Inge Liekens

An ecosystem service approach to support integrated pond management: A case study using Bayesian belief networks – Highlighting opportunities and risks

Freshwater ponds deliver a broad range of ecosystem services (ESS). Taking into account this broad range of services to attain cost-effective ESS delivery is an important challenge facing integrated pond management. To assess the strengths and weaknesses of an ESS approach to support decisions in integrated pond management, we applied it on a small case study in Flanders, Belgium. A Bayesian belief network model was developed to assess ESS delivery under three alternative pond management scenarios: intensive fish farming (IFF), extensive fish farming (EFF) and nature conservation management (NCM). A probabilistic cost-benefit analysis was performed that includes both costs associated with pond management practices and benefits associated with ESS delivery. Whether or not a particular ESS is included in the analysis affects the identification of the most preferable management scenario by the model. Assessing the delivery of a more complete set of ecosystem services tends to shift the results away from intensive management to more biodiversity-oriented management scenarios. The proposed methodology illustrates the potential of Bayesian belief networks. BBNs facilitate knowledge integration and their modular nature encourages future model expansion to more encompassing sets of services. Yet, we also illustrate the key weaknesses of such exercises, being that the choice whether or not to include a particular ecosystem service may determine the suggested optimal management practice.

Impact of Perceived Importance of Ecosystem Services and Stated Financial Constraints on Willingness to Pay for Riparian Meadow Restoration in Flanders (Belgium)

The strategic importance of ecosystem service valuation as an operational basis for policy decisions on natural restoration has been increasingly recognized in order to align the provision of ecosystem services with the expectation of human society. The contingent valuation method (CVM) is widely used to quantify various ecosystem services. However, two areas of concern arise: (1) whether people value specific functional ecosystem services and overlook some intrinsic aspects of natural restoration, and (2) whether people understand the temporal dimension of ecosystem services and payment schedules given in the contingent scenarios. Using a peri-urban riparian meadow restoration project in Flanders, Belgium as a case, we explored the impacts of residents’ perceived importance of various ecosystem services and stated financial constraints on their willingness-to-pay for the proposed restoration project employing the CVM. The results indicated that people tended to value all the benefits of riparian ecosystem restoration concurrently, although they accorded different importances to each individual category of ecosystem services. A longer payment scheme can help the respondents to think more about the flow of ecosystem services into future generations. A weak temporal embedding effect can be detected, which might be attributed to respondents’ concern about current financial constraints, rather than financial bindings associated with their income and perceived future financial constraints. This demonstrates the multidimensionality of respondents’ financial concerns in CV. This study sheds light on refining future CV studies, especially with regard to public expectation of ecosystem services and the temporal dimension of ecosystem services and payment schedules.

CICES going Local : Ecosystem Services Classification Adapted for a Highly Populated Country

Abstract Multiple classification systems for ecosystem services (ES) make comparison and integration between studies and assessments very difficult. With the fast-growing number of ecosystem services assessment and valuation studies, there is a need to identify generally agreed definitions and to design a common base that will enable comparisons between ecosystem services assessments at different places. The recently developed Common International Classification for Ecosystem Services (CICES) is aiming to fill this gap. One advantage of the CICES approach is that it allows adjustment to local conditions. Through an iterative consultation round with Belgian experts from administrations, policy support units, and research centers CICES has been adapted to the needs of a highly populated country, where multifunctional land use is very common. The goal of CICES-Be is to introduce a common reference base for ecosystem services in Belgium, which is locally adapted and compatible with an international standard.

Accounting for substitution and spatial heterogeneity in a labelled choice experiment.

Many environmental valuation studies using stated preferences techniques are single-site studies that ignore essential spatial aspects, including possible substitution effects. In this paper substitution effects are captured explicitly in the design of a labelled choice experiment and the inclusion of different distance variables in the choice model specification. We test the effect of spatial heterogeneity on welfare estimates and transfer errors for minor and major river restoration works, and the transferability of river specific utility functions, accounting for key variables such as site visitation, spatial clustering and income. River specific utility functions appear to be transferable, resulting in low transfer errors. However, ignoring spatial heterogeneity increases transfer errors.

Ecosystem Services and Their Monetary Value

Abstract This chapter introduces the concept of monetary valuation of ecosystem services (ES) and lists the available methods. It discusses what exactly can be valued and the possible use of economic valuation in valuing ecosystem services. Examples of valuation exercises in Belgium are given. We conclude that monetary valuation is promising to value the impact of small changes in ecosystem services on human welfare. The different methods used to value these changes all have advantages and disadvantages. Although some relevant issues concerning the methods themselves remain, the most important issue is to determine how to make practical use of the available data in policy decisions. Guidance is needed on how the data should be used for value transfer.

