Overview of recent work and access to online publications and resources
The role of healthy wetlands in fighting climate change
The new report developed by the ETC-UMA (University of Malaga), as partner of the European Topic Centre on Urban, Land and Soil Systems (ETC/ULS) has shed light on the role of healthy wetland habitats in the carbon cycle and the ...
A Mediterranean snapshot on what we have and how to protect it
The report on the State of the Environment and Development in the Mediterranean (SoED) published in November 2020 warns that the Mediterranean basin is facing escalating environmental and developmental challenges: warming 20% faster than other regions, with 78% of fishing stocks subject ...
Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment
This report presents an ecosystem assessment covering the total land area of the EU as well as the EU marine regions. The assessment is carried out by Joint Research Centre, European Environment Agency, DG Environment, and the European Topic Centres ...
MedBioLitter: an open database on marine litter and biodiversity science
An open database and spatial geoportal on current scientific knowledge related to marine litter and biodiversity interactions in the Mediterranean region ...
Towards 2020: How Mediterranean countries are performing to protect their sea
Ongoing unsustainable fishing, tourism, plastic and chemical pollution, and a rapid coastal development are causing a dramatic decline and loss of marine species and the destruction of fragile habitats in the Mediterranean. The increasing effects of climate change and future ...
Protecting Our Ocean: Europe’s challenges to meet the 2020 deadlines
WWF & Sky Ocean Rescue present European and Member State decision makers with an assessment of the EU's progress to effectively protect at least 10% of its marine and coastal areas by 2020, in accordance with its commitments to the ...
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Journal Articles
Petersen, J. E.; Mancosu, E.; King, S.
Ecosystem extent accounts for Europe Journal Article
In: Ecosystem Services, vol. 57, iss. October 2022, no. 101457, 2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Land and soil
@article{Petersen2022,
title = {Ecosystem extent accounts for Europe},
author = {J.E. Petersen and E. Mancosu and S. King},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101457},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2022.101457},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-07-31},
journal = {Ecosystem Services},
volume = {57},
number = {101457},
issue = {October 2022},
abstract = {This paper describes the set-up and results for ecosystem extent accounts at European level, developed in the context of the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA). These accounts inform on the opening and closing ‘stocks’ of ecosystems and provide essential geo-spatial data to support the calculation of ecosystem condition and services accounts. The paper presents the first set of ecosystem extent accounts for Europe, covering the period 2000–2018. These show that ecosystems are relatively stable at the European scale, with significant increases in Urban ecosystems and some decrease in Heathland and shrub and Grassland ecosystems. The paper demonstrates the use of a flexible geo-spatial database to gain analytical insights for different ecosystem accounting areas, using European biogeographical regions and Natura 2000 areas as examples. More detailed ecosystem extent accounts (tier II and tier III) show trends inter alia for Agro-forestry, Peat Bog, Beaches, dunes and sands as well as Salt marsh ecosystems, important for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The accounting approach presented delivers a geo-spatial data foundation that can support further ecosystem analysis and accounts. This enables the targeting of ecosystem analysis on specific geographic areas and policy instruments.},
keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Land and soil},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
This paper describes the set-up and results for ecosystem extent accounts at European level, developed in the context of the United Nations System of Environmental-Economic Accounting - Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EA). These accounts inform on the opening and closing ‘stocks’ of ecosystems and provide essential geo-spatial data to support the calculation of ecosystem condition and services accounts. The paper presents the first set of ecosystem extent accounts for Europe, covering the period 2000–2018. These show that ecosystems are relatively stable at the European scale, with significant increases in Urban ecosystems and some decrease in Heathland and shrub and Grassland ecosystems. The paper demonstrates the use of a flexible geo-spatial database to gain analytical insights for different ecosystem accounting areas, using European biogeographical regions and Natura 2000 areas as examples. More detailed ecosystem extent accounts (tier II and tier III) show trends inter alia for Agro-forestry, Peat Bog, Beaches, dunes and sands as well as Salt marsh ecosystems, important for biodiversity and ecosystem services. The accounting approach presented delivers a geo-spatial data foundation that can support further ecosystem analysis and accounts. This enables the targeting of ecosystem analysis on specific geographic areas and policy instruments.
Marín, A. I.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Bastrup-Birk, A.; Chirici, G.; Barbati, A.; Kleeschulte, S.
Mapping forest condition in Europe: Methodological developments in support to forest biodiversity assessments Journal Article
In: Ecological Indicators, vol. 128, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Forest
@article{Marín2021b,
title = {Mapping forest condition in Europe: Methodological developments in support to forest biodiversity assessments},
author = {A. I. Marín and D. Abdul-Malak and A. Bastrup-Birk and G. Chirici and A. Barbati and S. Kleeschulte},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107839},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecolind.2021.107839},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-05-29},
journal = {Ecological Indicators},
volume = {128},
abstract = {Forest condition, biodiversity, and ecosystem services are strongly interlinked. The biodiversity levels depend to a large extent on the integrity, health, and vitality of forests at the same time as losses of forest biodiversity lead to decreased forest productivity and sustainability. Under this conceptual framework, this study presents a methodology for mapping forest condition at European scale supporting the attainment of the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Target 5 “the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced” and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as well as the EU forest strategy since the sustainable forest management is oriented to support the provision of forest services and to enhance the condition of biodiversity forests’ host.
