Ecosystem S ervices in the Greater Houston Region A case study analysis and recommendations for policy initiatives
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
The 13+ County Region surrounding Houston has 10 distinct ecoregions There are over 20 maj or bayous and creeks that run 40-miles each like fingers through the Houston Region and flanked by 3 maj or rivers And, over 8 million people living around these ecoregions and waterways
Ecosystem Function Vs. S ervice: The Frappuccino Example Function S ervice http:/ / weheartit.com/ entry/ 177106938/ via/ starbucks, http:/ / www.starbuckcoffee.net , http:/ / www.huffingtonpost .ca/ 2014/ 03/ 17/ water-and- weight-loss-_n_4979104.htm
Benefit Relevant Indicators: Photo source: Starbucks.com
Benefit Relevant Indicators (BRI) Economics Nature Understanding ecosystem services’ Benefit Relevant Indicators (BRIs) and Values, where available, allow for more informed communication between scientists, industry, policy and other decision-makers regarding the benefits and uses of ecosystems to human wellbeing. http:/ / www.clipartbest.com/ cliparts/ jcx/ E9k/ jcxE9kKgi.png
Benefit Relevant Indicator Examples:
Use of BRIs to assess the fishing benefits derived from wetland restoration
Local Ecosystem S ervice Benefits Wetlands and Prairies & Riparian Forests Estuaries • 1. Water quality • 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 • 6. Control soil erosion • 6. Noise control, estuaries • 5. Wildlife viewing • 7. Carbon sequestration property values • 7. Reduced health costs • 6. Carbon sequestration • 8. Avoided engineered • 8. Carbon sequestration • 7. Erosion control system costs • 9. Aesthetic beauty • 9. Reduced energy • 8. Water quality use/ costs improved
Ecosystem S ervices provided by a coastal wetland marsh 6. Carbon dioxide sequestration - reducing greenhouse gas air 1. Water 4. Improved habitat pollution Recreation & for j uvenile fishery Fishing species 7. Erosion stabilizing of 2. Aquifer soil and roots Recharge 5. Wildlife system habitat and Ecotourism 3. Flood Prevention by slowing 8. Polluted water storm surge filtered through wetland grasses improving water quality
Ecosystem S ervices Provided by a Prairies 7. Absorption & Riparian Corridors of carbon 4. Flood control 1. Water Quality dioxide and through Rainfall enhancement by other air absorption by soil reduced pollution pollutants and plants & nutrients into watersheds 8. Replaces 5. Provides expensive seed bank for drainage systems 2. Increased future and retention wildlife habitat agriculture and ponds & ecotourism restoration proj ects 9. Aesthetics that 3. Recharges 6. Roots increase property groundwater prevent soil values erosion
Ecosystem S ervices Provided by a Forest 7. Improved air quality by 4. Improved 1. Cleaner absorbing city quality of life for water through pollutants and residents root systems greenhouse gases and recharges aquifers 5. Provides outdoor 8. S equesters 2. Provides recreational carbon storm water opportunities retention 6. Blocks noise 9. Reduced 3. Provides coming from energy costs by habitat for traveled roads, shading buildings wildlife and birds increasing that people & property values ecotourism http:/ / jimolive.photoshelter.com/ gallery-image/ Memorial- Park/ G0000tg7eebE3gkU/ I0000tZ8P3.E6bbU/ C0000wD6dE72H88s
Local Examples of Green Infrastructure Project Brays • Provide retention area for heavy rain events • Develop natural marshlands and green spaces along Brays Bayou • Improve water quality and reduce the need for treatment • Provide recreation and tourism opportunities for the community Infrastructure need: Water Quality, Water S upply, Water Detention/ Retention and Flood Control Solution(s): • Filtration and absorption of pollutants using wetland and prairie grasses • Community recreational park • Green spaces that allow for water retention in heavy rain events • Cost to Construct: http:/ / www.projectbrays.org/ about.html $3.2 Million
Local Examples of Green Infrastructure Dow Chemical- Seadrift, TX • Dow Chemical needed a solution for wastewater treatment at its S eadrift site, as the current treatment facilities were not meeting EP A effluent guidelines • The cost of building a sequencing batch reactor and constructing a wetland in the current tertiary pond were compared; the wetland saved Dow $124-$129 million in costs over the lifetime of the solution Infrastructure need : Water Quality, Water Detention/ Retention and Reduce Nutrient Load Solution: • Reduction in suspended solids and balance of pH levels • Provide wildlife habitat and aesthetic for surrounding community • Cost to Construct: $1.4 DiMuro, J. L., F. M. Guertin, R. K. Helling, J. L. Perkins, and S. Romer. A Financial and Million Environmental Analysis of Constructed Wetlands for Industrial Wastewater Treatment. 2014.
