The Link between Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing in the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Assessing Four River Basins in Europe
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Data Collection & Evaluation Methods
2.1. Data Collection
2.2. Evaluation Methods
3. Results and Discussion
3.1. Initial Explorations
3.2. Identifying Management Actions at the GARB Level
3.3. Relating Management Actions to Human Wellbeing
3.4. Enhancing the Efficiency of Management Actions
4. Concluding Remarks
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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NOTES | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type of Ecosystem Service | GLOBAQUA Priority Ecosystem Service | ||||||
Provisioning Services | Water Provisioning | ||||||
Regulating Services | Flood Protection/Erosion Control | ||||||
Habitat Services | Biodiversity | ||||||
Cultural Services | Cultural/Recreational Services | ||||||
GARB | PRESSURES | ECOSYSTEM SERVICES | EFFECTS ON HUMAN WELLBEING | ||||
GLOBAQUA Priority ES | ES-defined Issues Related to HWB | ||||||
Most Important | Most Threatened | Most Contribution to Local Prosperity | |||||
Adige River Basin | (1) Diffused Pollution (From Agricultural and Energy Sectors) (2) Population increase | Water Provisioning | Water for Drinking Water for Irrigation | Water for Drinking | Water for drinking Water for irrigation Water for hydropower | Adverse effects on water quality available for drinking and irrigation Adverse effects on water quantity impacting water availability and scarcity | |
(3) Hydromorphological alterations (construction of dams and reservoirs) | Flood Protection/Erosion Control | Flood Control | Increased flood risk | ||||
(1) Diffused Pollution (2) Population increase (3) Hydromorphological alterations | Biodiversity | Biodiversity | Biodiversity | Habitat Degradation | |||
(1) Diffused Pollution (2) Population increase (3) Hydromorphological alterations | Cultural/Recreational Services | Recreational Activities (Hiking, Mountaineering, Natural Parks) Aesthetic value of the landscape | Aesthetic value of the landscape | Sports and Tourism | Habitat Degradation | ||
Ebro River Basin | (1) Point sources of pollution: urban discharges, industrial biodegradable discharges, discharges of hazardous substances, fish farms, mines, discharges salts, thermal discharges, urban landfills, toxic dumps and hazardous waste, non-hazardous waste landfills (2) Diffuse sources of pollution related to airports, transport routes, contaminated soil, irrigation, urban areas, mining areas, creative areas, meadows, livestock, gas stations. (3) Significant water abstraction related to water supply residential and non-residential purposes—irrigation, and hydroelectric and other uses (4) Morphological changes: weirs and dams, channelling, dams, hydroelectric diversion (flowing plants with diversion canals) (5) Anthropogenic pressures (excluding pollution): population increase, invasion by harmful species and diseases, recreational activities (navigation) | Water Provisioning | Water for drinking Water for Agriculture (Irrigation and Cattle) Water for Industry | Purification of water | Water for drinking Water for irrigation Water for industry | Adverse effects on water quality available for drinking and irrigation Adverse effects on water quantity impacting water availability and scarcity | |
(4) Morphological changes | Flood Protection/Erosion Control | Flood control | Flood control | Flood control | Increased flood risk | ||
(1), (2) Pollution (Point and Diffuse sources) (5) Anthropogenic pressures (excluding pollution) | Biodiversity | Protection of endangered or local species | Protection of endangered or local species | Quality of the living environment | Habitat Degradation | ||
(1), (2) Pollution (Point and Diffuse sources) (3) Abstraction (4) Morphological changes (5) Anthropogenic pressures (excluding pollution) | Cultural/Recreational Services | Education/Research Mental Health—The river as a source of happiness | Cultural identity | Opportunities for Social cohesion | Habitat Degradation Adverse effects on social and mental wellness | ||
Evrotas River Basin | (1) Water abstraction for irrigation (2) Long periods of drought (3) Pollution from agricultural activities (e.g., use of pesticides, olive and orange juice milling), aquaculture/fish farming, urban waste, septic tanks, and mining further constitute pressures in the quality of the water, resulting in the observation of high concentrations for organic loads, solids, nitrogen and phosphorus (4) Deforestation in the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas of the region | Water Provisioning | Water for drinking Water for Agriculture (Irrigation and Cattle) | Water for drinking Water for irrigation | Water for drinking Water for Agriculture (Irrigation and Cattle) | Adverse effects on water quality available for drinking and irrigation Adverse effects on water quantity impacting water availability and scarcity | |