The work presents the developments of an operational indicator at European scale. This spatially explicit information on forest condition can be the baseline map with a 1 km resolution to monitor the state and changes of condition by exposition to pressures and threats. This condition indicator considers structural, functional, and compositional aspects of forest with relevance for health and vitality of species and habitats hosted by forest ecosystems.
The methodology implemented used harmonized, published and open datasets. It provided confident results for the assessment of the condition within hemiboreal, temperate and alpine forests, showing the Carpathian, Dinaric Alps and Alps, among others, as hotspots with pre-dominantly good condition. The results were validated with data derived from the reporting for the EU Habitat Directive and explicit dataset on known primary forests in Europe. However, this method underestimated the forest condition in the Mediterranean and Boreal forest types due to data gaps, regional specific characteristics, and design limitations.
This study illustrates an operational and transferable approach for addressing the assessment of ecosystem forest condition at European scale being considered as a support tool for European countries when mapping and assessing their national territory, as potential common approach to map forest ecosystems that allows for consistent aggregation and comparisons across scales.},
keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Forest},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Forest condition, biodiversity, and ecosystem services are strongly interlinked. The biodiversity levels depend to a large extent on the integrity, health, and vitality of forests at the same time as losses of forest biodiversity lead to decreased forest productivity and sustainability. Under this conceptual framework, this study presents a methodology for mapping forest condition at European scale supporting the attainment of the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Target 5 “the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced” and the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), as well as the EU forest strategy since the sustainable forest management is oriented to support the provision of forest services and to enhance the condition of biodiversity forests’ host.
The work presents the developments of an operational indicator at European scale. This spatially explicit information on forest condition can be the baseline map with a 1 km resolution to monitor the state and changes of condition by exposition to pressures and threats. This condition indicator considers structural, functional, and compositional aspects of forest with relevance for health and vitality of species and habitats hosted by forest ecosystems.
The methodology implemented used harmonized, published and open datasets. It provided confident results for the assessment of the condition within hemiboreal, temperate and alpine forests, showing the Carpathian, Dinaric Alps and Alps, among others, as hotspots with pre-dominantly good condition. The results were validated with data derived from the reporting for the EU Habitat Directive and explicit dataset on known primary forests in Europe. However, this method underestimated the forest condition in the Mediterranean and Boreal forest types due to data gaps, regional specific characteristics, and design limitations.
This study illustrates an operational and transferable approach for addressing the assessment of ecosystem forest condition at European scale being considered as a support tool for European countries when mapping and assessing their national territory, as potential common approach to map forest ecosystems that allows for consistent aggregation and comparisons across scales.
The work presents the developments of an operational indicator at European scale. This spatially explicit information on forest condition can be the baseline map with a 1 km resolution to monitor the state and changes of condition by exposition to pressures and threats. This condition indicator considers structural, functional, and compositional aspects of forest with relevance for health and vitality of species and habitats hosted by forest ecosystems.
The methodology implemented used harmonized, published and open datasets. It provided confident results for the assessment of the condition within hemiboreal, temperate and alpine forests, showing the Carpathian, Dinaric Alps and Alps, among others, as hotspots with pre-dominantly good condition. The results were validated with data derived from the reporting for the EU Habitat Directive and explicit dataset on known primary forests in Europe. However, this method underestimated the forest condition in the Mediterranean and Boreal forest types due to data gaps, regional specific characteristics, and design limitations.
This study illustrates an operational and transferable approach for addressing the assessment of ecosystem forest condition at European scale being considered as a support tool for European countries when mapping and assessing their national territory, as potential common approach to map forest ecosystems that allows for consistent aggregation and comparisons across scales.
Rodríguez-Rodríguez, D.; Sánchez-Espinosa, A.; Abdul-Malak, D.
