The value of coordinated management of interacting ecosystem services

Coordinating decisions and actions among interacting sectors is a critical component of ecosystem-based management, but uncertainty about coordinated management's effects is compromising its perceived value and use. We constructed an analytical framework for explicitly calculating how coordination affects management decisions, ecosystem state and the provision of ecosystem services in relation to ecosystem dynamics and socio-economic objectives. The central insight is that the appropriate comparison strategy to optimal coordinated management is optimal uncoordinated management, which can be identified at the game theoretic Nash equilibrium. Using this insight we can calculate coordination's effects in relation to uncoordinated management and other reference scenarios. To illustrate how this framework can help identify ecosystem and socio-economic conditions under which coordination is most influential and valuable, we applied it to a heuristic case study and a simulation model for the California Current Marine Ecosystem. Results indicate that coordinated management can more than double an ecosystem's societal value, especially when sectors can effectively manipulate resources that interact strongly. However, societal gains from coordination will need to be reconciled with observations that it also leads to strategic simplification of the ecological food web, and generates both positive and negative impacts on individual sectors and non-target species.     

Ecological thresholds: Concept,Methods and research outlooks

The concept of ecological thresholds was raised in the 1970s. However, it was subsequently given different definitions and interpretations depending on research fields or disciplines. For most scientists, ecological thresholds refer to the points or zones that link abrupt changes between alternative stable states of an ecosystem. The measurement and quantification of ecological thresholds have great theoretical and practical significance in ecological research for clarifying the structure and function of ecosystems, for planning sustainable development modes, and for delimiting ecological red lines in managing the ecosystems of a region. By reviewing the existing concepts and classifications of ecological thresholds, we propose a new concept and definition at two different levels: the ecological threshold points, i.e. the turning points of quantitative changes to qualitative changes, which can be considered as ecological red lines; the ecological threshold zones, i.e. the regime shifts of the quantitative changes among different stable states, which can be considered as the yellow and/or orange warning boundaries of the gradual ecological changes. The yellow thresholds mean that an ecosystem can return to a stable state by its self-adjustment, the orange thresholds indicate that the ecosystem will stay in the equilibrium state after interference factors being removed, whereas the red thresholds, as the critical threshold points, indicate that the ecosystem will undergo irreversible degradation or even collapse beyond those points. We also summarizes two types of popular Methods in determining ecological thresholds: statistical analysis and modeling based on data of field observations. The applications of ecological thresholds in ecosystem service, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management research are also reviewed. Future research on ecological thresholds should focus on the following aspects: (1) methodological development for measurement and quantification of ecological thresholds; (2) emphasizing the scaling effect of ecological thresholds and establishment of national-scale observation system and network; and (3) implementation of ecological thresholds as early warning tools in ecosystem management and delimiting ecological red lines.     

On the degradation of forest ecosystems by extreme events: Statistical Model Checking of a hybrid model

In this paper, we study the vulnerability of forest ecosystems perturbed by extreme events, such as those arising from climate change. To investigate the complex interactions between the biological dynamics of the forest and the climatic activity, we construct an original hybrid model, obtained by coupling a continuous reaction–diffusion system, which describes the spatio-temporal dynamics of the forest ecosystem, with a discrete probabilistic process, which models the possible occurrences of extreme events. Properties of ecological interest are considered: invariance of the persistence equilibrium, attraction to the extinction equilibrium and emergence of degraded states. Those properties of the hybrid model are verified through an extension of the Statistical Model Checking framework. We establish the existence of a threshold above which the persistence equilibrium of the forest ecosystem is compromised and give a numerical assessment of this threshold in terms of the probability and intensity of extreme events. We also present non-trivial parameter conditions for which the forest ecosystem converges to a degraded savanna-like state.     

