Publication: Which are, what is their status and what can we expect from ecosystem services provided by Spanish rivers
and riparian areas?
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Date
2013
Authors
Vidal-Abarca Gutiérrez, María Rosario ; Suárez, M.L.
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Publisher
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DOI
doi:10.1007/s10531-013-0532-2
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info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Description
Abstract
By applying the framework proposed by Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,
we analysed the current state and trends of 20 ecosystem services provided by Spanish
rivers and riparian areas using 139 indicators. We compared the obtained results with the
Europe and UK assessment. It is the first document that attempts to analyse the importance
of services provided by Spanish rivers and riparian areas, and it forms part of the evaluation
carried out for the Spanish Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. Among the provisioning
services, freshwater, hydropower energy and genetic resources were classified as
high importance, and water regulation and self-purification capacity, and natural hazard
mitigation are among the regulating services, with landscape-aesthetic values and recreation
and ecotourism featuring among the cultural services. About 61 % of the assessed
ecosystem services are currently declining or degrading, but are higher than the percentage
calculated for Europe (45 %) or for the UK (53 %). All regulating services are degrading,
especially water regulation, natural hazard mitigation, soil formation and fertility and
biological control, and the cultural services related to rural populations. Likewise, the
biodiversity of Spanish aquatic ecosystems is decreasing rapidly. Land use changes and
overexploitation of biological and mineral raw materials have been the main direct drivers
of change in Spanish rivers and riparian zones, and relate directly to increase urbanised
areas and irrigated agriculture. Finally, we draw some considerations on alternative models
for aquatic ecosystems management which maintain aquatic ecosystem services and their
biodiversity.
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