title: The potential of using the Ecosystem Approach in the implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive.
abstract: The Ecosystem Approach provides a framework for looking at whole ecosystems in decision making to ensure that society can maintain a healthy and resilient natural environment now and for future generations. Although not explicitly mentioned in the Water Framework Directive, the Ecosystem Approach appears to be a promising concept to help its implementation, on the basis that there is a connection between the aims and objectives of the Directive (including good ecological status) and the provision of ecosystem services. In this paper, methodological linkages between the Ecosystem Approach and the Water Framework Directive have been reviewed and a framework is proposed that links its implementation to the Ecosystem Approach taking into consideration all ecosystem services and water management objectives. Individual River Basin Management Plan objectives are qualitatively assessed as to how strong their link is with individual ecosystem services. The benefits of using this approach to provide a preliminary assessment of how it could support future implementation of the Directive have been identified and discussed. Findings also demonstrate its potential to encourage more systematic and systemic thinking as it can provide a consistent framework for identifying shared aims and evaluating alternative water management scenarios and options in decision making. Allowing for a broad consideration of the benefits, costs and tradeoffs that occur in each case, this approach can further improve the economic case for certain measures, and can also help restore the shift in focus from strict legislative compliance towards a more holistic implementation that can deliver the wider aims and intentions of the Directive.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vlachopoulou
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK; Joint Water Evidence Group, Analysis and Evidence Team, Water & Flood Risk Management, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Area 3D, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coughlin
authors.affiliation: Evidence Directorate, Strategic Environmental Planning, Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Howbery Park, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford, Oxon OX10 8BD, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Forrow
authors.affiliation: Joint Water Evidence Group, Analysis and Evidence Team, Water & Flood Risk Management, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Area 3D, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR, UK; Evidence Directorate, Environment Agency, 550 Streetsbrook Road, Solihull, West Midlands BS1 1QT, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kirk
authors.affiliation: Evidence Directorate, Strategic Environmental Planning, Environment Agency, Kings Meadow House, Kings Meadow Road, Reading RG1 8DQ, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Logan
authors.affiliation: Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK. Electronic address: n.voulvoulis@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Voulvoulis
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005062:European Union; D062066:Water Resources
keywords: Benefit delivery; Holistic water resources management; Public engagement; Systems thinking; WFD; Water policy