生态资产核算与生态系统服务评估:概念交汇与重点方向

面向“山水林田湖草”统一管理的现实目标,对生态资产的准确刻画加深了资源管理者和使用者对生态系统服务的认识,是生态系统服务理论从学术研讨向决策实践过渡的重要桥梁。然而,当前的生态资产核算结果仍存在着较大的不确定性,使其决策支持作用受到质疑。基于对生态资产研究近今进展的总结,生态资产实际核算一般取自然资本与生态系统服务的交集分别作为存量和流量。如若将生态资产作为干部离任审计依据,则须把握先实物量后价值量的原则。在当前国际研究中,生态资产已经成为区域景观管理和农户生计决策的重要绩效评估与情景优选工具。完善生态系统服务评估模型、明晰生态系统服务供需关系、规范生态资产价值核算方法、提升生态资产决策支持能力4项内容应引起未来生态资产研究的重点关注。     

Combined harvesting of a stage structured prey–predator model incorporating cannibalism in competitive environment

In this paper, we propose a prey–predator system with stage structure for predator. The proposed system incorporates cannibalism for predator populations in a competitive environment. The combined fishing effort is considered as control used to harvest the populations. The steady states of the system are determined and the dynamical behavior of the system is discussed. Local stability of the system is analyzed and sufficient conditions are derived for the global stability of the system at the positive equilibrium point. The existence of the Hopf bifurcation phenomenon is examined at the positive equilibrium point of the proposed system. We consider harvesting effort as a control parameter and subsequently, characterize the optimal control parameter in order to formulate the optimal control problem under the dynamic framework towards optimal utilization of the resource. Moreover, the optimal system is solved numerically to investigate the sustainability of the ecosystem using an iterative method with a Runge–Kutta fourth-order scheme. Simulation results show that the optimal control scheme can achieve sustainable ecosystem. Results are analyzed with the help of graphical illustrations.     

Regional Index of Ecological Integrity: A need for sustainable management of natural resources

An ecosystem is a complex composition of physical, chemical and biological components. This complex system remains in a healthy state if the system can maintain the ecological equilibrium among its components. Anthropogenic disturbances are the prime stressors that affect this equilibrium through creating fragmentation, ecosystem sensitivity, loosening landscape connectivity and disrupting ecological integrity. As different types of ecosystem are interconnected, a comprehensive monitoring and evaluating criteria is needed for measuring its integrity at regional level for conservation planning. A Regional Index of Ecological Integrity can be a suitable approach for sustainable management of regional ecosystem. Therefore, this paper presents (i) the characteristics of ecological integrity, (ii) the spatial processes induced by anthropogenic stressors and (iii) an approach to develop a composite Regional Index of Ecological Integrity (RIEI). The prime objective is to establish a thought and a way to develop a composite index of ecological integrity at the regional level. Here, we demonstrate different compositional, structural and functional indicators/indices related to fragmentation, representativeness of protected area, ecosystem sensitivity, and landscape connectivity for the development of a Regional Index of Ecological Integrity (RIEI).     

城市生态资产评估方法与应用——以广州市增城区为例

生态资产评估有助于人们以货币度量的方式衡量生态资源的价值,同时也为绿色GDP核算以及生态补偿机制提供科学依据。基于生态资产内涵,构建了包含自然资源价值和生态服务价值在内的生态资产价值评估指标体系,通过获取生态参数,对各项生态资产指标进行全面核算和时空动态分析,最后针对区域经济社会发展和生态资产状况提出了相应的生态资产管理对策与建议。研究结果表明,2003、2008和2013年增城区的生态资产价值分别为286.4、287.9和330.6亿元,其中,自然资源价值占总价值平均比例为62%,生态服务价值占总价值平均比例为38%。10年间,增城区各类自然资源价值均增加,尤其是农用地和草地资源价值增加幅度最大;各项生态服务价值均减小,其中土壤保育价值减小最为明显。基于核算结果,为增城区提出了包含自然资源管理、生态服务监管、生态资产保育和实施生态补偿4个方面的具体生态资产管理对策。     

生态阈值研究进展

生态阈值是指生态系统从一种状态快速转变为另一种状态的某个点或一段区间,推动这种转变的动力来自某个或多个关键生态因子微弱的附加改变。生态阈值现象普遍存在于自然生态系统中。主要有两种类型：生态阈值点（ecological threshold point）和生态阈值带（ecological threshold zone）。在生态阈值点前后,生态系统的特性、功能或过程发生迅速的改变。生态阈值带暗含了生态系统从一种稳定状态到另一稳定状态逐渐转换的过程,而不像点型阈值那样发生突然的转变。后者在自然界中可能更为普遍。在自然资源保护和生态系统可持续管理中,生态阈值研究有着重要的理论和实践意义,受到生态学和相关学科的密切关注。其研究已经在森林、草原、湖泊、海洋等生态系统,从不同角度,针对不同生态因子广泛开展。由于生态因子相互作用的复杂性,有关生态阈值的性质及其在不同空间尺度上的联系仍然存在很大的不确定性。在未来的研究中必须加强综合和定量化研究,进一步提高应用生态阈值的能力。在全球变化和生态响应研究领域,生态阈值研究将会有更大的发展空间。     

