Integration of ecological significance within the water uses and services framework:

1. Integration of ecological significance within the water uses and services framework: A DPSIR approach on the Mondego estuary. R. Pinto, J. Patrício, J. Neto, T. Domingos, A. Baeta, Z. Teixeira & J.C. Marques

2. Introduction Ecosystem Goods Ecosystem Services Raw materials Water filtration Ornamental resources Water purification Salt-works Pollination Soil retention Industry Fisheries Nutrient cycling Water availability/regulation Eco-tourism Minerals, fibers, firewood Waste assimilation Genetic materials Erosion control Carbon sequestration Wildlife for hunting, fishing Habitat Human resources Biodiversity Soil formation Nurseries Aquaculture Agriculture Renewable energy: Solar, wind, tidal/wave Floods mitigation Droughts mitigation »Services and goods analysis: estuaries

3. Introduction Management Actions Ecosystem Services & Goods What are the basis for decision-making? e.g. fish production water quality Which means to economic and social development? Ecosystem health and value assessment Ecosystem Integrity What impact would human activities/changes have on ES/G? How can we measure ecosystem integrity and ability to deliver ES/G? »Ecosystem services and goods analysis

4. Objectives » To develop a conceptual framework to evaluate the system condition and trends under the WFD ultimate goal (Good Ecological Status by 2015), using the DPSIR methodology; » To perform an introductory water valuation, through the assessment of the main water services and uses.

5. Methodology AGUIAR DA BEIRA SÁTÃO PENALVA DO CASTELO VISEU CELORICO DA BEIRA FORNOS DE ALGODRES MANGUALDE Mondego Basin NELAS TONDELA GOUVEIA CARREGAL DO SAL Atlantic Ocean SEIA MORTÁGUA SANTA COMBA DÃO OLIVEIRA DO HOSPITAL TÁBUA Lower Mondego PENACOVA ARGANIL VILA NOVA POIARES COIMBRA MONTEMOR-O-VELHO GÓIS FIGUEIRA DA FOZ CONDEIXA-A-NOVA LOUSÃ MIRANDA DO CORVO SOURE PENELA Legend Mondego Hydrographic Basin POMBAL Hydrographic Network District 10 Kilometers 1. Study-site description Portugal Mondego Estuary

6. Methodology Drivers Pressures Impacts Waterservices Wateruses Economicanalysis Trends&baselinescenario Nutrientpollution Managementissues Hydromorphologicalchanges 2. Framework adopted

7. Methodology Both natural and anthropogenic derived changes Drivers Pressures State Impacts Responses Means through which drivers are expressed Combination of physical, chemical and biological conditions Effects resulting from the change in the state of the environment Re-evaluation of current management policies (society action to an environmental problem) 3. DPSIR framework (Elliott et al., 2002)

8. Methodology 4. Water Economic analysis »Water uses, services and demand rates: Services All services of abstraction or treatment Water services effect allied to several activities around water body Uses »Trends and Baseline Scenarios: - Backcast scenario »Water valuation: - values that local population give to water resources (IMPRESS, 2002)

9. Results Mondego Basin Lower Mondego Mondego Estuary Portugal Total population (nº) Population density (hab/Km-2) Households number (nº) PIB per capita Policies and institutional directives 1. DPSIR framework »Drivers and Pressures analysis: • Social Drivers (1994 to 2007)

10. Results Mondego Basin Lower Mondego Mondego Estuary Portugal Agriculture (explorations, nº) Fisheries (production, t) Salt-works (production, t) Aquaculture (production, t)* Industry (employment, nº) Ports traffic (entrance, nº) Tourism (visitors, nº) • Economic Drivers (1994 to 2007)

11. Results • Morphological Drivers • - Channel modifications • Dredging • Physical barriers Mondego Basin Lower Mondego Mondego Estuary Portugal Water abstraction (1 000 m3) Wastewater drainage (1 000 m3) Wastewater treated (1 000 m3) Introduction of species • Ecological Drivers (1998 to 2006)

12. Results »State and Impacts analysis: • Physical-chemical conditions (EEA; for Mondego estuary only; 1990 to 2006) • Main points: • Upstream source of pollutants • Importance of dilution and run-off