Dow Chemical- Valuing Nature • Dow Chemical’s Seadrift, Texas project to use reconstructed wetland for wastewater treatment has yielded more than $200 million in net present value. • The cost of construction for the wetland was $1.4 million and took 18 months to complete. The gray infrastructure alternative, a sequencing batch reactor, would have cost $40 million and taken 48 months to complete construction. ustainability Goals & DiMuro et al., 2014. “A Financial and From Dow Chemical 2025 S Environmental Analysis of Constructed Wetlands for Industrial Wastewater Treatement .
Local Examples of Green Infrastructure M.D. Anderson – The Prairie Project dsfdfdsfdfssdf • Developed prairie and wetland green spaces throughout the Texas Medical center • S erves as a filter for storm water and reduces run off • Provides a habitat for many species of wildlife • Provides recreation opportunities for the patients, visitors and staff in the community • Provide health benefits for cancer patients through green space access Infrastructure need: Water Quality, Water Detention/ Retention, and Recreation Solution: Reduction run off in the area, restored wildlife habitat and created recreation opportunities and stress reducing aesthetic for surrounding community Cost to Construct: $1 Million
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) Classification of Ecosystem S ervices • Regulating – provides • Provisioning – provides direct benefits to direct material and support and maintain consumable benefits control of ecosystems ▫ Food and fiber ▫ Climate regulation ▫ Timber and minerals ▫ Waste treatment ▫ Fuels ▫ Water regulation ▫ Medicinal resources ▫ Nutrient regulation • Cultural Services – • Supporting Services – provides direct benefits provides direct social to support and maintain and spiritual benefits control of ecosystems ▫ Recreation ▫ Primary production ▫ Spiritual and historic ▫ Nutrient cycling ▫ Science and education ▫ Water cycling From Jim Lester
National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS)
EPA – NESCS Framework Design & Policy Application Final Report (2015)
S tudy Goals and S cenarios for Using Ecosystem S ervices Valuation Methods • Ecological Function 1) Ecological Function Monitoring 2) S patial-S cale Impact on Function • Development 3) Outright Losses 4) S ubstitute Equivalency 5) Building S omething New • Lifetime 6) Energy S avings 7) Insurance S avings 8) Property Value 9) Cost of Illness 24
Ecosystem S ervice Valuation M ethods Goals On-site Ecological Function Analysis Statistical Quantification of ES Direct Market Price Large-Scale Impact on ES Existing Green v. Development Avoided Cost Existing Gray v. installing Green Replacement Cost Neutral Land v. Green Restoration Mitigation/ Restoration Cost Energy Savings Hedonic Pricing Insurance Costs v. Savings w ES Benefit Transfer Property Value Cost of Illness
Ecological Function Analysis 1 • Uses on-site measurements of the ecosystem services in a particular location to determine their value and to show the extent of the ES in a particular ecosystem • Once the capacity of the ecosystem service is known, it can be given value when connected to existing markets Use for Ecological Function Monitoring, S patial S cale Impact on Function, and Building S omething New 26
2 Direct Market Price Looks at the actual price of a commodity derived from an ecosystem in an existing market to determine the value of the ecosystem service Use for Provisioning Ecosystem S ervices (goods harvested from ecosystem) and some applications for Property Value and for Carbon markets 27
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