生态记忆及其在生态学中的潜在应用

生态记忆指群落过去的状态或经验影响其目前或未来生态响应的能力.作为研究生态系统结构和功能的一个新视角,生态记忆在群落演替、生态恢复、生物入侵和自然资源管理等多个领域中受到重视.本文在综述生态记忆的概念、组成、类别的基础上,进一步探讨了生态记忆的可能机制和影响因素,并指出了其潜在应用,以期为理解演替机理和指导生态恢复提供参考.     

西北干旱荒漠区生态系统可持续管理理念与模式

结合对西北干旱区水资源短缺、资源开发中的生态与经济矛盾突出、气候变暖可能加剧干旱区荒漠化以及生态水权与长效保障机制缺失等问题的分析诊断,探讨了荒漠区生态系统可持续管理面临的问题与难点,分析提出了荒漠生态系统植被保育的生态水位与生态阈值,阐述了荒漠-绿洲过渡带生态融合以及绿洲生态系统安全的生态防护梯度等干旱区生态系统管理理念;结合干旱区极端环境自然条件,在多年现场试验基础上,研发集成了退化群落改造与生态多样性构建技术、植物群落结构优化配置、组装与生态融合技术、生态系统恢复水分利用与生态自维持技术以及胡杨萌蘖更新技术等多种适宜荒漠植被恢复与重建的技术模式,并进行了成功实践和试验示范,为干旱荒漠区生态系统可持续管理提供了重要科技支撑。     

基于生态系统服务簇的小尺度区域生态用地功能分类-以重庆两江新区为例

生态用地功能分类是其生态价值评估及管理的基础,与生态系统服务的权衡和协同关系联系密切;对小尺度区域进行生态用地功能分类研究有助于实现精细化生态资源管理。以重庆两江新区为例,选取该区8种重要的生态系统服务,兼顾生态与社会成分,基于层次聚类法得到6类生态系统服务簇,依据提供重要生态系统服务和维护关键生态过程的原则,对其重要性等级进行了划分;依据生态系统服务簇与土地利用类型之间的关联关系,将生态用地定义为提供重要生态系统服务、维护关键生态过程或生态脆弱的用地空间,并按重要性将其划分为3个等级。研究结果表明,基于生态系统服务簇的生态用地分类框架不仅能够最大限度涵盖生态用地的功能属性,而且能够在空间上量化不同生态系统服务的相对比例,有助于对用地类型与生态功能之间的对应关系形成深入系统的认识,也可为精细化生态管理提供参考。     

Individual-based modelling in ecology: what makes the difference?

Is individual-based modelling really a new approach in ecology? A large part of the uncertainty surrounding this question is a consequence of imprecisely delimited boundaries between classical and individual-based modelling. Genuine 'individual-based' models describe a population made up of individuals that may differ from one another; they also describe changes in numbers of individuals rather than in the population density, and take resource dynamics explicitly into account. Individual-based models that fulfil these criteria will not characterize ecological systems as 'stable' systems in their ideal form, with equilibrium states represented by points in the phase space.     

中国生态区划研究进展:从格局、功能到服务

在总结国内外生态区域研究的基础上,系统梳理了中国现有的生态区划方案,总结出生态特征和类型区划、生态地理和格局区划、生态功能和服务区划三大类,分别对每个区划的指标、技术、方案、特点进行了归纳,并提出了各自存在的问题。现有研究缺少面向服务供需的生态系统区划,生态制图和更新的标准化技术也存在不足。为此,提出明确不同生态区划的科学或管理目标、强调人类需求对于生态系统服务的影响、重视全球气候变化对生态系统的现实作用和未来影响、加强现代制图技术在生态区划的作用、整合现有多原则和多目标的生态分区方案等五个方面的建议。     

