Making it Real: Modeling ecosystem services to support planning on the west coast of Vancouver

Island

Anne GuerryIMCC May 2011, Victoria BC

6 things we have learned

1. Watch our language2. Its not about us3. Don’t be (total) geeks4. Space matters5. Sweat the small stuff6. CMSP is doable

1. Watch our language

Ecosystem services: the things people want and need from nature

• 12 stakeholder groups interviewed• List of services from MA• Broad agreement about what matters

“Most Important” Ecosystem Services

World Resources Institute 2009

First tier: •water •water regulation•tourism and recreation, ethical and existence values

WRI 2009

Second tier: •food from fisheries, •food from aquaculture, •water purification and waste treatment

Ecosystem services: Σ Ψ ζ θ ϖ$$$$ …

Voters recognize benefits nature provides to peopleSupport calculating value of benefits and factoring into decisions about natural resourcesPreference for label other than “ecosystem services”

public opinion

Visions and values

• healthy environment• sustainable local jobs • tax revenue/rent • recreation • spiritual places • viewscapes/noise • community social capital • cultural diversity

• marine safety• access to local food• research and innovation • local sustainable energy• climate change/carbon footprint

Scenario elements and ecosystem service models

• healthy environment habitat risk assessment model• sustainable local jobs connect to regional

input/output models • tax revenue/rent diversify model outputs • recreation overlap model• viewscapes/noise aesthetic quality model• access to local food fisheries and aquaculture models• local sustainable energy wave energy model• spiritual places scenario element

2. Its not about us

West Coast Aquaticpublic-private partnership4 levels of governmentbusiness interests, NGO’s, etc

Guiding Principles and GoalsTsa’walk (everything is one)Integrated managementCommunity involvement

Creating a marine spatial plan for Barkely and Clayoquot SoundsUnit 21 (Toquart Bay):Critical area for the forestry sector due to infrastructure. Increasing importance of recreation and tourism.General Management Emphasis: Toquart Bay should be managed for mixed use which allows for continued use by the forestry sector and growth in the recreation and tourism sectors. Care should be given to reduce and/or mitigate potential conflicts between these uses and activities.•Shellfish and Marine Plant Aquaculture…•New private, commercial and industrial docks…•The upland area adjacent to the planning unit…

3. Don’t be (total) geeks

Run Wave ModelO

ffsho

re

Beac

h

Erosion Difference: 1.5m

15 hrs Storm

Hmax=1.5m

T=4s

Combined index of vulnerability:Where are the people + where are the biophysical hazards?

Run Wave ModelO

ffsho

re

Beac

h

Erosion Difference: 1.5m

15 hrs Storm

Hmax=1.5m

T=4s

Stanford researchers bring new marine tool to West Coast

Yasmin Aboelsaud, Special to Westerly News Published: Thursday, January 13, 2011

Councillors and Tofino mayor John Fraser were among attendees at the presentations on coastal erosion hosted by the District of Tofino and West Coast Aquatic on January 10.

4. Space matters

• All habitat patches are not created equal– Considering management actions in

context allows for more informed decisions

• e.g. protect this eelgrass over that…

• Focus on the “do’s”

Move shellfish tenures away from population centers

Restore eelgrass in high risk, high benefit locations

5. Sweat the small stuff

CMSP is made up of many small decisionsHelp put them in context

Combined index of vulnerability:Where are the people + where are the biophysical hazards?

0 - 1.5

1.5 - 3.0

3.0 - 4.5

4.5 - 6.0

6.0 - 7.5

NPV ($ mil)

COM_SAL_TRCommercial Fishery: Salmon trawl: Salmon net: Crab and Shrimp

REC_FISHRecreational Fishery: Salmon : Ground fish

: Power Grid Connection Point

: Cable Landing Point

Lemmens Inlet: float homes, shellfish aquaculture, water quality tradeoffs

Current shellfish aquacultureFuture shellfish aquacultureCurrent floathomesFuture floathomesEelgrass

6. CMSP is doable

CMSP on the WCVI

Groundwork is laid:– WCA

• Visions and values• Local knowledge• Stakeholder engagement• Planning units

– WCA/NatCap• Framing scenarios• Exploring tradeoffs

Policy emphasisNeed for early successes…

Mary RuckelshausCK Kim

Mike PapenfusGreg Verutes

Jodie ToftKatie ArkemaGreg GuannelJoey BernhardtSpencer Wood

Matt MarsikDave Sutherland

Andrew DayKevin Head

Jenn SpencerTrudy Warner

thank you.

www.naturalcapitalproject.org

The Gordon and Betty Moore FoundationThe West Coast Aquatic Management BoardNOAA Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science CenterGretchen Daily, Peter Kareiva, Taylor Ricketts, Steve Polasky, and Jon Foley

Our Technical Working Group: Apollo Qi, Heather Tallis, Steve Polasky, Mark Plummer, Phil Levin, Bill Labiosa, Francis Chan, Guy Gelfenbaum, Peter Ruggiero, Andre Punt, Melanie McField, Ben Halpern, Sarah Lester, Malin Pinsky, Mike Beck, Barry Gold, Kai ChanOthers: Matt Marsik, Spencer Wood, Andrew Day, Laura Loucks, Trudy Warner, Kevin Head, Roger Bedard, Jim Regetz, Dan Holland