MAPPING AND ASSESSMENT OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES FROM DIVICI-POJEJENA WETLAND BASED ON RECOMMENDED METHODOLOGY

• Published in: International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference : SGEM Vol. 17; pp. 445 - 452
• Main Authors: Laslo, Lucian, Matei, Monica, Ciobotaru, Nicu, Gyorgy, Deak
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Sofia Surveying Geology & Mining Ecology Management (SGEM) 01.01.2017
• Subjects: Aquatic ecosystems; Biodiversity; Boundaries; Case studies; Climate change; Data processing; Economic analysis; Economics; Ecosystem assessment; Ecosystem services; Ecosystems; Environment models; Environmental economics; Environmental protection; Evaluation; Frameworks; Habitats; Indicators; Iron; Mapping; Methodology; Methods; Modelling; Pressure effects; Provisioning; Regional analysis; Soil; Soil properties; Soil water; Statistical analysis; Surveys; Sustainable development; Tourism; Water quality; Water supply; Wetlands; Working groups; Romania; Europe; Luxembourg
• ISSN: 1314-2704
• DOI: 10.5593/sgem2017/31

This paper presents the works on applying the recommendations of European Commission to Member States by the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystem Services (MAES) framework to the Romanian peculiarities of wetlands ecosystems, at local level. The MAES framework, published in several guides by MAES working group, recommends for the Member States the methodology for the fulfillment of the Action 5 from the European Union's Biodiversity Strategy 2020 which is to assess in the first phase the ecosystems condition and their services. As case study is presented the application of the recommended methodology to Divici-Pojejena wetland, a Ramsar site protected also by Natura 2000 network and included in Iron Gate Natural Park. The methodology consists in technics for mapping the ecosystem boundaries, evaluation of the ecosystem condition and their services at local level. The methodological framework has three steps. The first step consists in mapping the ecosystem boundaries. The next step is to evaluate the ecosystem's state by the assessment of pressure indicators and its effect on the ecosystem's components: water quality, water quantity, soil quality and biodiversity, which were presented by the means of a habitat quality map of the wetland. The third step consists in evaluation and mapping of the services offered by the ecosystem using local surveys. Further, habitat modelling is used for regulation and maintenance services analysis and statistical processing for provisioning and cultural services. The results offered relevant data for mapping of ecosystem services. In the context of the lack of studies regarding the local level of ecosystem services assessment, this study could be used as reference work for other wetlands that are about to be analyzed in this regard. Also the local studies are the starting point for national ecosystem services evaluation, hence this work is suitable for regional or national evaluation of wetlands ecosystem services. At each level, the methods and the results of the quantitative assessment of biophysical indicators can be used in conjunction with social and economic indicators with the aim of sustainable development of the analyzed area.