Other Results

Mapping and assessing seagrass meadows changes and blue carbon under past, current, and future scenarios

Montero-Hidalgo M, Tuya F., Otero-Ferrer F, Haroun R. & Santos-Martín F. Mapping and assessing seagrass meadows changes and blue carbon under past, current, and future scenarios. Sci Total Env 872 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162244

This paper was produced in the framework of MOVE-ON Task 3.3 – Marine habitat classification, mapping and assessment of condition and ecosystem services (Macaronesia). Specifically, the study aims to map and assess the past, current and future capacity of Cymodocea nodosa to store blue carbon according to four plausible future scenarios, and value their economic implications.

The results showed that C. nodosa has suffered ca. 50% area loss in the last two decades, and, if the current degradation rate continues, our estimations demonstrate that it could completely disappear in 2036 (“Collapse scenario”). The impact of these losses in 2050 would reach 1.43 MT of CO2 equivalent emitted with a cost of 126.3 million € (0.32% of the current Canary GDP). If, however, this degradation is slowed down, between 0.11 and 0.57 MT of CO2 equivalent would be emitted until 2050 (“Intermediate” and “Business-as-usual” scenarios, respectively), which corresponds to a social cost of 3.63 and 44.81 million €, respectively. If the current seagrass extension is maintained (“No Net Loss”), 0.75 MT of CO2 equivalent would be sequestered from now to 2050, which corresponds to a social cost saving of 73.59 million €.

Beyond the blue carbon storage and sequestration function, and so the climate regulation service, a multitude of ecosystem services provided by marine phanerogams have been identified so far, and the ecosystems formed by them have been classified therefore as one of the most valued habitats around the world. Future research is needed on the relation between seagrass condition and blue carbon storage and sequestration. The ecosystem condition inclusion in blue carbon assessment would be positive to ease the implementation of marine nature-based solutions.

You can read the paper here


Strategic use of ecosystem services and co-benefits for Sustainable Development Goals

Rachel E. Bitoun, Gilbert David, Rodolphe Devillers https://doi.org/10.1002/sd.2448

This article aims to identify and analyze key challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainability goals in EU overseas territories and provides strategies for the implementation of ecosystem services-based management.

The study looks at three MOVE-ON Anchor Project regions – Canary Islands, French Guiana, and Reunion Island – as case studies, where interviews with key stakeholders were implemented to better understand how scenarios around ecosystem services could help to tackle key sustainability issues, and their contribution to achieve international commitments such as the United Nations’ 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The results showed that strategies are expected to affect the delivery of six ecosystem services and contribute to the achievement of SDGs 15 (Life on Land), 2 (Zero Hunger), 14 (Life Below Water), and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

You can access the article here.


Mapping and assessing ecosystem services in Europe’s Overseas: A comparative analysis of MOVE case studies

Ina M. Sieber, Miriam Montero-Hidalgo, Jarumi Kato-Huerta, Paula Rendon, Fernando Santos-Martín, Davide Geneletti, Artur Gil, Ewan Trégarot, Erwann Lagabrielle, Carolina Parelho, Manuel Arbelo, Pieter van Beukering, Dan Bayley, Enrique Casas, Sem Duijndam, Esperance Cillaurren, Gilbert David, Aurelie Dourdain, Ricardo Haroun, Jean-Philippe Maréchal, Laura Martín García, Francisco Otero-Ferrer, Elena Palacios Nieto, Tara Pelembe, Marta Vergílio, Benjamin Burkhard One Ecosystem 7: e87179 https://doi.org/10.3897/oneeco.7.e87179 

This article on “Mapping and assessing ecosystem services in Europe Overseas: A comparative analysis of MOVE case studies”, presents novel applications of the MAES procedure in the EU Outermost Regions and Overseas Countries and Territories (“EU Overseas”).

Eight case studies from different geographical areas were analysed through a comparative assessment by applying an established framework following key steps in the MAES process, to stipulate lessons learned and recommendations for MAES in the EU Overseas. These key steps include the identification of policy questions, stakeholder networks and involvement, application of MAES methods, dissemination, communication, and implementation. The case studies were conducted and analysed under the umbrella of the EU MOVE pilot project, including the Azores, the Canary Islands, Saint Martin, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion Island and the Falkland Islands. 

This article stresses the need of downscaling the EU strategies and other international commitments related to biodiversity and climate change, with spatial adaptations, to overseas specificities and needs. This is the challenge embraced by the ongoing MOVE-ON – setting the ground to advance MAES in EU Overseas.

You can read the paper here.


Biodiversity policy and subnational implementation in the remote regions of France

Ferraro G., Failler P. & Touron-Gardic G. Biodiversity policy and subnational implementation in the remote regions of France. Environ Dev Sustain (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02502-4

The article aims at better understanding how governance mechanisms in defence of biodiversity can be developed and implemented at the subnational level and what obstacles they may face. For this purpose, the article relies on a single-case study: it analyses biodiversity policy in France and explains its subnational implementation in Reunion. 

Major achievements and impediments are also discussed for policy tools adopted for the protection of areas and species. The study reveals important bureaucratic, political, and societal pressures that can affect subnational implementation together with the availability of material and immaterial resources. 

The article concludes with policy recommendations that are specific to Reunion but concern aspects common to other Outermost Regions of the European Union: centre-local coordination, regional strategy, public engagement, and transnational collaboration.

You can read the paper here.


Bridging theory and practice in ecosystem services, mapping: a systematic review

Bitoun, R.E., Trégarot, E. & Devillers, R. Bridging theory and practice in ecosystem services mapping: a systematic review. Environ Syst Decis 42, 103–116 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-021-09839-7

This paper provides an understanding of the scientific narratives regarding the usability of the ecosystem services, mapping for decision-making and identifies ways to increase their practical use. This contribution to MOVE-ON project helps identify the challenges of disconnecting science, policy, and practice, in the implementation of ecosystem services approaches, and determines what is needed to move on in its implementation.

The global findings of the review led to the development of a conceptual framework elucidating one of the possible pathways to bridge the science-practice gap in ecosystem services mapping.

You can read the paper here.


Biodiversity Conservation and the Role of Policy Resources: The Case of Saint Helena

Ferraro G., Failler P. Biodiversity Conservation and the Role of Policy Resources: The Case of Saint Helena. Sustainability 14(3):1250 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031250

The article provides insights on the role of policy resources in the analysis of public policies. It, then, focuses on biodiversity policy in St Helena under various angles: relations with the UK, organisational arrangements within the island, the legislative framework and its execution for the protection of biodiversity. The article also discusses the major challenges faced in the development and implementation of Saint Helena’s biodiversity policy with an emphasis on the role of tangible and intangible resources. It concludes with a set of recommendations tailored around the specific case of Saint Helena but also applicable to other OTs.

You can read the article here.

Coordinated by:
Governo Regional dos Açores
Frct
Partners:
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover
Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Regional Agency for Development, Investment and Innovation
Reunion University
Asociación Biodiversidad Atlántica y Sostenibilidad
University of Portsmouth
World Wide Fund for Nature
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement
SAERI Falklands Limited
University of Trento
Nova Blue Environment