13.9. van den Hove
Keynote Presentations from the 5th ALTER-Net Summer School, Peyresq 5 - 14 September 2010
Speaker: Sybille van den Hove
sybille -at- median-web.eu
Visiting Professor, Institute for Environmental Science and Policy (ICTA), Autonomous University of Barcelona &
Director, Median SCP, Carrer Vista Alegre 20, 08197 Valldoreix (Barcelona),
Spain
Title of the talk: Deep-sea ecosystem goods and services: A challenge for natural and social sciences (pdf: 6MB)
Abstract
Deep-sea ecosystem goods and services: A challenge for natural and social sciencesThe deep sea includes the waters and seabed areas below a depth of 200 metres. It constitutes 64 per cent of the surface of the Earth and 90 per cent of our planet’s ocean area. Our deep oceans are teeming with an amazing diversity of organisms of all size and types, assembled in a wide variety of ecosystems. Deep oceans are believed to host the highest biodiversity on Earth. Deep-sea processes and ecosystems are not only crucial for the marine web of life, they also fundamentally contribute to global biogeochemical cycles that support all life on Earth. In addition, they provide direct goods and services that are of growing direct economic significance.
This presentation will review the goods and services provided by deep-sea ecosystems and the rising impacts from human activities on deep-sea habitats and ecosystems. It will highlight the specific challenges posed by the valuation of our deep marine environment and reflect on the role of valuation at the interface between science and policy. It will address some ethical issues related to the concept of ecosystem services.
Recommended background literature on this presentation:
- European Communities (2008) The economics of ecosystems and biodiversity (TEEB) - Interim Report. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/economics/pdf/teeb_report.pdf (pdf: 6MB)
- UNEP/HERMES (2007) Deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystems: A scoping report on their socio-economy, management and governance. UNEP-WCMC Biodiversity Series 28, pp84. (Especially Chapter 2: Ecosystem functions, goods, services and their valuation)http://www.unep.org/regionalseas/publications/reports/RSRS/pdfs/ rsrs184.pdf (pdf: 2MB)
- Armstrong CW, Foley N, Tinch R, van den Hove S (2010) Ecosystem goods and services of the deep sea; Deliverable D6.2 of: HERMIONE: Hotspot ecosystem research and man´s impact on European seas; FP7 Collaborative project http://www.eu-hermione.net/
