Biodiversity Management for Rivers of the Swiss Plateau

AQUACROSS Case Study 7 Report

Publication: Case Study
Citation: Kuemmerlen, Mathias et al. 2018: Case Study 7 Report: Biodiversity Management for Rivers of the Swiss Plateau. Eawag, Ecologic Institute, University of Liverpool: Dübendorf, Berlin, Liverpool.

Freshwater ecosystems in the Swiss plateau are threatened by multiple stressors that deteriorate water quality and hydromorphology. To restore these ecosystems and stop the biodiversity decline, multiple management measures will be implemented over the next decades. We propose methods for a spatial and temporal prioritisation to coordinate measures from different sectors and maximise their effectiveness while considering other societal needs.

In this study, we try to quantify the current state of knowledge on the dominant cause-effect relationships regarding the decrease in ecological status and biodiversity in rivers in the Swiss plateau. Furthermore, we use this knowledge to identify river management strategies that can be expected to have positive effects on the ecological state and biodiversity of rivers in the Swiss plateau, while also increasing the provision of some ecosystem services without significantly decreasing others. These objectives are addressed in close collaboration with stakeholders, primarily professionals from governmental agencies in the field of surface water protection, to profit from their knowledge and creativity and to support the design of alternatives that may have the potential of being implemented in Swiss river management plans.

The case study [pdf, 1.9 MB, English], as well as the summary [pdf, 376 KB, English], are available for download.

Ecosystem-Based Management, Ecosystem Services and Aquatic Biodiversity

Theory, Tools and Applications

Year 2020

Publication:Book Section

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are increasingly employed as a tool to protect Europe's swiftly declining marine biodiversity. However, despite increasing coverage, MPA effectiveness and equity is considered highly variable. Concurrently, Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) – that is, management that aims to protect, restore, or enhance the resilience and sustainability of an ecosystem to ensure sustainable flows of ecosystem services and conserve its biodiversity – is growing in prominence.

Ecosystem-Based Management for More Effective and Equitable Marine Protected Areas

A Case Study on the Faial-Pico Channel Marine Protected Area, Azores

Year 2020

Publication:Document

AQUACROSS Plan for Exploitation and Dissemination of Project Results

Deliverable D1.5

Year 2018

Publication:Document

Boteler, Benjamin et. al. 2015: Dissemination Plan – Strategy for disseminating AQUACROSS results and findings. Deliverable D1.1. Berlin, unpublished.

Dissemination Plan – Strategy for disseminating AQUACROSS results and findings

Deliverable D1.1

Year 2015

Publication:Article

Lago, M., Boteler, B., Rouillard, J., Abhold, K., Jähnig, S., Iglesias-Campos, A., Delacámara, G., Piet, G., Hein, T., Nogueira, A., Lillebø, A., Strosser, P., Robinson, L., De Wever, A., O'Higgins, T., Schlüter, M., Török, L., Reichert, P., van Ham, C., Villa, F. and Hugh, M. (2019). Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS project: Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies. Science of The Total Environment, 652, pp.320-329.

Introducing the H2020 AQUACROSS Project

Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies

Year 2019

Publication:Case Study

Lough Erne sustains multiple competing activities, each with different demands from the system in terms of ecosystem services and physical resources. It is a heavily modified water body, containing a range of non-native Invasive Alien Species (IAS) are considered a threat to Lough Erne biodiversity and also negatively affect the society that surrounds it. In this report, we apply the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework to understand this challenge and identify and assess ecosystem-based management solutions to the challenge of the IAS Nutall’s pond weed. The case study is available for download.

Management and Impact of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Lough Erne in Ireland

AQUACROSS Case Study 4 Report

Year 2018

Publication:Case Study

Over the past three years, the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework was developed, tested, and applied in eight case studies across Europe to solve local biodiversity challenges. Finally, results from each Case Study were published in a 30-page case study report and 3-page executive summary report. The case study is available for download.