The ecosystem services valuation tool and its future developments

Abstract Although methodologies for classification, quantification, and valuation of ecosystem services are improving drastically, applications of the ecosystem services concept in day-to-day decision-making processes remain limited, especially at the planning level. Nevertheless, spatial planning decisions would benefit from systematic considerations of their effects on ecosystem services. Assessing the impacts of policy on a wide range of ecosystem services contributes to more cost-effective policy implementation, establishing win-win situations across different environmental domains. The “nature value explorer” (natuurwaardeverkenner in Dutch) is a web application developed to explore the quantity and value of ecosystem services in Flanders, Belgium, as part of environmental impact assessments. The tool estimates the impact of land-use and land-cover change on regulating and cultural ecosystem services. The web application is successful in drawing the interest of policy makers and is used in several cases to support decisions in infrastructural projects as well as nature restoration projects.

Identifying Societal Preferences for River Restoration in a Densely Populated Urban Environment: Evidence from a Discrete Choice Experiment in Central Brussels

One of the major challenges facing river restoration in densely populated urban areas has been the disparity between the expectations of policy-makers and societal preferences. This study aimed to elicit public preferences and elucidate underlying sources of preference heterogeneity, using the Zenne River in central Brussels, Belgium, as a case study. A discrete choice experiment was administered to a representative sample of the Brussels population. Five attributes were specified, including water quality, ecological status, hydromorphological features of channels, recreational opportunities, and monetary cost. Our econometric analysis based on mixed logit models revealed that overall public would like to have a more natural river (open and naturalized channel, good water quality, and with rich species diversity), while achieving good water quality was the most preferred attribute. Respondents categorized as male, non-Belgian citizen, or not being a member of an environmental organization constituted an inclination to prefer the status quo. Belgian citizens showed a pronounced preference for good biodiversity, and being a member of an environmental organization could moderate the strong preference for good water quality. This study provided insights into the relative attractiveness of key attributes pertaining to river restoration, in general, and served as a useful input to the ongoing discussion concerning the future plan for the Zenne River in Brussels, specifically. Possible implications also exist for other urban river restorations in the rest of Europe, where the Water Framework Directive has become a major impetus for the expansion of freshwater ecosystem restoration from rural and peri-urban areas to densely populated urban areas. Particularly, the cultural heterogeneity of societal preferences should be tested and accounted for to compare the welfare impacts of river restoration and to facilitate benefit transfer, within and between river basins, in the Water Framework Directive implementation.

Valuation of ES: Challenges and Policy Use

Abstract Monetary valuation methods appropriately applied and based on sound biophysical data can deliver robust estimates of ecosystem service values useful for policy. However key challenges remain for full incorporation into policy appraisal. This chapter provides an overview of some of the key challenges as well as opportunities in the economic valuation of ecosystem services in practice. It is largely based on overviews made at DEFRA, 2007, Morse-Jones et al., 2010, and TEEB, 2012. There are two main groups of challenges: challenges in the availability of data and challenges on the concrete use of data into policy appraisal.Monetary valuation methods appropriately applied and based on sound biophysical data can deliver robust estimates of ecosystem service values useful for policy. However key challenges remain for full incorporation into policy appraisal. This chapter provides an overview of some of the key challenges as well as opportunities in the economic valuation of ecosystem services in practice. It is largely based on overviews made at DEFRA, 2007, Morse-Jones et al., 2010, and TEEB, 2012. There are two main groups of challenges: challenges in the availability of data and challenges on the concrete use of data into policy appraisal.

Cost-benefit analysis to select the optimal flood protection strategy along the Scheldt

The Scheldt estuary is a unique tidal estuary. The river originates from France and flows through Belgium and the Netherlands. The tide creates important flood risks in the Flanders region, including for the city of Antwerp. The Flemish government wants to update its flood protection policy, based on a cost-efficient reduction of risks of flooding and taking into account sea level rise. Against this background, the Flemish Waterway Administration commissioned a cost-benefit analysis of flood protection measures. To this purpose a series of models of different scientific disciplines was integrated within a cost-benefit analysis framework. Results of cost-calculation, hydraulic, ecological and agricultural models were integrated in a cost-benefit model. Protection against flooding was evaluated on a risk based approach. This means that not only probabilities of flooding were considered but also possible damages sustained by flooding. Consequently a non-homogeneous level of security was allowed. Measures evaluated include storm surge barriers nearby Antwerp or on tributaries, dike heightening and creating controlled inundation areas (floodplains). Constructing reduced tide areas which allows creation of new wetlands was also assessed. Benefits of nature development were taken into account when comparing costs and benefits of these measures. An optimal flood protection strategy was developed, and the optimal solution was tested using different kinds of uncertainty analyses for a wide variety of technical and economic parameters. The analysis showed that cost-benefit analysis is a very useful approach to assist decision-making processes on designing flood protection measures and this approach is certainly applicable to other estuaries.

Comparing the impact of a road tunnel vs. a road viaduct by means of an integrated exposure assessment

Using the MOBILEE methodology, we performed a detailed air quality assessment for three scenarios for the ring road around Antwerp, a major city in Belgium, using PM10 and NOx emission inventories for 2003 (reference) and 2015 (projected future situation), followed by an assessment of the exposure of the population living in the vicinity of the planned constructions. PM10 turned out to be the dominant parameter in exposure assessment. Compared with the impact of the viaduct, a tunnel with an exhaust at a height of 5 or 30 m shows respectively a 40% increase or a 5% decrease in total exposure.