(4) Deforestation (5) Morphological pressures: channelisation, reconstruction of embankments using inappropriate methods to deepen stretches of the river (removing riverbed materials) (6) Human interventions: such as removal of natural vegetation | Flood Protection/Erosion Control | Increase in the frequency and intensity of flooding events | |||||
(3) Pollution (4) Deforestation (6) Human interventions | Biodiversity | Conservation of Indigenous species | Protection of endangered or local species Biodiversity | Biodiversity | Habitat Degradation | ||
(3) Pollution (4) Deforestation (6) Human interventions | Cultural/Recreational Services | Education/Research | Tourism | Habitat Degradation Potentially adverse social and economic consequences | |||
Sava River Basin | (1) Anthropogenic pressures: organic pollution from urban wastewater, industrial organic pollution, nutrient pollution (mainly phosphorus and nitrogen) from industry and agriculture, hazardous substances from industrial activity, pesticides from agriculture, and unexploded ordnance and hazardous materials from the military operations in early 90s, mining activities and land use change (expanding agriculture). (2) Morphological pressures: hydropower plants construction, gravel exploitation, construction of flood protection systems (3) Seasonal Flooding and Drought | Water Provisioning | Water for drinking | Water for drinking | Water for Agriculture Water for Hydropower | Adverse effects on water quality available for drinking and irrigation Adverse effects on water quantity impacting water availability and scarcity | |
(2) Morphological pressures (3) Seasonal Flooding and Drought (4) Sedimentation | Flood Protection/Erosion Control | Flood control | Flood plain Flood control | Increased flood risk Habitat Degradation from flood management measures | |||
(1) Anthropogenic pressures (2) Morphological pressures (3) Seasonal Flooding and Drought (5) Invasive species | Biodiversity | Education/Research | Wildlife Biodiversity (animal and plants) | Biodiversity Quality of the living environment | Habitat Degradation Potentially adverse social and economic consequences | ||
(1) Anthropogenic pressures (2) Morphological pressures (3) Seasonal Flooding and Drought | Cultural/Recreational Services | Beautiful Scenery | Aesthetic value of the landscape | Winter sports Cultural identity Social cohesion | Habitat Degradation Potentially adverse social and economic consequences |
Type of Ecosystem Service | GLOBAQUA Priority Ecosystem Service | GARB HWBF |
---|---|---|
Provisioning Services | Water Provisioning | Adequate Water for Drinking, Irrigation, Industry/Energy (Quality and Quantity) |
Regulating Services | Flood Protection/Erosion Control | Increased Flood Risk |
Habitat Services | Biodiversity | Habitat Degradation/Biodiversity |
Cultural Services | Cultural/Recreational Services | Habitat Degradation/Intangible Socioeconomic benefits |
GARB | GARB Human Wellbeing Factors | Efficiency Index | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Water for Drinking, Irrigation, Industry/Energy (Quality and Quantity) | Increased Flood Risk | Habitat Degradation/Biodiversity | Habitat Degradation/Intangible Socioeconomic benefits | |||
Adige River Basin (87 Measures Reviewed) | No. Measures relevant to HWBF | 87 | 10 | 76 | 76 | 7.2 |
% coverage per HWBF | 100% | 11% | 87% | 87% | ||
Ebro River Basin (19 Measures Reviewed) | No. Measures relevant to HWBF | 19 | 11 | 19 | 19 | 8.9 |
% coverage per HWBF | 100% | 58% | 100% | 100% | ||
Evrotas River Basin (66 Measures Reviewed) | No. Measures relevant to HWBF | 66 | 4 | 61 | 63 | 7.3 |
% coverage per HWBF | 100% | 6% | 92% | 95% | ||
Sava River Basin (87 Measures Reviewed) | No. Measures relevant to HWBF | 44 | 24 | 52 | 52 | 8.3 |
% coverage per HWBF | 85% | 46% | 100% | 100% |
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Akinsete, E.; Apostolaki, S.; Chatzistamoulou, N.; Koundouri, P.; Tsani, S. The Link between Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing in the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Assessing Four River Basins in Europe. Water 2019, 11, 508. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11030508
Akinsete E, Apostolaki S, Chatzistamoulou N, Koundouri P, Tsani S. The Link between Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing in the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Assessing Four River Basins in Europe. Water. 2019; 11(3):508. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11030508
Chicago/Turabian StyleAkinsete, Ebun, Stella Apostolaki, Nikos Chatzistamoulou, Phoebe Koundouri, and Stella Tsani. 2019. "The Link between Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing in the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Assessing Four River Basins in Europe" Water 11, no. 3: 508. https://doi.org/10.3390/w11030508