Ecosystem services are usually defined as "the benefit we humans have of the processes which take place in the ecosystem, and which we often take for granted".
- An ecosystem approach is an important alternative to making an input for one species at a time. When, for example, an entire sea is managed as one ecosystem, one sees the relationships, says Lars Berg, Desk Officer at the Ministry of Environment and national focal point for the international convention on biodiversity.
In his opinion, the usefulness and intrinsic value of species should be considered as one entity in order that the issues should attract involvement.
- It is the same with cold water corals. People know that they are useful, since research has demonstrated how diversity gives birth to diversity. But they are also worth conserving because of their beauty.
Lars Berg's thesis at Uppsala University dealt with historic ecological processes.
- Among other things, I studied how species persist in the landscape, but move on. This is the kind of thing we are also concentrating on at present: to ensure that diversity has reserves in the long term that can come in useful.
Lars Berg himself is very fond of the old farming landscape of Uppsala with its meadows and waters:
- It has the historic coupling that makes one feel at home, he says.
Researchers' contact with the public
Lars Berg has recently completed work on the fourth national report which Sweden submitted to the UN office that is reponsible for the convention on biodiversity. Even though this report recognises that we will not achieve the goals of the EU to stop the loss of biodiversity by the year 2010, Lars Berg is nevertheless positive about this. With Linnaeus behind us, Sweden has a lot to contribute, especially in research.
The report make special mention of public awareness – the way research must establish contact with the public and the users of research results.
- Sweden is involved in strengthening the contact surface between research and policy development at international level. We want to engage a lot of different users in the work, also from the business world, he says.
Lars Berg mentions Centre for Biodiversity as an example of such cooperation.
- They do invaluable work, he says. They are engaged on interdisciplinary research and occupy a central position between the research community, the public and the authorities.
Another model for Lars Berg as regards a holistic approach is the Kristianstad Biosphere Reserve, with species-rich environments and local cooperation. The reserve has been classified a biosphere region by UNESCO, a term which comprises all living things on earth and the environment they live in.
- Research on wetlands has played an important part in the management of the reserve. Planning nature conservancy by drawing on people's involvement illustrates the new thinking that is to be found in the whole Riksdag, comments Lars Berg.
International panel
The former Eastern European countries have far more species abundance.
- It would be interesting to do research that could throw a light on their biodiversity and explain how they have managed to conserve it, says Lars Berg who, in his work, meets many devoted environmental officials from the new members of the EU.
The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity is a large international study in progress at present. Swedish researchers participate in this on the initiative of the EU Commission and Germany.
Many of those working on the study were involved in the global UN health study Millennium Ecosystem Assessment which, a few years ago, drew the conclusion that about 60 per cent of the ecosystem services which support life on earth, such as freshwater, fisheries, air and water quality control, as well as the control of regional climate, natural risks and diseases, are being destroyed or used in an unsustainable manner.
In the wake of these studies, there is now discussion of a platform, a scientific panel, where the UN, governments and others can organise meetings on topical issues that concern both biodiversity and ecosystem services. This is called IPBES – Inter-governmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. A document drawn up by IPBES has the brief title Science Gap Analysis. This is the gap between research and decision making. Independent, credible scientific expertise and improved communication are some of the things needed to bridge this gap.
- This is a very promising approach to gathering available knowledge and providing advice for decision makers, comments Lars Berg.
EU meetings on biodiversity
During Sweden's presidency, the Government will endeavour to ensure that the EU gives prominence to the key role of ecosystems for human wellbeing. The Government also wants to emphasise the serious consequences of the loss of biodiversity. Among the conferences and meetings held during the presidency, some are specially concerned with biodiversity:
On 7-9 September, a high level meeting in Strömstad entitled Visions for Biological Diversity beyond 2010 – People, Ecosystem Services and the Climate Crisis.
On 21-23 September, a conference in Lund on how water on land brings life into the sea: Inland Water Brings Life into the Sea.
On 29 September-1 October, a meeting of researchers and officials in Visby within the network European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy.