment and Technology at the University of Brighton in January 2012 and supported by Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Esmée Fairburn Foundation which acted as an essential catalyst for this work. Particular thanks go to Fran Southgate and Tony Whitbread for their support and encouragement in pursuing the publication of this work. The author also wishes to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of Professor Max Finlayson and Dr Mark Everard in commenting on early drafts of this paper, and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. RM Wetlands & Environment Ltd, Ladman Villas, Littleworth, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 8EQ, UK

    R. J. McInnes

Authors
  1. R. J. McInnes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. J. McInnes.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

McInnes, R.J. Recognizing Ecosystem Services from Wetlands of International Importance: An Example from Sussex, UK. Wetlands 33, 1001–1017 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-013-0458-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-013-0458-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation