The IUCN's Commission for Ecosystem Management (IUCN-CEM) defines ecosystem management as “a process that integrates ecological, socio-economic, and institutional factors into comprehensive analysis and action in order to sustain and enhance the quality of the ecosystem to meet current and future needs.” The core objective of ecosystem management is the sustainable, efficient and equitable use of natural resources.

Ecosystem management recognises that the inter-connectivity of ecological, socio-cultural, economic and institutional systems is fundamental to our understanding of the factors which influence environmental objectives and outcomes. It is a holistic, multi-disciplinary and integrated approach, which requires a substantial shift in the way we perceive and approach the management of both our natural and modified environments.

Why use ecosystem management?

Human well-being, food security and sustainable livelihoods are intimately linked to the future health of our diverse ecosystems. Ecosystem mangement demands an understanding of the functions of ecosystems in supporting and regulating the processes which underpin life on earth. Furthermore, the approach recognises that ecosystems provide diverse goods and services which are directly or indirectly valued by society in ecological, economic and socio-cultural terms.

Many conventional approaches to resource management have usually been single-purpose and limited in space (e.g. local, regional, national and transboundary) and time (e.g. short-, medium- and long-term). The resulting decision-making processes have therefore generally failed in being able to address the human-induced pressures on the environment in terms of  understanding their effects on essential ecosystem services.

Ecosystem management, in recognising the critical role humans have as managers of biodiversity, aims to avoid these short-comings by identifying and communicating the benefits and values of  healthy ecosystems in ensuring both species survival and human well-being.

A practical view of ecosystem management

The potential for ecosystem management is being tested and realised in diverse case-studies around the world. In following the five identified IUCN-CEM themes of: Ecosystem Approach; Ecosystem Restoration; Ecosystem Indicators; Ecosystem Management Tools and  Ecosystem Services, this page will provide links to relevant case studies, publications, information and tools that emphasise the practical application of nature valuation for management across a range of ecosystem types. Specifically, there is a focus on how ecosystem services can be used as a basis for valuation (e.g. ecological, economic and socio-cultural valuation methods). Furthermore, attention will be given  to how valuation stimulates the maintenance of ecosystem services through financing mechanisms, equitable decision-making processes and practical objectives for the management of ecosystem services.

We very much value your ideas or information you may have on case studies that fit the above description. So, if you have any comments, remarks or questions please feel free to contact us: Matt Zylstra (matt.zylstra@fsd.nl) or Ivo Mulder (ivo.mulder@fsd.nl).

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