How ecosystem services are changing: an accounting application at the EU level

Ecosystem services accounts are a useful tool that provides relevant information on the role of ecosystems in delivering services, and the society benefiting from them. This paper presents the accounting workflow for ecosystem services at the European Union level adopted by the Knowledge Innovation Project on an Integrated system for Natural Capital and ecosystem services Accounting (KIP INCA) - a European Commission initiative. The workflow includes: 1) biophysical assessment of ecosystem services; 2) monetary valuation; and 3) compilation of accounting tables. Supply and use tables are presented for six ecosystem services assessed so far. The supply table shows woodland and forest, followed by wetlands, as the ecosystem types with the highest monetary value per unit area. Analyses of changes between 2000 and 2012 show an overall increase of the monetary value of ecosystem services, mainly due to an increase in demand for them. We also discuss advantages and disadvantages of adopting a fast-track approach, based on official statistics, in comparison to an accounting strategy based on spatial models. We propose a novel workflow for ecosystem services accounts, focused on assessment of the actual flow of ecosystem services, making a significant contribution to further development of the technical recommendations for ecosystem service

Ecosystem services accounts: Valuing the actual flow of nature-based recreation from ecosystems to people

Natural capital accounting aims to measure changes in the stock of natural assets (i.e., soil, air, water and all living things) and to integrate the value of ecosystem services into accounting systems that will contribute to better ecosystems management. This study develops ecosystem services accounts at the European Union level, using nature-based recreation as a case study and following the current international accounting framework: System of Environmental-Economic Accounting – Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA EEA). We adapt and integrate different biophysical and socio-economic models, illustrating the workflow necessary for ecosystem services accounts: from a biophysical assessment of nature-based recreation to an economic valuation and compilation of the accounting tables. The biophysical assessment of nature-based recreation is based on spatially explicit models for assessing different components of ecosystem services: potential, demand and actual flow. Deriving maps of ecosystem service potential and demand is a key step in quantifying the actual flow of the service used, which is determined by the spatial relationship (i.e., proximity in the case of nature-based recreation) between service potential and demand. The nature-based recreation accounts for 2012 show an actual flow of 40 million potential visits to ‘high-quality areas for daily recreation’, with a total value of EUR 50 billion. This constitutes an important contribution of ecosystems to people's lives that has increased by 26% since 2000. Practical examples of ecosystem services accounts, as shown in this study, are required to derive recommendations and further develop the conceptual and methodological framework proposed by the SEEA EEA. This paper highlights the importance of using spatially explicit models for ecosystem services accounts. Mapping the different components of ecosystem services allows proper identification of the drivers of changes in the actual service flow derived from ecosystems, socio-economic systems and/or their spatial relationship. This will contribute to achieving one of the main goals of ecosystem accounts, namely measuring changes in natural capital, but it will also support decision-making that targets the enhancement of ecosystems, their services and the benefits they provide

Conocimiento de la identidad patrimonial mediante un acercamiento a la indumentaria aragonesa

La educación patrimonial debe ser considerada fundamental dentro de la educación escolar aragonesa, aunque muchas veces no es así. El presente trabajo busca encontrar una manera atractiva y dinámica de presentar la indumentaria aragonesa en el currículo de educación primaria a través de la metodología Design Thinking y materiales complementarios de creación propia. Los alumnos y alumnas de educación primaria necesitan conocer su identidad patrimonial como aragoneses y tomar conciencia de la importancia de ésta. Asimismo a través de esta propuesta didáctica conocerán la relación que hay entre los distintos tipos de manifestaciones artísticas, siendo ellos mismos los que lleven a cabo su propio proyecto llevando a término todos los conceptos trabajados en el aula.<br /

