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Sustainability of water quality and ecology: Easier said than defined and implemented
Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology 1–2 (2013) 1–2
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/swaqe
Editorial
Sustainability of water quality and ecology: Easier said than defined and implemented
Sustainability of water quality and ecology: is it simply defining criteria and yardsticks or is the key question rather about gaining insights in identity, preferences and motivation of individuals and various groups of a very complex and dynamic population? The use of indicators offers a very practical and easy-to-understand approach related to monitoring and assessing sustainability (Eurostat, 2009). However, also the interrelation between different aspects is needed to gain insight in how to steer and control water and ecosystems in a sustainable manner, considering social, economical and political processes. For the latter, models and simulation tools seem to be essential. Therefore, this new journal aims at stimulating experimentation and innovation that can support decision making, to achieve effective and sustainable management of water and ecosystem resources. This journal publishes papers that describe new concepts as well as research and policy results that offer insights to assess as to model water resources and ecosystems in the context of sustainable water resources and ecosystem exploitation. Looking back at the analysis and assessment of water quality and ecosystems during the past age as shown in Fig. 1, these activities have undergone a similar trend as general quality management: from measuring particular characteristics (or their proxies) to integrated production and service process-analysis and related continuous improvement via all involved stakeholders, e.g. the evolution of the six sigma concept. In the domain of water quality and ecology, this started with analyzing chemical and biological conditions, such as biodiversity of particular groups. This initial step was and still is of paramount importance to get at least a basic insight in the quality of water resources and ecosystems, and even today, many systems need to be developed or locally implemented. The next step was to integrate a set of characteristics, such as is the case in the European Water Framework Directive. In this directive, hydro-morphological, chemical and biological characteristics are combined in an integrated assessment. During the past decennia, processes and functions have been integrated. This has led to the development of ecosystem services analysis instruments, that consist of a blend of indicators (De Groot et al., 2002) that have a meaning to most users and stakeholders via the use of monetarisation, and also the involved water resources and ecosystem aspects and processes (interrelations) (Landuyt et al., 2014). Integration of ethical and philosophical dimensions such as the role of human population and responsibility of individuals and groups in and on the evolution of ‘the environment’ is still a hanging question, but technological evolution is confronting us more and more with challenging questions of the human population and its behavior. Resilience management in social-ecological systems (Walker et al., 2002) is in this context a practical challenge to implement sustainable approaches to water resources and ecosystems. Consequently, many practical as well as conceptual challenges remain to define and implement sustainability of water and ecology, as is shown in the first two papers of Volk (2014) and Vannevel (2014) in this issue. A major challenge is how to define and measure sustainability. . . and moreover, who is interested in it? Is sustainable development a fluffy and intangible container concept? Has it emerged to a sneaky marketing trend? Are individuals motivated or given the chance to live according to such ‘standards’? Who has to play a key role in this? Moreover, how are we as population evolving. . .? Will we dare or need to affect our consumption behavior of water resources and exploitation of ecosystems to deal with the carrying capacity of our planet. . .? it is interesting to study the sustainability of water and ecology from a process analysis point-of-view, and I am very pleased with the opinion paper of Bruce Beck in this first issue (Beck, 2014). But the rational aspects have also an emotional counterpart and challenge, in particular for their practical implementation: human convenience, well-being and welfare. . . do we dare to question core values about food, animal-welfare, . . . or is this too challenging. . .? The opinion piece of Ma (2014) is reporting about her experiences on introducing such provocative discussions via meetings, activities and art projects. I hope you enjoy reading this first issue and look forward to your contributions in the future. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.swaqe.2014.08.001 2212-6139/Ó 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Editorial / Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology 1–2 (2013) 1–2
Time and level of integraon
2
Monitoring and assessment of parcular characteriscs Integrated monitoring and assessment: combined measurements and assessments of various components Integraon of interacons (processes) between components and their characteriscs: ecosystem funconing Integraon of uses of ecosystems: ecosystem (products and) services Monetarisaon of water and ecosystem services: introducon of the economic dimension Stakeholder involvement in the assessment and change management: social, polical and psychological dimension in decision-making Integraon of ethical and philosophical dimensions: what is the role of human populaon and responsibility of individuals and groups in and on the evoluon of ‘the environment’
Fig. 1. Evolution of the analysis and assessment of water quality and ecosystems.
References Beck, B., 2014. Sustainability and smartness: A tale of two slogans. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 86–89. De Groot, R.S., Wilson, M.A., Boumans, R.M.J., 2002. A typology for the classification, description and valuation of ecosystems functions, goods and services. Ecol. Econ. 41 (3), 393–408. Eurostat, 2009. Sustainable development in the European Union. 2009 monitoring report of the EU sustainable development strategy. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Landuyt, D., Lemmens, P., D’hondt, R., Broekx, S., Liekens, I., De Bie, T., Declerck, S.A.J., De Meester, L., Goethals, P.L.M., 2014. J. Environ. Manage. 145, 79–87. Ma, L., 2014. A speculative designer’s adventure with invasive species. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 82–85. Vannevel, R., 2014. The Pentatope Model: A holistic approach for analysing and reviewing environmental complexity. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 10–23. Volk, M., 2014. Modelling ecosystem services – Challenges and promising future directions. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 3–9. Walker, B., Carpenter, S., Anderies, J., Abel, N., Cumming, G., Janssen, M., Lebel, L., Norberg, J., Peterson, G.D., Pritchard, R., 2002. Resilience management in social-ecological systems: A working hypothesis for a participatory approach. Conserv. Ecol. 6 (1), 14.