Potential contribution of OECMs to international area-based conservation targets in a biodiversity rich country, Spain Journal Article
In: Journal for Nature Conservation, vol. 62, 2021.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Protected areas
@article{Rodríguez-Rodríguez2021b,
title = {Potential contribution of OECMs to international area-based conservation targets in a biodiversity rich country, Spain},
author = {D. Rodríguez-Rodríguez and A. Sánchez-Espinosa and D. Abdul-Malak},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126019},
doi = {10.1016/j.jnc.2021.126019},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-05-15},
journal = {Journal for Nature Conservation},
volume = {62},
abstract = {Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are new conservation tools intended to complement protected areas (PAs) at achieving effective biodiversity conservation and meeting international area-based targets. However, OECMs have been rarely considered in practical terms until recently. Here, we performed a rapid evaluation on the degree of fulfilment of current area-based international biodiversity targets, post-2020 foreseeable oncoming targets, and ecological targets by considering: 1) Protection coverage; 2) Inclusiveness of important areas for biodiversity; 3) Protection management; 4) Connectivity; and 5) Habitat representation, on land and at sea in Spain, a Euro-Mediterranean, biodiversity rich country. We conducted the evaluation under two scenarios: 1) Scenario 1 considers designated PAs; and 2) Scenario 2, that also includes potential OECMs. In order to generate Scenario 2, thirteen legal categories were assessed against international guidance on OECMs as a first step to screen their likelihood of providing OECMs in Spain. Our findings show that some potentially satisfactory OECM categories such as Public Utility Forests, River Reserves or Geoparks meet the OECM criteria to a large degree and deserve further study. Our results also highlight that Spain is currently well above most foreseeable post-2020 biodiversity targets and even close to some ecological targets using just PAs, except for marine protected area (MPA) management and MPA offshore coverage. Adding OECMs would noticeably improve the country’s figures yet without reaching many exigent ecological targets. OECMs can become a useful, cost-effective biodiversity conservation tool that contributes to international targets under new, more ambitious area-based conservation requirements in Spain and elsewhere. Nevertheless, for this to happen, suitable biodiversity management and monitoring schemes must be ensured.},
keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Marine protected areas, Protected areas},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) are new conservation tools intended to complement protected areas (PAs) at achieving effective biodiversity conservation and meeting international area-based targets. However, OECMs have been rarely considered in practical terms until recently. Here, we performed a rapid evaluation on the degree of fulfilment of current area-based international biodiversity targets, post-2020 foreseeable oncoming targets, and ecological targets by considering: 1) Protection coverage; 2) Inclusiveness of important areas for biodiversity; 3) Protection management; 4) Connectivity; and 5) Habitat representation, on land and at sea in Spain, a Euro-Mediterranean, biodiversity rich country. We conducted the evaluation under two scenarios: 1) Scenario 1 considers designated PAs; and 2) Scenario 2, that also includes potential OECMs. In order to generate Scenario 2, thirteen legal categories were assessed against international guidance on OECMs as a first step to screen their likelihood of providing OECMs in Spain. Our findings show that some potentially satisfactory OECM categories such as Public Utility Forests, River Reserves or Geoparks meet the OECM criteria to a large degree and deserve further study. Our results also highlight that Spain is currently well above most foreseeable post-2020 biodiversity targets and even close to some ecological targets using just PAs, except for marine protected area (MPA) management and MPA offshore coverage. Adding OECMs would noticeably improve the country’s figures yet without reaching many exigent ecological targets. OECMs can become a useful, cost-effective biodiversity conservation tool that contributes to international targets under new, more ambitious area-based conservation requirements in Spain and elsewhere. Nevertheless, for this to happen, suitable biodiversity management and monitoring schemes must be ensured.
Bevilacqua, S.; Katsanevakis, S.; Micheli, F.; Sala, E.; Rilov, G.; Sarà, G.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Abdulla, A.; Gerovasileiou, V.; Gissi, E.; Mazaris, A. D.; Pipitone, C.; Sini, M.; Stelzenmüller, V.; Terlizzi, A.; Todorova, V.; Fraschetti, S.
The Status of Coastal Benthic Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea: Evidence From Ecological Indicators Journal Article
In: Frontiers in Marine Science, 2020.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Mediterranean sea
@article{Bevilacqua2020,
title = {The Status of Coastal Benthic Ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea: Evidence From Ecological Indicators},
author = {S. Bevilacqua and S. Katsanevakis and F. Micheli and E. Sala and G. Rilov and G. Sarà and D. Abdul-Malak and A. Abdulla and V. Gerovasileiou and E. Gissi and A. D. Mazaris and C. Pipitone and M. Sini and V. Stelzenmüller and A. Terlizzi and V. Todorova and S. Fraschetti},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00475},
doi = {10.3389/fmars.2020.00475},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-06-19},
journal = {Frontiers in Marine Science},
abstract = {The Mediterranean Sea is subject to multiple human pressures increasingly threatening its unique biodiversity. Spatially explicit information on the ecological status of marine ecosystems is therefore key to an effective maritime spatial planning and management, and to help the achievement of environmental targets. Here, we summarized scientific data on the ecological status of a selection of marine ecosystems based on a set of ecological indicators in more than 700 sites of the Mediterranean Sea. For Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds, rocky intertidal fringe, and coastal soft bottoms, more than 70% of investigated sites exhibited good to high ecological conditions. In contrast, about two-thirds of sites for subtidal rocky reefs were classified to be in moderate to bad conditions, stressing the need for prioritizing conservation initiatives on these productive and diverse environments. Very little quantitative information was available for the southern Mediterranean Sea, thus monitoring programs and assessments in this area are essential for a representative assessment of the health of marine coastal ecosystems in the whole basin. This overview represents a first step to implement a baseline that, through georeferenced data on ecological status, could help identifying information gaps, directing future research priorities, and supporting improvements to spatial models of expected cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems.},
keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Mediterranean sea},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {article}
}
The Mediterranean Sea is subject to multiple human pressures increasingly threatening its unique biodiversity. Spatially explicit information on the ecological status of marine ecosystems is therefore key to an effective maritime spatial planning and management, and to help the achievement of environmental targets. Here, we summarized scientific data on the ecological status of a selection of marine ecosystems based on a set of ecological indicators in more than 700 sites of the Mediterranean Sea. For Posidonia oceanica seagrass beds, rocky intertidal fringe, and coastal soft bottoms, more than 70% of investigated sites exhibited good to high ecological conditions. In contrast, about two-thirds of sites for subtidal rocky reefs were classified to be in moderate to bad conditions, stressing the need for prioritizing conservation initiatives on these productive and diverse environments. Very little quantitative information was available for the southern Mediterranean Sea, thus monitoring programs and assessments in this area are essential for a representative assessment of the health of marine coastal ecosystems in the whole basin. This overview represents a first step to implement a baseline that, through georeferenced data on ecological status, could help identifying information gaps, directing future research priorities, and supporting improvements to spatial models of expected cumulative impacts on marine ecosystems.