面向生态系统服务的森林生态系统经营:现状、挑战与展望

森林生态系统是地球陆地生态系统的主体,它具有很高的生物生产力和生物量以及丰富的生物多样性,对全球生态系统和人类经济社会发展起着至关重要和无可替代的作用。伴随着人口的不断增长和经济社会的迅猛发展,对森林资源和森林生态系统服务的需求不断高涨,而且人类对森林资源价值的认识也发生了很大程度的改变。推进森林资源可持续经营,增加森林总量、提高森林质量、增强生态功能,已成为中国林业可持续发展乃至推进中国生态文明建设和建设美丽中国的战略任务。本文全面综述了森林生态系统经营发展历程,分析了森林生态系统经营的现状和存在问题,在此基础上,提出整合基于生态系统管理与满足现代人类福祉对森林多重需求的新的森林生态系统经营理念,面向生态系统服务的森林生态系统经营理念是未来的发展趋势。森林经营发展战略表现为:1)从单纯的森林面积数量扩张,转变到提高单位面积的森林生产力和森林质量;2)从单一追求木材生产逐步转变为多目标经营,将森林林产品单一的经营目标转变为广泛的生态、经济和社会等多目标经营;3)森林经营重点从林分水平转变为森林景观的经营,强调森林景观的时空异质性和动态变化,权衡和协同多种生态系统的服务功能,倡导森林景观的多样性和连通性,提高森林与其它土地利用模式镶嵌构成的复合景观的可持续性和稳定性,增强森林生态系统对气候变化影响的适应能力;4)森林生态系统经营将从依赖传统经验的主观决策转变为信息化、数字化和智能化的决策,发展森林生态系统经营决策支持系统和森林景观恢复与空间经营规划系统。     

Local Ecological Knowledge and Institutional Dynamics for Ecosystem Management: A Study of Lake Racken Watershed, Sweden

The sustainable use of resources requires that management practices and institutions take into account the dynamics of the ecosystem. In this paper, we explore the role of local ecological knowledge and show how it is used in management practices by a local fishing association in a contemporary rural Swedish community. We focus on the local management of crayfish, a common-pool resource, and also address the way crayfish management is linked to institutions at different levels of Swedish society. Methods from the social sciences were used for information gathering, and the results were analyzed within the framework of ecosystem management. We found that the practices of local fishing association resemble an ecosystem approach to crayfish management. Our results indicate that local users have substantial knowledge of resource and ecosystem dynamics from the level of the individual crayfish to that of the watershed, as reflected in a variety of interrelated management practices embedded in and influenced by institutions at several levels. We propose that this policy of monitoring at several levels simultaneously, together with the interpretation of a bundle of indicators and associated management responses, enhances the possibility of building ecological resilience into the watershed. Furthermore, we found that flexibility and adaptation are required to avoid command-and-control pathways of resource management. We were able to trace the development of the local fishing association as a response to crisis, followed by the creation of an opportunity for reorganization and the recognition of slow ecosystem structuring variables, and also to define the role of knowledgeable individuals in the whole process. We discuss the key roles of adaptive capacity, institutional learning, and institutional memory for successful ecosystem management and conclude that scientific adaptive management could benefit from a more explicit collaboration with flexible community-based systems of resource management for the implementation of policies as experiments. Received 26 April 2000; accepted 13 October 2000.     

生态系统管理的概念及其要素

生态系统管理起源于传统的自然资源管理和利用领域,形成于本世纪９０年代。它是指基于对生态系统组成、结构和功能过程的最佳理解,在一定的时空尺度范围内将人类价值和社会经济条件整合到生态 营中,以恢复或维持生态系统整体性和可持续性。生态系统管理要求收集被管理系统核心层次的生态学数据并监测生态系统的变化过程。生态系统管理的要素包括：有明确的管理目标,有确定的系统边界昨单元,基于对生态 深刻理解,有适宜的尺度     

The importance of ecological research for ecosystem management: The case of browsing by swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) in commercially harvested native forests

Summary Ecosystem management often proceeds within the context of sub‐optimal relationships between ecologists and ecosystem managers, and management outcomes could be improved with greater collaboration between members of these disciplines. This paper identifies an ecosystem management problem resulting from the interaction between timber harvesting and browsing wallabies, and this case study is used to exemplify how ecological data and expertise can contribute to the process of ecosystem management. It is argued that appropriate use of existing ecological data, establishment of strategic new research and the implementation of management actions as experimental hypothesis tests can facilitate achievement of management objectives, but greater collaboration between ecologists and managers is required before this can occur. Reasons for sub‐optimal relationships are outlined, and the potential for structural change within large State‐run ecosystem management agencies to improve interactions between managers and ecologists is discussed.     

