Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
6.1 Introduction
The concept of an ecosystem approach has arisen largely as a management response to de-
cline in biodiversity and natural resources, which single species management and primarily
sectoral approaches had failed to stem. Because of its integrated nature, an ecosystem ap-
proach was seen as a way to better manage multiple impacts on environments holistically
while maximizing long-term economic, social, and cultural benefits. The ecosystem ap-
proach also provides for the involvement of a wide range of users and other stakeholders in
the management of a spatial area and resources, thus improving coordination and integration
in activities.
Many different 'ecosystem approaches' exist, ranging from traditional/indigenous ap-
proaches to those more recently adopted by Western societies. The theory of how to manage
using the ecosystem as the planning framework is still in its infancy and there is no one cor-
rect way to implement an ecosystem approach. However, certain principles apply to all cur-
rent approaches. Perhaps the two best-known concepts are the complementary ones in use
related biodiversity conventions. In practice, however, the most widely implemented ap-
proaches are in integrated coastal zone (sometimes area) management (ICZM) and integ-
rated water resources management (IWRM), also sometimes expressed as river basin man-
agement (RBM). While not formally called 'ecosystem approaches', they espouse the use of
a whole or integrated system as the base layer for all planning and management.
Approaches to management that use the ecosystem as a basis have become a central
concept in the implementation of a number of international and regional agreements, such
Fisheries (FAO,
2013
), the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Re-
sources (CCAMLR; cf. Fabra and Gascón,
2008
), the Convention for the Protection of the
Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), and the Helsinki Commission
