State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China.
State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center for Watershed Environmental Restoration & Integrated Ecological Regulation, Beijing, 100875, China.
Water Res. 2019 Dec 1;166:115028. doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.115028. Epub 2019 Aug 31.
There is an increasing need for coastal and marine ecosystems conservation. However, information to guide management decisions for coastal and marine ecosystems is still lacking. Considering the present advantages and limitations of existing ecosystem services valuation (ESV) accounting methods, this paper proposes a detailed donor-side accounting approach, based on emergy method, which could be used as the basis for better policies-making on coastal and marine conservation. In particular, this includes a classification of different ecosystems, a system for ecosystem services (ES) classification, ES formation mechanism, as well as accounting techniques. The ES classification system includes direct, indirect and existence services. Accounting techniques presented here can overcome common limitations in existing accounting methods: (1) double counting; (2) evaluation from the receiver perspective; (3) the inappropriate use and replacement of unit emergy value (UEV). The present method is applied to the evaluation of coastal and marine ecosystems in the Pearl River Delta (PRD), China. Results show that (1) the total coastal ESV decreased from 2000 to 2009 in the PRD area, among which water purification contributes most to the decrease, followed by soil building, climate regulation and microclimate regulation; (2) the coastal ecosystems have the largest potential to regulate climate whether at micro or macro scale; (3) the marine ESV decreased with the ratio of 42.37%, and biomass increase and carbon sequestration account for the decrease; (4) intertidal marshes has the largest ESV per unit area, followed by mangrove, coral reefs and rocky marine shores, while the marine ecosystem has the smallest ESV per unit area. As proved by the case study, this work can provide a basis for an accounting method for coastal and marine ESV assessment, which could serve to improve both the management decision making processes and policy indications through accurately valuing coastal and marine ES, leading to additional investment in conservation of these ecosystems.
沿海和海洋生态系统的保护需求日益增长。然而，用于指导沿海和海洋生态系统管理决策的信息仍然缺乏。考虑到现有生态系统服务价值（ESV）评估方法的现有优势和局限性，本文提出了一种详细的基于能值方法的捐赠方核算方法，该方法可以作为制定更好的沿海和海洋保护政策的基础。特别是，该方法包括不同生态系统的分类、生态系统服务分类系统、生态系统服务形成机制以及核算技术。该生态系统服务分类系统包括直接、间接和存在服务。本文提出的核算技术可以克服现有核算方法的常见局限性：（1）重复计算；（2）从接受方的角度进行评估；（3）不当使用和替代单位能值（UEV）。该方法应用于中国珠江三角洲（PRD）沿海和海洋生态系统的评估。结果表明：（1）PRD 地区的沿海生态系统服务总价值从 2000 年到 2009 年减少，其中水净化对减少的贡献最大，其次是土壤形成、气候调节和小气候调节；（2）沿海生态系统在微观和宏观尺度上都具有最大的气候调节潜力；（3）海洋生态系统服务价值减少了 42.37%，生物量增加和碳固存导致了减少；（4）潮间带湿地单位面积的生态系统服务价值最大，其次是红树林、珊瑚礁和岩石海岸，而海洋生态系统的单位面积生态系统服务价值最小。案例研究证明，这项工作可以为沿海和海洋生态系统服务价值评估提供核算方法的基础，通过准确评估沿海和海洋生态系统服务价值，可以改善管理决策过程和政策指示，从而为保护这些生态系统提供更多投资。