Books
Fritz, S.
Chapter 21 (Ecosystem mapping and assessment) of the book “European Landscape Dynamics” Book
1, CRC Press, 2017, ISBN: 978-1482244663, (1482244667 ISBN-10).
Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Geotechnology, Land and soil
@book{Fritz2017,
title = {Chapter 21 (Ecosystem mapping and assessment) of the book “European Landscape Dynamics”},
author = {S. Fritz},
url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314867308_European_Landscape_Dynamics_CORINE_Land_Cover_Data_Jan_Feranec_Tomas_Soukup_Gerard_Hazeu_Gabriel_Jaffrain_CRC_Press_Boca_Raton_2016_337_pp_Price_Hardback_12700_eBook_8890_ISBN_978-1-4822-4466-3},
doi = {DOI: 10.1016/j.jag.2017.02.020},
isbn = {978-1482244663},
year = {2017},
date = {2017-07-01},
journal = {CRC Press},
volume = {1},
pages = {367},
publisher = {CRC Press},
edition = {1},
note = {1482244667 ISBN-10},
keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Geotechnology, Land and soil},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {book}
}
Presentations
Sánchez-Espinosa, A.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Schröder, C.; Martínez-Murillo, J. F.
01.01.2016.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ecosystem, Geotechnology, Land and soil, SWOS, Wetlands
@misc{Sánchez-Espinosa2016b,
title = {Determination of wetland ecosystem boundaries and validation of habitat classifications using remote sensing: Fuente de Piedra (Spain).},
author = {A. Sánchez-Espinosa and D. Abdul-Malak and C. Schröder and J. F. Martínez-Murillo},
url = {/wp-content/uploads/publications/SWOS_EGU2016.pdf},
year = {2016},
date = {2016-01-01},
keywords = {Ecosystem, Geotechnology, Land and soil, SWOS, Wetlands},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {presentation}
}
Proceedings
Marín, A. I.; Abdul-Malak, D.
An Indicator Of Forest Fire Intensity Applied To European Forest Ecosystems Proceedings
VI Reunión Internacional Fuegored, Malaga, 19-21 Noviembre, 2015.
Links | BibTeX | Tags: Ecosystem, Forest, Forest fire
@proceedings{Marín2015d,
title = {An Indicator Of Forest Fire Intensity Applied To European Forest Ecosystems},
author = {A. I. Marín and D. Abdul-Malak},
url = {https://www.etc.uma.es/wp-content/uploads/FUEGO_RED2015.pdf},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-11-21},
publisher = {VI Reunión Internacional Fuegored, Malaga, 19-21 Noviembre},
keywords = {Ecosystem, Forest, Forest fire},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {proceedings}
}
Technical Reports
MBPC-PANACeA,
Mediterranean ecosystem restoration sites Technical Report
2022.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Forest, Land and soil, Protected areas, Wetlands
@techreport{MBPC-PANACeA2022,
title = {Mediterranean ecosystem restoration sites},
author = {MBPC-PANACeA},
url = {https://biodiversity.uma.es/wp-content/uploads/restoration_sites_web_opt.pdf},
year = {2022},
date = {2022-11-01},
urldate = {2022-11-01},
abstract = {This report was led by the European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis (ETC-UMA) in the frame of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Community initiative (MBPC) co-funded by the EU Interreg Mediterranean programme and is the result of a close consultation with the FAO-led Task Force on Best Practices. This report is the result of the collaborative efforts of many institutional partners, projects and individuals that made available information on their experience on restoration practices across the Mediterranean for wider dissemination. For each practice, the contributor’s name can be found as contact in the full annex description.},
keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Environmental conservation, Forest, Land and soil, Protected areas, Wetlands},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This report was led by the European Topic Centre on Spatial Analysis and Synthesis (ETC-UMA) in the frame of the Mediterranean Biodiversity Protection Community initiative (MBPC) co-funded by the EU Interreg Mediterranean programme and is the result of a close consultation with the FAO-led Task Force on Best Practices. This report is the result of the collaborative efforts of many institutional partners, projects and individuals that made available information on their experience on restoration practices across the Mediterranean for wider dissemination. For each practice, the contributor’s name can be found as contact in the full annex description.