Ecosystem services accounting: Part I - Outdoor recreation and crop pollination

The Knowledge Innovation Project on an Integrated system of Natural Capital and ecosystem services Accounting (KIP INCA) aims to develop the first ecosystem accounts at EU level, following the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting- Experimental Ecosystem Accounts (SEEA-EEA). The application of the SEEA-EEA framework is useful to illustrate ecosystem accounts with clear examples and contribute to further develop to methodology and give guidance for Natural Capital Accounting. The aim of this study is to assess and account for two ecosystem services: outdoor recreation and crop pollination. Each service was assessed biophysically within the ESTIMAP toolbox, allowing us to quantify different service components: the service potential that the ecosystems can deliver; the demand for each service; and the actual flow of the service used based on the spatial relationship between the service potential and demand. The results of the biophysical assessment were then translated into monetary units using valuation methods consistent with the System of National Accounts. Valuation methods require the integration of the key variables of the biophysical model to quantify the actual flow. In this way, changes in the value of the service are strictly linked to changes in biophysical assessment, which includes potential, demand and their spatial relationship determining the actual flow. Accounting of outdoor recreation shows that at EU level, forest ecosystems have the highest value for outdoor recreation, although this varies among countries. Households are the users of the service, with Germany being the country with the largest share of population whose demand for daily recreation is covered. As demonstrated, countries with a larger share of population living within 4 km of recreational areas present higher level of life satisfaction. EU accounting shows an overall increase in the use of the service between 2000 and 2012 (26%), mainly due to the enhancement of the recreation potential, and, to a lesser extent, to an increase in the demand (population). These results are useful to support policy decisions related to land planning, aiming at guaranteeing the equitable accessibility to outdoor recreation opportunities (citizen rights): 38% of the population at the EU have limited accessibility to recreational areas (unmet demand). We estimated for 2012 an actual flow of 40 million potential visits to recreational areas per year (daily use), with a total value of 31 billion euro. At this stage, the full accounting cannot be given for crop pollination due to the lack of connection between the available valuation methods and the biophysical model assessing the service flow. In this sense, further research is needed to develop suitable methods to link the valuation technique with the biophysical model. In spite of these limitations, the crop pollination assessment provides useful results for the EU Pollinators Initiative. The work presented in this report highlights the importance of the spatial relationship between ecosystem service potential and demand. The changes in the use of the service quite often cannot be explained solely by changes in the potential and the demand, but also by their spatial relationship. When dealing with ecosystem services the spatial component is a key driver that needs to be integrated within the accounting framework for a consistent assessment. The spatial relationship between potential and demand is different for each service. Crop pollination requires the spatial overlap between potential and demand, whereas proximity is the key spatial feature for outdoor recreation. As shown by the two examples presented here, ecosystem service accounts significantly differ depending on the service being assessed, both conceptually and methodologically. Hence, further examples of ecosystem service accounting are needed to produce accounting tables for a representative number of service. Ultimately, the availability of this information represents a key input for the analysis of synergies and trade-offs between ecosystem services.JRC.D.3-Land Resource

Assessment of an educational intervention to improve healthy life habits in children living in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions

Producción CientíficaNutritional condition impacts academic performance and cognitive development. In Peru, the prevalence of chronic undernutrition in children is 6.9%, increasing the risk of mortality and morbidity. This study aimed to develop an educational intervention to achieve an improvement in the healthy habits of children in a primary education school in Lima who live in vulnerable socioeconomic conditions. We conducted a prospective quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study of an educational intervention. The information was collected through the adaptation of the WHO questionnaire “Global School-based Student Health Survey” (GSHS), with anthropometric variables, socioeconomic level, hygiene and eating habits. One hundred eight students from 5 to 13 years old from Arenitas del Mar School in Lima (Peru) participated. The educational intervention improved eating habits. Fruit and vegetable consumption 3 or more times/day (50.9%) increased after the educational intervention (49% vs. 62.9%,) p < 0.0001. There was an improvement in hygiene habits, such as the frequency of handwashing with soap (32.4% vs. 63.9%) and the frequency of weekly bathing 4–6 times/week (25% vs. 47.5%) p < 0.0001. The educational intervention promoted better healthy living behaviors, eating habits and hygiene. This kind of initiative is a crucial tool to establish healthy living habits

Linking accounts for ecosystem services and benefits to the economy through bridging (LISBETH)

The acronym LISBETH stands for LInking accounts for ecosystem Services and Benefits to the Economy THrough bridging. LISBETH is based on INCA (Integrated system for Natural Capital Accounting) and is meant to facilitate the use of INCA accounts in traditional economic analytical tools. Three practical examples are described and commented on. The first application shows how to combine crop provision accounts with the conventional accounts related to agricultural products and their trade. Combined account presentations are useful for policymakers, not only for technical analytical purposes but also for communicating with a wider non-technical audience. The second application shows how to build consumption-based accounts using multiregional input–output tables; in our example we assess the water purification service embedded in traded crops. Consumption remains in fact the ultimate driver behind production processes. The third application shows how to link ecosystem services accounts to general equilibrium models to assess the economic impacts generated by changes in ecosystem services; in our example we address the impact of invasive alien species on pollination and in turn on pollination-dependent crops and their trade. The three applications provide several insights in terms of their usefulness at different steps of the policy cycle, their feasibility, their technical complexity (and thus the level of skill required) and also in terms of the primary users (from specialised analysts to a non-specialised audience).JRC.D.3-Land Resource

