11.6.2009: Forschung international

Unterschätzte Ökosystemdienstleistungen

Les services des écosystèmes sous-estimés


European Academies Science Advisory Coucil EASAC

Ein Bericht des «European Academies Science Advisory Council» (EASAC) zeigt, dass die Europäer den Wert der Ökosystemdienstleistungen massiv unterschätzen. Angesichts des Klimawandels, von Landnutzungsänderungen und der Ausdehnung des Siedlungsraums wird empfohlen, die Dienstleistungen durch eine entsprechende Gesetzgebung zu schützen.

Un rapport du „European Academies Science Advisory Council“ (EASAC) montre que les européens sous-estiment massivement la valeur des services des écosystèmes. Compte tenu des changements climatiques, des modifications de l’utilisation du territoire et de l’extension des surfaces construites, EASAC conseille de protéger ces services à l’aide d’une législation appropriée.


The European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) launched a report on ‘Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity in Europe’. Ecosystem services are defined as benefits humankind derives from the workings of the natural world. These include most obviously the supply of food, fuels and materials, but also such hidden benefits as the formation of soils and the control and purification of water. The report provides a review of the state of ecosystem services in Europe, and examines what is known regarding the contribution which biodiversity makes to maintaining ecosystem services.
The EU ecosystem services identified by the report are:
- Supporting services, comprising primary production, nutrient cycling, water cycling and soil formation
- Regulating services, comprising climate regulation, disease and pest regulation, water regulation and purification, protection from hazards, environmental quality regulation and pollination services
- Provisioning services, comprising provision of food, energy resources, provision of fibres, biochemical resources and genetic resources
- Cultural services, comprising spiritual, religious, aesthetic, inspirational and sense of place and recreation, ecotourism, cultural heritage and educational

As urbanisation and intensification of agriculture compromise the environment and lead to declines in biodiversity, so too will the ability of ecosystems to provide the essential services on which we depend be threatened. As an example, soil biodiversity provides a key role in nutrient cycling, essential to maintain high-levels of productivity in agriculture. As fertilisers are likely to become more costly in future, whilst food prices are set to increase, maintaining the integrity of soil ecosystems in Europe will be vital to deliver the produce needed by a growing population, increasingly unable to afford the high cost of imported food.
One of the key messages of the report is that although European ecosystems can deliver a range of services, managing land to primarily deliver one service will reduce its capacity to deliver others. EASAC recommends that European governments introduce a new Directive, encouraging the active management of land for a range of ecosystem services; putting in place legislation to ensure that management is systematic and to standards uniform across Europe.



Keywords:
Ökosystemdienstleistungen, Politik Wissenschaft

Art der Publikation:
Bericht

Literatur:
European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC), (2009). Ecosystem services and biodiversity in Europe. EASAC policy report. 70 p.
http://easac.eu

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