Iain Brown
Identifying robust response options to manage environmental change using an Ecosystem Approach: A stress-testing case study for the UK
Brown, Iain; Berry, Pam; Everard, Mark; Firbank, Les; Harrison, Paula; Lundy, Lian; Quine, Chris; Rowan, John; Wade, Rebecca; Watts, Kevin
Authors
Pam Berry
Mark Everard Mark.Everard@uwe.ac.uk
Associate Professor in Ecosystem Services
Les Firbank
Paula Harrison
Lian Lundy
Chris Quine
John Rowan
Rebecca Wade
Kevin Watts
Abstract
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. A diverse range of response options was evaluated in terms of their utility for sustaining ecosystem services in the UK. Robustness of response options was investigated by applying a 'stress-testing' method which evaluated expected performance against combined scenarios of socioeconomic and climate change. Based upon stakeholder feedback, a reference scenario representing current trends in climate and socioeconomic drivers ('business-as-usual') was used as a dynamic baseline against which to compare results of other scenarios. The robustness of response options was evaluated by their utility in different environmental and social contexts as represented by the scenarios, and linked to their adaptability to adjust to changing conditions. Key findings demonstrate that adaptability becomes increasingly valuable as the magnitude and rate of future change diverges from current trends. Stress-testing also revealed that individual responses in isolation are unlikely to be robust meaning there are advantages from integrating cohesive combinations (bundles) of response options to maximise their individual strengths and compensate for weaknesses. This identifies a role for both top-down and bottom-up responses, including regulation, spatial targeting, incentives and partnership initiatives, and their use in combination through integrated assessment and planning consistent with the adoption of an Ecosystem Approach. Stress-testing approaches can have an important role in future-proofing policy appraisals but important knowledge gaps remain, especially for cultural and supporting ecosystem services. Finally, barriers and enablers to the implementation of more integrated long-term adaptive responses were identified drawing on the '4 Is' (Institutions, Information, Incentives, Identity) conceptual framework. This highlighted the crucial but usually understated role of identity in promoting ownership and uptake of responses.
Journal Article Type | Article |
---|---|
Acceptance Date | Oct 1, 2015 |
Publication Date | Oct 1, 2015 |
Deposit Date | Jan 27, 2016 |
Publicly Available Date | May 26, 2016 |
Journal | Environmental Science and Policy |
Print ISSN | 1462-9011 |
Electronic ISSN | 1873-6416 |
Publisher | Elsevier |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 52 |
Pages | 74-88 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2015.05.005 |
Keywords | policy appraisal, ecosystem services, scenario analysis, integrated assessment, decision-making, cross-scale responses, integrated responses |
Public URL | https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/804263 |
Publisher URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2015.05.005 |
Contract Date | May 26, 2016 |
Files
ESP response options paper_apr15.pdf
(884 Kb)
PDF
You might also like
Law and science in conflict: The resurrection of maximum sustainable yield
(2014)
Presentation / Conference Contribution
Rebirthing the landscape
(2015)
Journal Article
Water security for nature and people
(2014)
Journal Article
Downloadable Citations
About UWE Bristol Research Repository
Administrator e-mail: repository@uwe.ac.uk
This application uses the following open-source libraries:
SheetJS Community Edition
Apache License Version 2.0 (http://www.apache.org/licenses/)
PDF.js
Apache License Version 2.0 (http://www.apache.org/licenses/)
Font Awesome
SIL OFL 1.1 (http://scripts.sil.org/OFL)
MIT License (http://opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.html)
CC BY 3.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
Powered by Worktribe © 2024
Advanced Search