Marjan van den Belt

The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital

This article provides a crude initial estimate of the value of ecosystem services to the economy. Using data from previous published studies and a few original calculations the current economic value of 17 ecosystem services for 16 biomes was estimated. The services of ecological systems and the natural capital stocks that produce them are critical to the functioning of the Earths life-support system. They contribute to human welfare both directly and indirectly and therefore represent part of the total economic value of the planet. It was estimated that for the entire biosphere the value (most of which is outside the market) ranges US

The value of ecosystem services: putting the issues in perspective

16-54 trillion/year with an average of US

Ecological economics and sustainable governance of the oceans

33 trillion/year. Due to the nature of uncertainties this must be considered a minimum estimate. In addition the global gross national product total is around US

Mediated Modeling of the Impacts of Enhanced UV-B Radiation on Ecosystem Services

18 trillion/year.

Principles for Sustainable Governance of the Oceans

a Department of Zoology, Center for En6ironmental Science, Uni6ersity of Maryland, Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688, USA b Institute for Ecological Economics, Uni6ersity of Maryland, PO Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688, USA c Department of Economics (emeritus), Uni6ersity of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82070, USA d Center for En6ironment and Climate Studies, Wageningen Agricultural Uni6ersity, PO Box 9101, 6700 HB Wageningen, The Netherlands e Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, Uni6ersity of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA f Institute for Ecological Economics, Uni6ersity of Maryland, PO Box 38, Solomons, MD 20688, USA g Department of Geography, Uni6ersity of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA h NCSA, Uni6ersity of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, USA i Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY, USA j Department of Ecology, E6olution and Beha6ior, Uni6ersity of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, USA k En6ironmental Sciences Di6ision, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA l Department of Ecology, Faculty of Agronomy, Uni6ersity of Buenos Aires, A6. San Martin 4453, 1417 Buenos Aires, Argentina m Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA n Department of Geography, National Center for Geographic Information and Analysis, Uni6ersity of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA o Ecological Economics Research and Applications, PO Box 1589, Solomons, MD 20688, USA

Communicating the value of fynbos: results of a survey of stakeholders

Abstract This paper is an introduction and synthesis of the papers that appear in this special issue devoted to the sustainable governance of the oceans. The special issue contains papers on various aspects of the problem, including: the ecological and economic importance of the oceans, the problems facing the oceans from an ecological economics perspective, the links between science and policy, the rationale for sustainable ocean governance, and examples of sustainable institutions and governance structures. We developed the ‘Lisbon principles’ of sustainable governance (responsibility, scale-matching, precaution, adaptive management, full cost allocation, and participation) as a core set of guidelines for sustainable ocean governance. We then describe the major problems facing the oceans in terms of how the principles are violated, and evaluate some suggested institutions in terms of how the principles are incorporated.

SPECIAL SECTION: FORUM ON VALUATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES The value of ecosystem services: putting the issues in perspective

Abstract This article describes the use of group model building to facilitate interaction with stakeholders, synthesize research results and assist in the development of hypotheses about climate change at the global level in relation to UV-B radiation and ecosystem service valuation. The objective was to provide a platform for integration of the various research components within a multidisciplinary research project as a basis for interaction with stakeholders with backgrounds in areas other than science. An integrated summary of the scientific findings, along with stakeholder input, was intended to produce a bridge between science and policymaking. We used a mediated modeling approach that was implemented as a pilot project in Ushuaia, Argentina. The investigation was divided into two participatory workshops: data gathering and model evaluation. Scientists and the local stakeholders supported the valuation of ecosystem services as a useful common denominator for integrating the various scientific results. The concept of economic impacts in aquatic and marsh systems was represented by values for ecosystem services altered by UV-B radiation. In addition, direct local socioeconomic impacts of enhanced UV-B radiation were modeled, using data from Ushuaia. We worked with 5 global latitudinal regions, focusing on net primary production and biomass for the marine system and on 3 plant species for the marsh system. Ecosystem service values were calculated for both sectors. The synthesis model reflects the conclusions from the literature and from experimental research at the global level. UV-B is not a significant stress for the marshes, relative to the potential impact of increases in the sea level. Enhanced UV-B favors microbial dynamics in marine systems that could cause a significant shift from primary producers to bacteria at the community level. In addition, synergetic effects of UV-B and certain pollutants potentiate the shift to heterotrophs. This may impact the oceanic carbon cycle by increasing the ratio of respiratory to photosynthetic organisms in surface waters and, thus, the role of the ocean as a carbon sink for atmospheric CO2. In summary, although changes in the marine sector due to anthropogenic influences may affect global climate change, marshes are expected to primarily be affected by climate change.