Maes, J.; Erhard, M.; Conde, S.; Rodriguez-Vallecillo, S.; Barredo-Cano, J. I.; Paracchini, M.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Trombetti, M.; Vigiak, O.; Zulian, G.; Addamo, A.; Grizzetti, B.; Somma, F.; Hagyo, A.; Vogt, P.; Polce, C.; Jones, A.; Carré, A.; Hauser, R.
EU ecosystem assessment - Summary for policymakers Technical Report
Joint Research Center (JRC) 2021, ISSN: 1831-9424.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Forest, Land and soil, Pressures, Protected areas, Wetlands
@techreport{Maes2021,
title = {EU ecosystem assessment - Summary for policymakers},
author = {J. Maes and M. Erhard and S. Conde and S. Rodriguez-Vallecillo and J.I. Barredo-Cano and M. Paracchini and D. Abdul-Malak and M. Trombetti and O. Vigiak and G. Zulian and A. Addamo and B. Grizzetti and F. Somma and A. Hagyo and P. Vogt and C. Polce and A. Jones and A. Carré and R. Hauser
},
editor = {Publications Office of the European Union},
url = {https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC123783},
doi = {10.2760/190829},
issn = {1831-9424},
year = {2021},
date = {2021-06-01},
institution = {Joint Research Center (JRC)},
abstract = {Europe’s ecosystems, on which we depend for food, timber, clean air, clean water, climate regulation and recreation, suffer from unrelenting pressures caused by intensive land or sea use, climate change, pollution, overexploitation and invasive alien species. Ensuring that ecosystems achieve or maintain a healthy state or a good condition is thus a key requirement to secure the sustainability of human activities and human well-being. This guiding principle applies for all ecosystems including marine and freshwater ecosystems, natural and semi-natural areas such as wetlands or heathlands but also managed ecosystems such as forests, farmlands and urban green spaces. Knowledge about ecosystem condition, the factors that improve or decline that condition, and the impacts on ecosystem services, with the benefits they deliver to people, is key to effective management, decision-making and policy design. Such an understanding helps target actions for conservation or restoration and more broadly sustainable use. This ecosystem assessment extends and complements the knowledge we have about the state and trends of ecosystems reported under the EU environmental legislation. The conservation of habitats and species as well as the environmental ambitions on freshwater and marine ecosystems have a well-defined thematic and geographical scope. This assessment goes beyond covering the entire terrestrial and marine territory of the EU and in many cases provides more spatially explicit information. Ecosystems inside and outside protected areas such as coastal and inland wetlands and forests contribute to the wellbeing of people through ecosystem services. Despite their importance, they are often heavily impacted and bringing these systems back in a good condition is a key objective for a more sustainable planet. But also human dominated ecosystems such as farmlands and urban green spaces are important providers of provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services and can host remarkable levels of biodiversity that are at the basis of ecosystem services. These ecosystems should not be ignored when considering solutions to bend the curve of biodiversity loss. Consequently, this assessment brings together for the first time EU wide and commonly agreed data sets that can be used to assess the state and trends of ecosystems and their services as well as the pressures and their trends they are exposed to. This is particularly important to understand where and how much ecosystems are degraded and threatened so as to guide priority and cost-effective restoration efforts.},
keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Forest, Land and soil, Pressures, Protected areas, Wetlands},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Europe’s ecosystems, on which we depend for food, timber, clean air, clean water, climate regulation and recreation, suffer from unrelenting pressures caused by intensive land or sea use, climate change, pollution, overexploitation and invasive alien species. Ensuring that ecosystems achieve or maintain a healthy state or a good condition is thus a key requirement to secure the sustainability of human activities and human well-being. This guiding principle applies for all ecosystems including marine and freshwater ecosystems, natural and semi-natural areas such as wetlands or heathlands but also managed ecosystems such as forests, farmlands and urban green spaces. Knowledge about ecosystem condition, the factors that improve or decline that condition, and the impacts on ecosystem services, with the benefits they deliver to people, is key to effective management, decision-making and policy design. Such an understanding helps target actions for conservation or restoration and more broadly sustainable use. This ecosystem assessment extends and complements the knowledge we have about the state and trends of ecosystems reported under the EU environmental legislation. The conservation of habitats and species as well as the environmental ambitions on freshwater and marine ecosystems have a well-defined thematic and geographical scope. This assessment goes beyond covering the entire terrestrial and marine territory of the EU and in many cases provides more spatially explicit information. Ecosystems inside and outside protected areas such as coastal and inland wetlands and forests contribute to the wellbeing of people through ecosystem services. Despite their importance, they are often heavily impacted and bringing these systems back in a good condition is a key objective for a more sustainable planet. But also human dominated ecosystems such as farmlands and urban green spaces are important providers of provisioning, regulating and cultural ecosystem services and can host remarkable levels of biodiversity that are at the basis of ecosystem services. These ecosystems should not be ignored when considering solutions to bend the curve of biodiversity loss. Consequently, this assessment brings together for the first time EU wide and commonly agreed data sets that can be used to assess the state and trends of ecosystems and their services as well as the pressures and their trends they are exposed to. This is particularly important to understand where and how much ecosystems are degraded and threatened so as to guide priority and cost-effective restoration efforts.
