PML team lead assessment of marine environment for major
report
2nd June 2011
The UK National Ecosystem Assessment launched
today (2/6/11) reveals the true value of nature for the first time.
The research forms the basis of an independent yet authoritative
report showing that nature is worth billions of pounds to the UK
economy. The valuation of a range of natural ecosystems
demonstrates that there are real economic reasons for looking after
our natural wealth.
The research looked at the range of natural
ecosystems, including upland woodlands, open mountains, rivers,
moorlands and the largest of them all, encompassing more than three
and a half times the land area of Britain – the sea that surrounds
us and has been a major part of economic success of the UK
throughout its history.
A Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) team led by
Dr Melanie Austen scoured scientific literature and previous
socio-economic studies and consulted with colleagues in other
institutes to amass a wealth of information brought together in a
key chapter of the report which details the seas, coastal habitats
and estuaries.
The team looked at the "ecosystem services"
provided by the marine environment including aspects that are
relatively easy to measure, those that have a real market value,
such as fisheries, shellfisheries, seaweed and other provisions
from the sea, tourism leisure and recreation, for example, as well
as those less simple to ‘put a price on’ such as climate
regulation, the oxygen we breathe and the sheer feeling of
contentment from being close to, on or in the sea.
The group which comprised both scientists and
economists concluded that the sea that encircles our islands is of
immense value across a wide range of services but is faced by
growing threats that are of ecological and economic significance
and could impact everyone in the UK if the seas are allowed to
deteriorate further.
Amongst the threats are changes in sea
temperature brought about through climate change which is likely to
affect many marine ecosystem services including food production and
human health; damage to the seafloor which has a knock on effect to
supporting and regulating services as well as local habitat
destruction; and dwindling sustainability of food resources. Other
areas of concern are increasing coastal development and seaborne
activity and the lack of protection of marine habitats compared to
those on land.
Mel Austen sees the marine ecosystem
assessment as an important step forwards:
“The assessment can only be regarded as an
initial appraisal of the value of the seas but it is a baseline for
the future. What it has done is highlight many aspects of the seas
that we have previously taken for granted, as well as pinpointing
aspects for which we have no data, no research. I have no doubt
that in years to come we will be returning for further assessments
to monitor the health of our valuable and treasured marine
environment, especially in the face of significant environmental
change – it is too important to ignore.”