Ecosystem services in sustainable groundwater management
Jaap Tuinstra1, Joke van Wensem1
1Soil Protection Technical Committee (TCB), P.O. Box 30947, 2500 GX The Hague, The Netherlands.
The Science of the Total Environment
|April 18, 2014
Summary
The ecosystem services concept aids sustainable groundwater management by increasing awareness of groundwater
Area of Science:
- Environmental Policy
- Hydrology
- Ecosystem Management
Background:
- The ecosystem services concept is increasingly integrated into European environmental policy, particularly in The Netherlands.
- Groundwater is crucial for societal well-being, providing numerous ecosystem services.
- Incorporating ecosystem services into groundwater management presents challenges for decision sustainability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the application of the ecosystem services concept in groundwater management.
- To enhance the sustainability of groundwater management decisions.
- To increase the visibility of groundwater functions in policy and decision-making processes.
Main Methods:
- Review of groundwater-related ecosystem services.
- Analysis of different classification systems for ecosystem services.
- Examination of case studies illustrating the value of groundwater awareness.
Main Results:
- Awareness of groundwater's value, fostered by the ecosystem services concept, leads to more balanced decisions.
- The concept enhances the visibility of groundwater functions in decision-making.
- Knowledge availability is a critical factor influencing the application of ecosystem services in management.
Conclusions:
- The ecosystem services concept can contribute to sustainable groundwater management.
- Successful implementation depends on local context, policy goals, and knowledge availability.
- Sustainable solutions require integrating key management elements and respecting long-term ecosystem service guidelines.
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