Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
widespread descriptors of salt marsh structure, and a
tall canopy is regarded as important for birds and
invertebrates; (2) soil attributes: texture, nutrients and
organic matter are regarded important as far as they
contribute to a tall canopy of
Spartina
spp.; (3) inverte-
brate and fi sh assemblages: the presence of species
alone is not very useful, and abundance and some
measure of functioning in the foodweb are preferred;
and (4) complex topography: tidal creek networks are
important to the distribution of plant species. Creek
density and the relative distribution of creeks of differ-
ent order (fi rst, second and third) can be measured. It
is hoped that relatively easily measurable structural
attributes can be related to functional attributes.
Apart from abiotic and diversity targets, other
eco-
system goods and services
may play a role in setting
targets for salt marsh restoration. Some of the goods
and services that salt marshes provide are considered
to be 'high' importance by an expert panel (Jones
et al
.
2011; see Table 19.2). Salt marshes were estimated to
Table 19.2
Goods and benefi ts provided by ecosystem services from (semi)natural salt marshes (after UK National
Ecosystem Assessment; http://uknea.unept-wcmc.org) (see Jones
et al
. 2011) and interpretation for restored salt marshes by
an expert team (see Jones
et al
. 2011) and the author of this chapter. Class (high, some, none) indicates importance of each
good and benefi t.
Ecosystem service
P:provisioning
R:regulating
C:cultural
Goods and benefi ts
Salt marsh
(semi)
natural
Salt
marsh
restored
(P) Crops, plants, livestock, fi sh,
etc. (wild and domesticated)
Meat: sheep/cattle/ fi sh
High
High
Wild food: Salicornia/other plants/ fi sh/wildfowl
Some
Some
Wool (sheep)
Some
Some
Genetic resources of rare breeds, crops
Some
Some
(P) Trees, standing vegetation and
peat/other resources
Turf/peat cutting
Some
None
Military use
Some
None
Industrial use: pipeline landfall
Some
None
(R) Climate regulation
Carbon sequestration
High
Some
(R) Hazard regulation -vegetation
and other habitats
Sea defence
High
High
Preventing soil erosion
High
Some
(R) Waste breakdown and
detoxifi cation
Immobilization of pollutants
High
Some
(P,R) Wild species diversity
including microbes
(P) High diversity, or rare/unique plants, animals
and birds, insects
High
Some
(P) Ecosystem-specifi c protected areas
High
High
(R) Nursery grounds for fi sh
High
High
(R) Breeding, over-wintering, feeding grounds for
birds
High
High
(R) Purifi cation
Water fi ltration: groundwater, surface fl ow,
seawater
?
?
(C) Spiritual/religious
+
cultural
Sites of religious/cultural signifi cance; World
Heritage Sites; folklore; TV and radio
programmes and fi lms
Some
—
heritage and media
(C) Aesthetic/inspirational
Paintings, sculpture, books
High
Some
(C) Recreation/tourism
Many opportunities for recreation: incl.
sunbathing, walking, camping, boating, fi shing,
birdwatching etc.
High
Some
(C) Physical/mental health
+
security
and freedom
Opportunities for exercise, local meaningful
space, wilderness, personal space
Some
Some
(C) Education/ ecological knowledge
Resource for teaching, public information,
scientifi c study
High
High
