About the ecosystem approach

The Ecosystem Approach as seen by ECASA.

The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeriro addressed the issue that environmental management policies, with their traditional sectoral basis, were not  adequately covering the full impacts of human development and exploitation on the environment.  There was a concerted move then to incorporate a more holistic approach to policy decision making in regard to sustainable development with an Ecosystem Approach based direction . This concept has been applied  to many Fisheries projects but ECASA  is one of the first aquaculture based projects to focus on this.

The ecosystem, (first defined by Tansley, 1935 as "The whole system (in the sense of physics), including not only the organism-complex, but also the whole complex of physical factors, forming one physical system. " has since come under many different definitions, all based on functional dynamic interrelatedness. An ecosystem approach also has many definitions and for ECASA the most appropriate is that described by the Convention on Biological Diversity:

‘The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.’ (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23/ decision V/6, 103-106). Follow this link to find out more about the concept of the ecosystem and its application to environmental mnagement.

The ecosystem approach is based on 12 principles and is 'learning by doing' using the best available methodologies which evolve with the incorporation of increasing understanding.

The Ecosystem Approach Principles (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23/DecisionV/6)

1. The objectives of management of land, water and living resources are a matter of societal choice. 

3. Ecosystem managers should consider the effects (actual or potential) of their activities on adjacent and other ecosystems.

4. Recognising potential gains from management, there is usually a need to understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context. Any such ecosystem-management programme should: a) reduce those market distortions that adversely affect biological diversity: b) Align incentives to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use: c) Internalise costs and benefits in the given ecosystem to the extent feasible.

5. Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintain ecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach.

7. The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales.

8. Recognising the varying temporal scales and lag effects that characterise ecosystem processes, objectives for ecosystem management should be set for the long term.

10. The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity.

11. The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices.

12. The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines.

Sustainable Development.

Sustainable Development is the management and conservation of the natural resource base and the orientation of technological and institutional change in such a manner as to ensure the attainment and cintinued satisfaction of human needs for present and future generations. Such sustainable development (in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors) conserves land, water, plant and animal resources, is environmentally non-degrading, technically appropriate, economically viable and socially acceptable. Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, 1995.

 References.

Tansley, A.G., (1935). The use and abuse of vegetational concepts and terms. Ecology. Vol. 16, 284-307