Peter Goethals Ghent University, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Gent, Belgium E-mail address: [email protected]
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/swaqe
Editorial
Sustainability of water quality and ecology: Easier said than defined and implemented
Sustainability of water quality and ecology: is it simply defining criteria and yardsticks or is the key question rather about gaining insights in identity, preferences and motivation of individuals and various groups of a very complex and dynamic population? The use of indicators offers a very practical and easy-to-understand approach related to monitoring and assessing sustainability (Eurostat, 2009). However, also the interrelation between different aspects is needed to gain insight in how to steer and control water and ecosystems in a sustainable manner, considering social, economical and political processes. For the latter, models and simulation tools seem to be essential. Therefore, this new journal aims at stimulating experimentation and innovation that can support decision making, to achieve effective and sustainable management of water and ecosystem resources. This journal publishes papers that describe new concepts as well as research and policy results that offer insights to assess as to model water resources and ecosystems in the context of sustainable water resources and ecosystem exploitation. Looking back at the analysis and assessment of water quality and ecosystems during the past age as shown in Fig. 1, these activities have undergone a similar trend as general quality management: from measuring particular characteristics (or their proxies) to integrated production and service process-analysis and related continuous improvement via all involved stakeholders, e.g. the evolution of the six sigma concept. In the domain of water quality and ecology, this started with analyzing chemical and biological conditions, such as biodiversity of particular groups. This initial step was and still is of paramount importance to get at least a basic insight in the quality of water resources and ecosystems, and even today, many systems need to be developed or locally implemented. The next step was to integrate a set of characteristics, such as is the case in the European Water Framework Directive. In this directive, hydro-morphological, chemical and biological characteristics are combined in an integrated assessment. During the past decennia, processes and functions have been integrated. This has led to the development of ecosystem services analysis instruments, that consist of a blend of indicators (De Groot et al., 2002) that have a meaning to most users and stakeholders via the use of monetarisation, and also the involved water resources and ecosystem aspects and processes (interrelations) (Landuyt et al., 2014). Integration of ethical and philosophical dimensions such as the role of human population and responsibility of individuals and groups in and on the evolution of ‘the environment’ is still a hanging question, but technological evolution is confronting us more and more with challenging questions of the human population and its behavior. Resilience management in social-ecological systems (Walker et al., 2002) is in this context a practical challenge to implement sustainable approaches to water resources and ecosystems. Consequently, many practical as well as conceptual challenges remain to define and implement sustainability of water and ecology, as is shown in the first two papers of Volk (2014) and Vannevel (2014) in this issue. A major challenge is how to define and measure sustainability. . . and moreover, who is interested in it? Is sustainable development a fluffy and intangible container concept? Has it emerged to a sneaky marketing trend? Are individuals motivated or given the chance to live according to such ‘standards’? Who has to play a key role in this? Moreover, how are we as population evolving. . .? Will we dare or need to affect our consumption behavior of water resources and exploitation of ecosystems to deal with the carrying capacity of our planet. . .? it is interesting to study the sustainability of water and ecology from a process analysis point-of-view, and I am very pleased with the opinion paper of Bruce Beck in this first issue (Beck, 2014). But the rational aspects have also an emotional counterpart and challenge, in particular for their practical implementation: human convenience, well-being and welfare. . . do we dare to question core values about food, animal-welfare, . . . or is this too challenging. . .? The opinion piece of Ma (2014) is reporting about her experiences on introducing such provocative discussions via meetings, activities and art projects. I hope you enjoy reading this first issue and look forward to your contributions in the future. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.swaqe.2014.08.001 2212-6139/Ó 2014 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Editorial / Sustainability of Water Quality and Ecology 1–2 (2013) 1–2
Time and level of integraon
2
Monitoring and assessment of parcular characteriscs Integrated monitoring and assessment: combined measurements and assessments of various components Integraon of interacons (processes) between components and their characteriscs: ecosystem funconing Integraon of uses of ecosystems: ecosystem (products and) services Monetarisaon of water and ecosystem services: introducon of the economic dimension Stakeholder involvement in the assessment and change management: social, polical and psychological dimension in decision-making Integraon of ethical and philosophical dimensions: what is the role of human populaon and responsibility of individuals and groups in and on the evoluon of ‘the environment’
Fig. 1. Evolution of the analysis and assessment of water quality and ecosystems.
References Beck, B., 2014. Sustainability and smartness: A tale of two slogans. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 86–89. De Groot, R.S., Wilson, M.A., Boumans, R.M.J., 2002. A typology for the classification, description and valuation of ecosystems functions, goods and services. Ecol. Econ. 41 (3), 393–408. Eurostat, 2009. Sustainable development in the European Union. 2009 monitoring report of the EU sustainable development strategy. Office for Official Publications of the European Communities. Landuyt, D., Lemmens, P., D’hondt, R., Broekx, S., Liekens, I., De Bie, T., Declerck, S.A.J., De Meester, L., Goethals, P.L.M., 2014. J. Environ. Manage. 145, 79–87. Ma, L., 2014. A speculative designer’s adventure with invasive species. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 82–85. Vannevel, R., 2014. The Pentatope Model: A holistic approach for analysing and reviewing environmental complexity. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 10–23. Volk, M., 2014. Modelling ecosystem services – Challenges and promising future directions. Sustain. Water Qual. Ecol 1–2, 3–9. Walker, B., Carpenter, S., Anderies, J., Abel, N., Cumming, G., Janssen, M., Lebel, L., Norberg, J., Peterson, G.D., Pritchard, R., 2002. Resilience management in social-ecological systems: A working hypothesis for a participatory approach. Conserv. Ecol. 6 (1), 14.
Peter Goethals Ghent University, Department of Applied Ecology and Environmental Biology, J. Plateaustraat 22, B-9000 Gent, Belgium E-mail address: [email protected]