Maes, J.; Teller, A.; Erhard, M.; Condé, S.; Vallecillo, S.; Barredo, J. I.; Paracchini, M. L.; Abdul-Malak, D.; Trombetti, M.; Vigiak, O.; Zulian, G.; Addamo, A. M.; Grizzetti, B.; Somma, F.; Hagyo, A.; Vogt, P.; Polce, C.; Jones, A.; Marin, A. I.; Ivits, E.; Mauri, A.; Rega, C.; Czúcz, B.; Ceccherini, G.; Pisoni, E.; Ceglar, A.; de Palma, P.; Cerrani, I.; Meroni, M.; Caudullo, G.; Lugato, E.; Vogt, J. V.; Spinoni, J.; Cammalleri, C.; Bastrup-Birk, A.; Miguel, J. San; San-Román, S.; Kristensen, P.; Christiansen, T.; Zal, N.; de Roo, A.; Cardoso, A. C.; Pistocchi, A.; del Barrio Alvarellos, I.; Tsiamis, K.; Gervasini, E.; Deriu, I.; la Notte, A.; Viñas, R. Abad; Vizzarri, M.; Camia, A.; Robert, N.; Kakoulaki, G.; Bendito, E. Garcia; Panagos, P.; Ballabio, C.; Scarpa, S.; Montanarella, L.; Orgiazzi, A.; Ugalde, O. Fernandez; Santos-Martín, F.
Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment Technical Report
Publications Office of the European Union 2020, ISBN: 978-92-76-17833-0.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Forest, Wetlands
@techreport{Maes2020,
title = {Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services: An EU ecosystem assessment},
author = {J. Maes and A. Teller and M. Erhard and S. Condé and S. Vallecillo and J.I. Barredo and M.L. Paracchini and D. Abdul-Malak and M. Trombetti and O. Vigiak and G. Zulian and A.M. Addamo and B. Grizzetti and F. Somma and A. Hagyo and P. Vogt and C. Polce and A. Jones and A. I. Marin and E. Ivits and A. Mauri and C. Rega and B. Czúcz and G. Ceccherini and E. Pisoni and A. Ceglar and P. de Palma and I. Cerrani and M. Meroni and G. Caudullo and E. Lugato and J.V. Vogt and J. Spinoni and C. Cammalleri and A. Bastrup-Birk and J. San Miguel and S. San-Román and P. Kristensen and T. Christiansen and N. Zal and A. de Roo and A.C. Cardoso and A. Pistocchi and I. del Barrio Alvarellos and K. Tsiamis and E. Gervasini and I. Deriu and A. la Notte and R. Abad Viñas and M. Vizzarri and A. Camia and N. Robert and G. Kakoulaki and E. Garcia Bendito and P. Panagos and C. Ballabio and S. Scarpa and L. Montanarella and A. Orgiazzi and O. Fernandez Ugalde and F. Santos-Martín},
url = {http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC120383},
doi = {10.2760/757183},
isbn = {978-92-76-17833-0},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-10-01},
urldate = {2020-10-01},
institution = {Publications Office of the European Union},
abstract = {This report presents an ecosystem assessment covering the total land area of the EU as well as the EU marine regions. The assessment is carried out by Joint Research Centre, European Environment Agency, DG Environment, and the European Topic Centres on Biological Diversity and on Urban, Land and Soil Systems. This report constitutes a knowledge base which can support the evaluation of the 2020 biodiversity targets. It also provides a data foundation for future assessments and policy developments, in particular with respect to the ecosystem restoration agenda for the next decade (2020-2030). The report presents an analysis of the pressures and condition of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems using a single, comparable methodology based on European data on trends of pressures and condition relative to the policy baseline 2010. The following main conclusions are drawn: - Pressures on ecosystems exhibit different trends. - Land take, atmospheric emissions of air pollutants and critical loads of nitrogen are decreasing but the absolute values of all these pressures remain too high. - Impacts from climate change on ecosystems are increasing. - Invasive alien species of union concern are observed in all ecosystems, but their impact is particularly high in urban ecosystems and grasslands. - Pressures from overfishing activities and marine pollution are still high. - In the long term, air and freshwater quality is improving. - In forests and agroecosystems, which represent over 80% of the EU territory, there are improvements in structural condition indicators (biomass, deadwood, area under organic farming) relative to the baseline year 2010 but some key bio-indicators such as tree-crown defoliation continue to increase. This indicates that ecosystem condition is not improving. - Species-related indicators show no progress or further declines, particularly in agroecosystems. The analysis of trends in ecosystem services concluded that the current potential of ecosystems to deliver timber, protection against floods, crop pollination, and nature-based recreation is equal to or lower than the baseline value for 2010. At the same time, the demand for these services has significantly increased. A lowered potential in combination with a higher demand risks to further decrease the condition of ecosystems and their contribution to human well-being. Despite the wide coverage of