面向多重生态保护目标的广东省生态系统服务退化风险情景模拟

稳定、协调、可持续的生态系统服务供给是维持区域自然生命系统、保障区域生态安全的基础。面临生态系统所受的人为与自然干扰,有必要准确评估生态系统服务退化风险,揭示区域生态安全和可持续性提升路径。现有研究多叠加所有生态系统服务以评估生态系统服务退化风险,未能面向区域生态问题或生态需求对不同类型生态系统服务进行整合。研究提出面向多重生态保护目标的生态系统服务退化风险情景模拟框架,考虑广东省生物多样性保育、水资源安全、自然灾害防范等生态保护目标,选取代表性生态系统服务类型(生境维持、水源涵养、水质净化、土壤保持、洪水缓解、热带气旋缓解),基于不同典型浓度路径情景评估2018—2035年生态系统服务退化风险。结果表明,2018—2035年广东省生态系统服务供给空间格局基本稳定,尽管有所退化、空间异质性强。生态系统服务退化风险的情景模拟表明,面向生物多样性保育目标的生态系统服务退化高风险区位于珠三角的深圳市、佛山市和江门市,以及粤西和粤东地区的湛江市、茂名市和揭阳市;面向水资源安全目标的生态系统服务退化高风险区位于珠三角的深圳市、中山市和江门市,以及粤西与粤东地区的茂名市、揭阳市和江门市;面向自然灾...     

基于生态系统服务的城市生态管理分区——以深圳市为例

生态系统服务是人类赖以生存和发展的基础,开展城市生态系统服务评估并对生态管理单元实行分区管控有助于人居环境的改善。针对高度城市化地区生态系统服务的功能特征,采用生态系统服务价值当量测算不同用地类型的生态系统服务价值。研究从生态功能和经济功能2个方面构建生态系统服务指标体系,对2017年深圳市666个社区单元的生态系统服务价值进行评估;运用空间自相关分析方法,依据局部空间自相关的集聚特征叠加产生的组合类型,划分不同社区生态管理单元,并提出生态分区管控策略。研究结果表明：①生态系统服务价值评估便于高度城市化地区城市生态系统服务功能的整体评价。②2017年深圳市生态系统服务价值空间差异明显,呈现东部高、中西部低的空间格局。深圳市生态系统服务总价值约583.96亿元,最高值为大鹏新区的160.25亿元,最低值为福田区的13.24亿元。③将深圳市666个社区单元划分为4类城市生态管理分区,并采用差异化的分区管控措施,表明有效的城市生态管理分区能够兼顾各项生态系统服务功能并实现功能效益的最优化。该研究结果可为区域生态系统服务精细化管理和生态治理差异化管控提供借鉴。     

Challenges in integrating the concept of ecosystem services and values in landscape planning,management and decision making

Despite the growing body of literature on ecosystem services, still many challenges remain to structurally integrate ecosystem services in landscape planning, management and design. This paper therefore aims to provide an overview of the challenges involved in applying ecosystem service assessment and valuation to environmental management and discuss some solutions to come to a comprehensive and practical framework.First the issue of defining and classifying ecosystem services is discussed followed by approaches to quantify and value ecosystem services. The main part of the paper is focussed on the question how to analyze trade-offs involved in land cover and land use change, including spatial analysis and dynamic modelling tools. Issues of scale are addressed, as well as the question how to determine the total economic value of different management states.Finally, developments and challenges regarding the inclusion of ecosystem services in integrative landscape planning and decision-making tools are discussed.It is concluded that the ecosystem service approach and ecosystem service valuation efforts have changed the terms of discussion on nature conservation, natural resource management, and other areas of public policy. It is now widely recognized that nature conservation and conservation management strategies do not necessarily pose a trade-off between the “environment” and “development”. Investments in conservation, restoration and sustainable ecosystem use are increasingly seen as a “win-win situation” which generates substantial ecological, social and economic benefits.