Long-Term Weight Loss Results, Remission of Comorbidities and Nutritional Deficiencies of Sleeve Gastrectomy (SG), Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) on Type 2 Diabetic (T2D) Patients

Producción CientíficaThis study aimed to compare the long-term weight loss results, remission of comorbidities and nutritional deficiencies of sleeve gastrectomy (SG), Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and One-Anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) on type 2 diabetic (T2D) patients. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of all the morbidly obese and diabetic patients undergoing SG, RYGB, and OAGB as primary bariatric procedures between February 2010 and June 2015 was performed. Anthropometric parameters, remission of comorbidities, nutritional deficiencies and supplementation requirements at 1, 2 and 5 years&rsquo; follow-up were monitored. Patients lost to follow-up 5 years after surgery were excluded from the analysis. Results: 358 patients were included. The follow-up rate was 84.8%. Finally, 83 SG, 152 RYGB, and 123 OAGB patients were included in the analysis. OAGB obtained significantly greater weight loss and remission of dyslipidemia than the other techniques. There was a trend towards greater T2D and hypertension remission rate after OAGB, while fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were significantly lower after OAGB. There were no significant differences in hemoglobin or protein levels between groups. SG obtained lower iron deficiencies than the other techniques, while there were no significant differences in other nutritional deficiencies between groups. Conclusion: OAGB obtained greater weight loss and remission of dyslipidemia than RYGB or SG. Excluding lower iron deficiency rates after SG, there were no significant differences in the development of nutritional deficiencies between groups

Changes in lipid profile, body weight variables and cardiovascular risk in obese patients undergoing one-anastomosis gastric bypass

Producción CientíficaMorbid obesity has a direct impact on the development of cardiovascular disease. One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is an effective surgical technique for the control of body weight and the reduction of cardiovascular risk. This work examines the change in weight loss, lipid profile and cardiovascular risk in 100 patients (71 women, 29 men), mean age 42.61 ± 11.33 years at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after OAGB. At 24 months post-surgery, mean body weight was significantly reduced compared to pre-operative values (116.75 ± 22.19 kg vs. 69.66 ± 13.07 kg), as were mean total cholesterol (201.86 ± 44.60 mg/dL vs. 172.99 ± 32.26 mg/dL), LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol (126.90 ± 39.81 mg/dL vs. 96.28 ± 26.99 mg/dL), triglycerides (138.05 ± 78.45 mg/dL vs. 76.04 ± 30.34 mg/dL) and cardiovascular risk (total cholesterol/HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol: 4.32 ± 1.24 vs. 2.93 ± 0.71), while the mean HDL cholesterol concentration was significantly higher (49.09 ± 14.16 mg/dL vs. 61.98 ± 14.86 mg/dL) (all p < 0.001). In conclusion, OAGB surgery led to significant reductions in body weight, a significant improvement in the lipid profile, and a reduction in cardiovascular risk

Assessment of risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases in overweight women

Producción CientíficaThe assessment of anthropometric variables has been shown to be useful as a predictor of cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese patients. The aim of this study was to determine the usefulness of the relationship between breast volume and body mass index as an indicator of cardiovascular risk in premenopausal women with overweight and mild obesity. A prospective observational study of 93 premenopausal women was performed. Evaluation of anthropometric measures included age, body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, breast projection, and ptosis. Cardiovascular risk factors were evaluated using the Framingham cardiovascular risk score, the triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio and the waist-hip ratio. Ninety-three women were included, with a mean 36.4 ± 7.5 years. Mean BMI was 27.3 ± 1.9 kg/m2, waist-to-Hip ratio was 0.8 ± 0.07, and mammary volume was 1045 ± 657.4 cm3. Mean body fat mass was 30.6 + 3.6% and mean visceral fat was 6.6 + 3.2%. The mean triglycerides to HDL ratio was 1.7 ± 0.8 and waist-to-hip ratio was 0.8 ± 0.07. Breast volume related to body mass index can be used as a predictor of cardiovascular risk in premenopausal women who are overweight and mildly obese