environmental legislation in the EU, there are still large gaps in the legal protection of ecosystems. On land, 76% of the area of terrestrial ecosystems, mainly forests, agroecosystems and urban ecosystems, are excluded from a legal designation under the Bird and Habitat Directives. Freshwater and marine ecosystems are subject to specific protection measures under the Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. The condition of ecosystems that are under legal designation is unfavourable. More efforts are needed to bend the curve of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and to put ecosystems on a path to recovery. The progress that is made in certain areas such as pollution reduction, increasing air and water quality, increasing share of organic farming, the expansion of forests, and the efforts to maintain marine fish stocks at sustainable levels show that a persistent implementation of policies can be effective. These successes should encourage us to act now and to put forward an ambitious plan for the restoration of Europe’s ecosystems.},
keywords = {Biodiversity, Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Forest, Wetlands},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This report presents an ecosystem assessment covering the total land area of the EU as well as the EU marine regions. The assessment is carried out by Joint Research Centre, European Environment Agency, DG Environment, and the European Topic Centres on Biological Diversity and on Urban, Land and Soil Systems. This report constitutes a knowledge base which can support the evaluation of the 2020 biodiversity targets. It also provides a data foundation for future assessments and policy developments, in particular with respect to the ecosystem restoration agenda for the next decade (2020-2030). The report presents an analysis of the pressures and condition of terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems using a single, comparable methodology based on European data on trends of pressures and condition relative to the policy baseline 2010. The following main conclusions are drawn: - Pressures on ecosystems exhibit different trends. - Land take, atmospheric emissions of air pollutants and critical loads of nitrogen are decreasing but the absolute values of all these pressures remain too high. - Impacts from climate change on ecosystems are increasing. - Invasive alien species of union concern are observed in all ecosystems, but their impact is particularly high in urban ecosystems and grasslands. - Pressures from overfishing activities and marine pollution are still high. - In the long term, air and freshwater quality is improving. - In forests and agroecosystems, which represent over 80% of the EU territory, there are improvements in structural condition indicators (biomass, deadwood, area under organic farming) relative to the baseline year 2010 but some key bio-indicators such as tree-crown defoliation continue to increase. This indicates that ecosystem condition is not improving. - Species-related indicators show no progress or further declines, particularly in agroecosystems. The analysis of trends in ecosystem services concluded that the current potential of ecosystems to deliver timber, protection against floods, crop pollination, and nature-based recreation is equal to or lower than the baseline value for 2010. At the same time, the demand for these services has significantly increased. A lowered potential in combination with a higher demand risks to further decrease the condition of ecosystems and their contribution to human well-being. Despite the wide coverage of environmental legislation in the EU, there are still large gaps in the legal protection of ecosystems. On land, 76% of the area of terrestrial ecosystems, mainly forests, agroecosystems and urban ecosystems, are excluded from a legal designation under the Bird and Habitat Directives. Freshwater and marine ecosystems are subject to specific protection measures under the Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. The condition of ecosystems that are under legal designation is unfavourable. More efforts are needed to bend the curve of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and to put ecosystems on a path to recovery. The progress that is made in certain areas such as pollution reduction, increasing air and water quality, increasing share of organic farming, the expansion of forests, and the efforts to maintain marine fish stocks at sustainable levels show that a persistent implementation of policies can be effective. These successes should encourage us to act now and to put forward an ambitious plan for the restoration of Europe’s ecosystems.
Ivits, E.; Milego, R.; Mancosu, E.; Gregor, M.; Petersen, J. E.; Büttner, G.; Löhnertz, M.; Maucha, G.; Petrik, O.; Bastrup-Birk, A.; Tafi, J.; Hazeu, G.
