Integrating ecosystem services into conservation strategies for freshwater and marine habitats: a review

Over the last two decades, there has been increasing public and political recognition of society's dependency upon natural habitat complexity and ecological processes to sustain provision of crucial ecosystem services, ranging from supplying potable water through to climate regulation. How has the ecosystem-services perspective been integrated into strategies for aquatic habitat conservation? Literature on conservation of diverse freshwater and marine habitats was reviewed to assess the extent to which past and current strategies specifically targeted ecosystem services, and considered ecosystem functions, potential trade-offs and social issues when formulating protection measures for conserving aquatic habitats. Surprisingly few published examples exist where comprehensive assessment of ecosystem services supported development of conservation plans. Seldom were aquatic habitat conservation objectives framed in terms of balancing trade-offs, assessing social values and evaluating suites of ecosystem services under different strategies. Time frames for achieving these objectives were also rarely specified. There was no evidence for fundamental differences between marine and freshwater habitats with respect to their ecosystem services that should be considered when setting targets for their conservation. When an ecosystem-service perspective is used for setting objectives in aquatic habitat conservation, the following actions are recommended: (1) explicitly listing and evaluating full suites of ecosystem services to be conserved; (2) identifying current and future potential trade-offs arising from conservation; (3) specifying time frames within which particular strategies might protect or enhance desired services; and (4) predicting how different proposed strategies might affect each ecosystem function, service flow and public benefit. This approach will help ensure that less-apparent ecosystem services (e.g. regulating, supporting) and their associated ecosystem functions receive adequate recognition and protection in aquatic conservation of freshwater and marine habitats. However, conservation objectives should not focus solely on protecting or enhancing ecosystem services but complement current strategies targeting biodiversity and other conservation goals.Peer Reviewe

Looking for natural conditions of the water of low order streams in the Cantareira State Park (SP)

O Parque Estadual da Cantareira é uma Unidade de Conservação de Proteção Integral localizada na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo, abrigando inúmeras nascentes, entre as quais as de importantes rios afluentes do Tietê e outras que contribuem para o reservatório Paiva Castro. Contudo existem poucos estudos sobre a qualidade da água e os ambientes aquáticos desta importante área protegida. Neste contexto, este trabalho objetivou avaliar a qualidade da água de ambientes lóticos do parque, a fim de buscar as condições mais próximas às naturais desta área, partindo do proposto na Resolução CONAMA 357/2005 para a Classe Especial. Para tanto a qualidade da água foi avaliada de forma integrada pela análise do meio físico (topografia e vegetação, utilizando-se imagens de satélite), da avaliação de características fisicoecológicas e do habitat de riachos (pelo emprego de um protocolo de avaliação rápida) e da qualidade da água (avaliação de variáveis físicas, químicas, biológica e hidrobiológica). Os resultados foram analisados de forma integrada e, a partir dos melhores resultados indicados pelas diferentes abordagens, foram selecionados dez riachos que representaram as condições de melhor preservação no âmbito desta pesquisa. Para o período amostrado estas condições são indicadas pelos mínimos valores ou ausência de Clorofila a, Ortofosfato, Ortosilicato, Fósforo Total, Nitrito e Amônio; baixos valores de Nitrato (< 0,81 mg/L), Nitrogênio Total (< 2,1 mg/L), Material em Suspensão Total (< 4,53 mg/L), Turbidez (< 7,1 NTU); valores relativamente baixos de Sólidos Totais (< 92,3 mg/L) e Condutividade Elétrica (< 58 s/cm); Oxigênio Dissolvido acima de 7,6 mg/L e pH entre 6,5 e 7,3. Além disso, deve haver condições fisicoecológicas livres de alterações e hábitats com características de ambientes com ausência ou mínima perturbação. Espera-se que esta pesquisa seja um primeiro passo para o diálogo sobre a viabilidade da busca de condições naturais em unidades de conservação de proteção integral, conhecimento necessário para o reenquadramento destas áreas protegidas na Classe Especial.The Cantareira State Park is a conservation unit of integral protection located in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. It has several springs including those originating relevant tributaries of the Tietê river and others that contribute to Paiva Castro reservoir. However, there are few studies on the water quality and aquatic environments of this relevant protected area. In this context, this research aimed to evaluate the water quality of lotic environments in the park in order to establish the natural conditions of the area, based on the proposed for Special Class by CONAMA Resolution 357/2005. The water quality was evaluated in an integrated manner by performing analyzes of the physical medium (topography and vegetation via satellite images, evaluation of physic-ecological features and habitat of streams (by a rapid bioassessment protocol) and evaluation of the water quality (physical, chemical, biological and hydrobiological analyses). Results were analyzed in an integrated manner and, from the better results indicated by the different approaches, ten sites were selected which represented the best preservation conditions in the Park. For the sampling period, these conditions are minimum values or absence of Chlorophyll a, Orthophosphate, Orthosilicate, Total Phosphorus, Nitrite and Ammonium; low values of Nitrate (< 0.81 mg/L), Total Nitrogen (< 2.1 mg/L), Total Suspended Solids (< 4.53 mg/L), Turbidity (< 7.1 NTU); relatively low values of Total Solids (< 92.3mg/L) and Electric Conductivity (< 58 s/cm); Dissolved Oxygen higher than 7.6 mg/L and pH between 6.5 and 7.3. Besides it should be physic-ecological conditions free of human impact and habitats with minimum or absence of disturbance. It is expected this research is the first step in the dialogue on the feasibility of seeking natural conditions in conservation units of integral protection, knowledge necessary for the framework of these protected areas in the Special Class