13. Results 1990 1992 1998 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 M M 2006 Euhaline Polyhaline NA P H M M M G G G Polyhaline SA G G G M G G G G M M M G G G G G G G G M M M G M G G Polyhaline muddy SA • Ecological Quality Status (for Mondego estuary only; 1990 to 2006) » Subtidal benthic communities » BAT index

14. Results Pressures Habitat loss/disruption Point/Non-point pollution sources Changes in freshwater flows Status Drivers Physical characteristics: - ↓ area Water/sediment quality: -↑ OM / ↑ suspended sediment - ↑ nutrient concentration Biological quality: - changes in trophic structure - communities alterations - ↑ phytoplankton/macrophytes ratio -changes in ecosystem functioning Human population growth Watershed activities: - ↑ effluents - habitat loss Habitat degradation: - Bivalvia catch - direct intervention Aquatic activities: - recreation / harbour / aquaculture Responses Impacts Presence/absence of valued species (e.g. birds) Human health (poisoned seafood) Habitat loss and degradation Wetland mitigation Management actions Higher monitoring Models development Area physical protection Pollution sources control International/National legislation » Responses (Eutrophication symptoms):

15. Results 51.7% 5.6% 42.6% 0.06% 2. Water Economic analysis »Water uses, services and demand rates: (adapted from Atkins et al., 2006)

16. Results Agriculture pattern (-5%/year) Urban development (7.7%/year) »Trends and Baseline Scenario 2015: General indicators (GIS):

17. Results • Water utility Main consumers: - households - economic activities (e.g. industry, services) - agriculture (regularization works done separately) 8% 40% 52% • Water ‘self-sustained’ uses not considered public consumers agriculture irrigation industry Do not involve extraction, although considered as potential negative externalities causers »Water supply analysis:

18. Discussion Pressures Drivers State Impacts Responses Land reclamation Wastes production Wastes production Water use efficiency Population Efficient waste management Water usages Water quality Population growth Water requirement Tourism Environmental pollution Demand/supply of natural resources Efficient ecotourism practices Changes in productivity Land reform projects Agriculture Diffuse pollution Land erosion Competition Fishing/hunting Habitats alterations Conservation actions Exotic species Trophic changes Ecological communities changes Channel modifications Authorities control over biodiversity Sediment dredging Habitats losses Compromise among social demands Water efficiency usage Water usages by economic users Water abstractions Water pollution There are not linear relations, direct cause-effect patterns among drivers/pressures and state/impacts, otherwise there is an intricate and cumulative relations. 1. DPSIR assessment

19. Discussion • Salt-works areas considered as ‘constructive pressure’ Positive signal for biodiversity conservation (provide valuable habitats to waders) Traditional maintenance supply ecotourism opportunities Strong trade-off with aquaculture activities 1. DPSIR assessment (cont.)

20. Discussion • Agriculture practices as a major conservational concern to ecosystem management • Deliberation between conservation and continuation/expansion of human activities have to be made Intensive agricultural regimes lead to high nutrient inputs into the system Risk of certain ecosystem functions and services be taken for granted Recognition that some activities may influence the provision of valued ES • Policy-makers should have 2 main premises into consideration: • Conservation of the system assets; • Sustainable and resilient use of it. 1. DPSIR assessment (cont.)

21. Discussion 2. Economic evaluation » Population growth and watershed activities lead to increasing Demand for food Water supply and usage Wastewater discharges

22. Discussion Compromise between both public and private goods to guarantee an efficient water management program. The underlying causes of the estuarine resources quality are mainly socio-economic in nature. 2. Economic evaluation (cont.) • Major threats to estuarine environment: • » land use • » future developments and urbanization pressures • » increasing water usage Severe reduction on primary sectors activities (e.g. 24% reduction in fisheries employment) Increase of activities related to 2nd and 3rd sectors and port traffic (e.g. 70% increase in industry employment)

23. Conclusion Main Conclusions: » population growth and activities related to the 2nd and 3rd sectors have been driving the ecosystem's structure and functions; » progressive loss of natural and agricultural lands to development and services; » increasing concern regarding environmental problems (e.g. eutrophication) and its effects on natural systems and on anthropogenic activities; » recovery signs have been registed on the system. To recover a system is always necessary to balance the several trade-offs among environmental attributes and the several activities taking place around it.

24. … end!