Ecosystem based approach in MSP * The information presented is the working exercise of the cross-border maritime spatial planning discussions and can not be treated as the official opinion of the European Commission and the Member States involved in the consortium of the Baltic SCOPE project.

1. JŪRAS TELPISKAIS PLĀNOJUMS LATVIJAS REPUBLIKAS TERITORIĀLAJIEM
UN EKSKLUZĪVĀS EKONOMISKĀS ZONAS ŪDEŅIEM
Ecosystem based approach in MSP -
Latvian case
Anda Ruskule, Baltic Environmental Forum
Riga, 22.05.2015
MARITIME SPATIAL PLAN FOR TERRITORIAL WATERS AND
EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE OF LATVIA

2. Conceptual background
• EU policy establishes ecosystem based approach (EBA) as an
interlink between implementation of :
 MSP aiming at encouraging «Blue growth»
 MSFD aiming at Good Environmental Status of marine waters
• EBA shall be based on:
 Scientific knowledge of marine ecosystem, its structure and functions
 Appropriate methodology for assessment of relationship of ecosystem
functions and human well-being as well as impacts of human activities
ecosystem functions and services.
• EBA shall help to understand interaction between ecosystem and
human activities, thus supporting sound decision making on sea
use.

3. Application of EBA in Latvian MSP
• Mapping of ecosystem services => spatial information on ecosystem
service provision as basis for sea use planning
• Assessing sensitivity of marine habitat types to different sea uses
• Assessment of ecological impacts of alternative sea use scenarios:
 Impact to ecologically significant areas;
 Impacts on provision of ecosystem services;
 Impact on achievement of good environmental status (MSFD
descriptors and indicators).

4. Mapping of ecosystem service

5. Ecosystem structures
& processes
Ecosystem structures
& processes
Ecosystem service
potential
Regulating services
Provisioning services
Cultural services
Ecosystem service
potential
Regulating services
Provisioning services
Cultural services
Sea usesSea uses
Ecosystem service
flow
Regulating services
Provisioning services
Cultural services
Ecosystem service
flow
Regulating services
Provisioning services
Cultural services
Additional inputsAdditional inputs
Ecosystem service supplyEcosystem functions
Human benefits
Social, economic
& personal well-being
Human benefits
Social, economic
& personal well-being
Population, economyPopulation, economy
Ecosystem service demand
Conceptual model of ecosystem functions, services and
benefits relations (after Burkhard et al., 2014)
Drivers of
human action
Drivers of
human action
Response
Decision process
Response
Decision process
Burkhard, B., M. Kandziora, Y, Hou & F. Müller (2014): Ecosystem Service Potentials,
Flows and Demands - Concepts for Spatial Localisation, Indication and Quantification.
Landscape online 34: 1-32.
Marine habitatsMarine habitats
Stock-taking
Characterisation of the ecosystem
services
Trade-off analysis of
alternative scenarios
Defining optimal
sea use solutionAssessment of trends
of socioeconomic and
natural processes

6. Steps for mapping of ecosystem service
• .

7. Development of habitat map
• Habitat classification using HELCOM HUB, 2013 – level 4
• Spatial and biophisical data applied :
Sea bottom sediment map
Secchi depth
Benthic biology data (vide obeservations)

8. Development of ES assessment matrix
ES selection based on CICES – Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services

9. ES assessment and mapping using the matrix model
(Burkhard et al., 2014)

10. Chalanges in marine ES mapping
• Three dimensional character of marine ecosystem
– Not all ES provision depend on benthic habitat types (e.g.
commercial fish)
• Solution: mapping of actual fish catch

11. Assessment of ecological impacts of
alternative sea use scenarios

12. Development and assessment of alternative scenarios
Assessment of alternative scenarios
-Assessment of economic, social and ecological impacts => trade-off analysis
-Assessment against set goals and allowed sea use criteria and
-Assessment of cross-border context
Stakeholder
involvement
Stakeholder
involvement
Optimal sea use solution

13. Assessment of ecological impacts
• Impacts on provision of ecosystem services
• Impact to ecologically significant areas;
• Impact to good environmental status - applying MSFD
indicators :
– biological diversity (D1)
– population of commercial fish/shellfish (D3)
– eutrophication (D5)
– sea floor integrity (D6),
– alteration of hydrological conditions (D7) -???
– introduction of energy, including underwater noise (D11) -???

14. Paldies !
www.jurasplanojums.net
jurasplanojums@gmail.com
Kristina.veidemane@bef.lv
anda.ruskule@bef.lv

15. Basic data:Basic data:Basic data:Basic data:
Conceptual framework of ecosystem service mapping
CORINE
data
CORINE
data
CORINE
Spatial land cover
information
Land use
information
Land use
information
Land use
Intensity data Biotic
information
Biotic
information
Biotic
information Abiotic
information
Abiotic
information
Abiotic
information
Assessment of capacities of selected LU/LC type to provideAssessment of capacities of selected LU/LC type to provide
ESES
Assessment of capacities of selected LU/LC type to provideAssessment of capacities of selected LU/LC type to provide
ESES
Hypothetical assessment
using expert judgement
Hypothetical assessment
using expert judgement
Quantitative assessment
using statistics, modelling,
monitoring data
Quantitative assessment
using statistics, modelling,
monitoring data
ResultResult:: Spatial and statistical information on the capacitiesSpatial and statistical information on the capacities
of different land cover types to provideof different land cover types to provide ESES
ResultResult:: Spatial and statistical information on the capacitiesSpatial and statistical information on the capacities
of different land cover types to provideof different land cover types to provide ESES