Ecosystem Services in the Greater Houston Region A case study analysis and recommendations for policy initiatives
Ecosystem S ervices Ecosystems provide services through their natural processes that we all benefit from daily: Fresh water quality control Flood protection Recreation opportunities Recharging of aquifers for water supply Protection from damage by hurricanes and tropical storms Pollution reduction from air and water Carbon sequestration
Houston is an Ecologically Diverse Region Ecoregions: Big Thicket Piney Woods Trinity Bottomlands Columbia Bottomlands Post Oak Savannah Prairie Systems Bayou Wilderness Coastal Marshes Estuaries and Bays Gulf of Mexico
Local Ecosystem S ervice Benefits Wetlands and Prairies Forests Estuaries • 1. Aesthetic beauty • 1. Recharge aquifer • 2. Eco-tourism • 2. Retains storm water • 1. Recreation • 3. Water supply • 3. Eco-tourism • 2. Recharge aquifers • 4. Decrease flooding • 4. Adds aesthetics to city • 3. Flood prevention • 5. Biodiversity • 5. Outdoor activities • 4. Freshwater inflows to estuaries • 6. Control soil erosion • 6. Noise control, property values • 5. Wildlife viewing • 7. Carbon sequestration • 7. Reduced health costs • 6. Carbon sequestration • 8. Avoided engineered system costs • 8. Carbon sequestration • 7. Erosion control • 9. Water quality • 9. Reduced energy • 8. Water quality use/ costs improved
Ecosystem S ervices provided by a 6. Carbon dioxide is coastal wetland marsh taken out of atmosphere and used to grow more 4. Fresh water flows into marsh bays and estuaries, grass(sequestration), 1. Provides areas providing t he perfect for people t o fish, reducing greenhouse gas habitat for j uvenile fishery canoe/ kayak, and pollution in the air species, supporting the other do other commercial industry outdoor activities 7. Controls erosion by stabilizing soil 2. Fresh, clean through extensive water is recharged root system, 5. Provides habitat into aquifers preventing for birds, and below, preventing landowner losses water species so salt water people can view intrusion from the and photograph bays and providing wildlife 8. Polluted water is filtered fresh water supply through wetland grasses and nutrients and pollutants are taken up through roots, 3. Flooding is prevented in populated improving water quality for areas because storm surge water is recreation, fishing, and slowed and absorbed by wetland drinking plants and soils
Ecosystem S ervices Provided by a Prairie 7. Vast plant community absorbs carbon 4. Rainfall is absorbed 1. Adds aesthetic dioxide and other by the soil and plants, beauty to air pollutants, decreasing flooding in communities, protecting our nearby communities increasing health property values 8. We can avoid building 5. Diversity of large-scale and 2. Provides wildlife flowers and grasses expensive drainage viewing opportunities acts as seed bank for systems, retention by adding habitat for future agriculture ponds, and storm insects, birds, and and restoration culverts by preserving small mammals proj ects areas of native prairie 3. Rain water is able 6. Roots penetrate to soak through soil 9. Reduced runoff of deep into soil, and recharge the pollution and nutrients preventing soil groundwater below, from agriculture protects erosion and keeping adding water supply our water supply in lakes our surface water and reservoirs bodies clearer
Ecosystem S ervices Provided by a Forest 7. Improve air quality by absorbing city 4. Improve aesthetic pollutants, car perception of the city emissions, and 1. Cleans water and quality of life for greenhouse gases through root residents which lowers health systems and care costs due to recharges aquifers respiratory irritants below for our water supply 5. Provide outdoor recreational 8. S equester carbon opportunities: trail into woody trunks and running, hiking, leaves of trees and 2. Provides biking, picnics, etc. underbrush, offsetting retention areas for green house gas storm water runoff emissions to reduce flooding in the city 6. Blocks noise coming from densely traveled 9. Reduce energy costs roads, increasing 3. Provides habitat for by shading buildings property values wildlife and birds that from hot sun in people can observe summer and blocking and photograph chilly winds in winter http:/ / jimolive.photoshelter.com/ gallery-image/ Memorial- Park/ G0000tg7eebE3gkU/ I0000tZ8P3.E6bbU/ C0000wD6dE72H88s
Houston’s Green Approach to Development Understand ecosystems and the services they provide to the region Realize the true value of ecosystem services and the potential economic burden on the region if those services are compromised Implement growth and development while considering ecosystem services by protecting ecological diversity and utilizing green infrastructure Continue to develop an economically and environmentally prosperous city
S ervices Provided by Local Ecosystems Water Water Erosion Flood Air Energy Carbon Recreation/ Supply Quality Control Protection Quality Savings Sequestration Wildlife Habitat Wetlands/ Estuaries Prairies Forests Realizing the true value of ecosystem services and the potential economic burden on the region if those services are compromised depends on local ecosystem services studies When the tangible value of services is understood, policy decisions can be made that take into consideration all economic factors, including ecosystem services.
Field of Ecosystem S ervices S tudies Ecosystem Services Studies Economics Nature Understanding ecosystem services value allows for informed communication between scientists, industry, and policymakers regarding the benefits of ecosystems to human wellbeing. http:/ / www.clipartbest.com/ cliparts/ jcx/ E9k/ jcxE9kKgi.png
Contributors to Ecosystem S ervices S tudies Local Non-profits Universities Governmental Research Centers Agencies Regional Understanding of Ecosystem Services
Proactive Policy in Houston Im plem ent growth and developm ent while prom oting policy decisions that consider ecosystem services S olve local and regional resource Protect existing Increase production issues using cost- ecological diversity and value of services effective ecosystem and associated by enhancing services solutions ecosystem services ecosystems such as green infrastructure http:/ / greenplanetethics.com/ wordpress/ wp- http:/ / www.mcatoolkit.org/ images/ 1_3_ content/ uploads/ 2012/ 04/ green-infrastructure- Conservation_Oyster.jpg managing-water.jpg
Gray v. Green Infrastructure Green Infrastructure Gray Infrastructure • Naturally occurring • Mechanical processes processes • Existing or • Man-made engineered/ • Facilities, buildings enhanced natural • Artificial areas • Complete a function • Ecosystem services • Complete a function Green infrastructure is the most direct way to include ecosystem services into development decisions
Green Infrastructure: New Y ork City • Water supply under threat from non-point sources of pollution • Supply comes from large privately-owned, agricultural based watershed Problem • Created the Whole Farm Program: • Farmers create custom pollution control designs and implement themselves Solution • Compensated for efforts, avoid regulatory enforcement • Protected pristine water supply • Avoided building treatment facilities • Saved Billions of dollars Results • Demonstrated importance of stakeholder engagement in protecting ecosystem services • Voluntary/ incentivized cooperation is proven to be most effective strategy Implications http:/ / www.foodsystemsnyc.org/ node/ 2193
Local Examples of Green Infrastructure Dow Chemical- Seadrift, TX Project Brays • Engineered wetlands • Develop nat ural marshlands • Reduce nutrient loads of effluent and green spaces along Brays that caused the manufacturing Bayou facility to exceed discharge permit • Improve wat er qualit y and criteria reduce t he need for t reat ment • S aved millions of dollars • Provide recreat ion and t ourism • Improved habitat and aesthetics of opport unit ies for t he the surrounding area communit y • Completely effective for over 15 years http:/ / www.projectbrays.org/ about.html
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