ETC/ULS Report 02/2020: Land and ecosystem accounts for Europe. Towards geospatial environmental accounting Technical Report
2020, ISBN: 978-3-200-07114-8.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Land and soil
@techreport{Ivits2020,
title = {ETC/ULS Report 02/2020: Land and ecosystem accounts for Europe. Towards geospatial environmental accounting},
author = {E. Ivits and R. Milego and E. Mancosu and M. Gregor and J.E. Petersen and G. Büttner and M. Löhnertz and G. Maucha and O. Petrik and A. Bastrup-Birk and J. Tafi and G. Hazeu},
url = {https://www.eionet.europa.eu/etcs/etc-di/products/etc-uls-report-02-2020-land-and-ecosystem-accounts-for-europe-towards-geospatial-environmental-accounting},
isbn = {978-3-200-07114-8},
year = {2020},
date = {2020-09-30},
urldate = {2020-09-30},
abstract = {Land use and land use change are fundamental for sustainable resource use and the delivery of ecosystem services, including the provision of food, nutrient cycling and climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Land resources are part of our shared natural capital and must be well managed to maintain a healthy environment and human well-being. As such, only if land use and its impacts are properly addressed is progress towards sustainable development in Europe possible. Land-use related policies require the development of harmonised datasets, transparent methodologies and easily interpretable statistics. Land accounts fit the bill, describing how land resource stocks change over time.},
keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Ecosystem services, Environmental conservation, Land and soil},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
Land use and land use change are fundamental for sustainable resource use and the delivery of ecosystem services, including the provision of food, nutrient cycling and climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration. Land resources are part of our shared natural capital and must be well managed to maintain a healthy environment and human well-being. As such, only if land use and its impacts are properly addressed is progress towards sustainable development in Europe possible. Land-use related policies require the development of harmonised datasets, transparent methodologies and easily interpretable statistics. Land accounts fit the bill, describing how land resource stocks change over time.
Abdul-Malak, D.; Schröder, C.; Guitart, C.; Sánchez-Espinosa, A.; Fitoka, E.; Hatziiordanou, L.; Mino, E.; Flink, S.; Silver, E.; Strauch, A.; Ling, M.; Brown, C.; Simonson, W.; Scott, E.; Plasmeijer, A.; Thulin, S.; Philipson, P.; Weise, K.; Höfer, R.; Franke, J.; Guelmami, A.
Enhanced wetland monitoring, assessment and indicators to support European and global environmental policy Technical Report
2019.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Geotechnology, SWOS, Wetlands
@techreport{Abdul-Malak2019,
title = {Enhanced wetland monitoring, assessment and indicators to support European and global environmental policy},
author = {D. Abdul-Malak and C. Schröder and C. Guitart and A. Sánchez-Espinosa and E. Fitoka and L. Hatziiordanou and E. Mino and S. Flink and E. Silver and A. Strauch and M. Ling and C. Brown and W. Simonson and E. Scott and A. Plasmeijer and S. Thulin and P. Philipson and K. Weise and R. Höfer and J. Franke and A. Guelmami},
url = {https://www.etc.uma.es/wp-content/uploads/Enhanced_wetland_monitoring_assessment_indicators_support_European_global_environmental_policy.pdf},
year = {2019},
date = {2019-12-31},
abstract = {The 2019 report on Enhanced wetland monitoring, assessment and indicators to support European environmental policyidentifies the links between the Horizon 2020 Satellite-based Wetland Observation Service (SWOS) project outcomes (tools, methodologies and indicators) and existing policy frameworks at European and global levels. It aims to contribute to the refinement of EU Strategies and Directives to better integrate wetland ecosystems, contribute towards a European environmental model for wetland management and maintenance of their ecosystem services, and guide action towards achieving no-net-loss and restoration targets and objectives for wetland ecosystems. The report summarises (in four chapters) how SWOS can ensure a better understanding of wetland ecosystems, and thereby help to trigger further policy developments by improving key elements for wetland management.},
keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Geotechnology, SWOS, Wetlands},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
The 2019 report on Enhanced wetland monitoring, assessment and indicators to support European environmental policyidentifies the links between the Horizon 2020 Satellite-based Wetland Observation Service (SWOS) project outcomes (tools, methodologies and indicators) and existing policy frameworks at European and global levels. It aims to contribute to the refinement of EU Strategies and Directives to better integrate wetland ecosystems, contribute towards a European environmental model for wetland management and maintenance of their ecosystem services, and guide action towards achieving no-net-loss and restoration targets and objectives for wetland ecosystems. The report summarises (in four chapters) how SWOS can ensure a better understanding of wetland ecosystems, and thereby help to trigger further policy developments by improving key elements for wetland management.
European-Environment-Agency,
European Ecosystem Assessment - concept, data, and implementation Technical Report
no. 6/2015, 2015, ISBN: 978-92-9213-646-8.
Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Geotechnology, Land and soil
@techreport{EEA2015,
title = {European Ecosystem Assessment - concept, data, and implementation},
author = {European-Environment-Agency},
url = {https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277637973_European_Ecosystem_Assessment_-_concept_data_and_implementation},
doi = {10.2800/629258},
isbn = {978-92-9213-646-8},
year = {2015},
date = {2015-06-01},
number = {6/2015},
abstract = {This report summarises EEA contributions to Target 2 Action 5 'Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES)' for the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (EC, 2011), the Strategy of the EU to meet the global targets of the Convention of Biodiversity (UN, 2010).},
keywords = {Conservation and management, Ecosystem, Geotechnology, Land and soil},
pubstate = {published},
tppubtype = {techreport}
}
This report summarises EEA contributions to Target 2 Action 5 'Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES)' for the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (EC, 2011), the Strategy of the EU to meet the global targets of the Convention of Biodiversity (UN, 2010).
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