Trade-Offs in Ecosystem-Based Fisheries Management in the North Sea Aimed at Achieving Biodiversity Strategy Targets

AQUACROSS Case Study 1 Report

Year 2018

Event:Conference

On 10 and 11 October 2018, the AQUACROSS Final Conference on "Ecosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – Practice and Lessons Learnt" took place in Brussels. AQUACROSS project team members presented different tools and results regarding aquatic biodiversity protection developed during the project. Conference participants from 21 countries received the eight AQUACROSS Case Studies and the Case Study Gallery with posters, photos and information material with particular interest. The presentations held during the conference are now available on the AQUACROSS project conference website.

Ecosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – AQUACROSS Final Conference

10 - 11 October 2018
Brussels, Belgium

Event:Workshop

The Faial-Pico Channel: Future stakeholder management of the Marine Protected Area

23 May 2018
Horta, Faial Island, Portugal

Language

English

Authorship

Hugh McDonald

Helene Hoffmann

Mathias Kuemmerlen (Eawag)

Nele Schuwirth (Eawag)

Peter Reichert (Eawag)

Peter Vermeiren (Eawag)

Fiona Culhane (University of Liverpool)

Credits

With contributions from:

Rosi Siber, Ruth Scheidegger, Diana van Dijk (all Eawag), Manuel Lago (Ecologic), Florian Borgwardt, Daniel Trauner (BOKU), Heliana Texeira (University of Aveiro)

Funding

European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

Year

2018

Dimension

40 pp.

Project

Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS)

Project ID

Table of contents

Click to show full table of contents

Keywords

freshwater, coastal, marine, ecosystems, resilience, EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy, nature conservation aquatic biodiversity, ecosystem-based management, Europe, H2020, assessment framework, policy targets, sustainability, case studies

Europa, Swiss plateau

Further Links

ProjectHorizon 2020Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS)

Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for AQUAtic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services aCROSS EU policies (AQUACROSS) aims to support EU efforts to protect aquatic biodiversity and ensure the provision of aquatic ecosystem services. Funded by Europe's Horizon 2020... Read more

Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS)

Duration: Jun 2015 - Nov 2018
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

PublicationReportThe AQUACROSS Innovative Concept

Gómez et al. (2016) The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept. Deliverable 3.1, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317. ... Read more

Gómez et al. (2016) The AQUACROSS Innovative Concept. Deliverable 3.1, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation grant agreement No. 642317.

PublicationWebsiteAQUACROSS

AQUACROSS Projektwebsite

The AQUACROSS website provides information on the AQUACROSS project, approach and case studies. Project outputs such as deliverables, policy briefs and publications are regularly promoted on the website. Ecologic Institute is responsible for the concept, design and... Read more

Ecologic Institute (2015): Knowledge, Assessment, and Management for Aquatic Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Across EU Policies (AQUACROSS). URL: http://aquacross.eu/

PublicationReportDeveloping the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework

Aquatic biodiversity is declining worldwide and faster than in terrestrial systems. To better protect these vulnerable species and safeguard the valuable services they provide and from which humans depend, is a key goal of the AQUACROSS project. To do this, it is... Read more

Gómez et al. (2016) Developing the AQUACROSS Assessment Framework. Deliverable 3.2, AQUACROSS, European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Grant Agreement No. 642317.

EventConferenceEcosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – AQUACROSS Final Conference

Conference:Ecosystem-Based Management for the Protection of Aquatic Biodiversity – AQUACROSS Final Conference

Date: 10 - 11 October 2018
Location: Brussels, Belgium

PublicationCase StudyEcosystem-based Solutions to Solve Sectoral Conflicts in the Azores

As part of the AQUACROSS project, Ecologic Institute lead a case in the Faial-Pico Channel, Azores, Portugal. Despite designation as a Marine Protected Area, biodiversity in the Faial-Pico Channel is declining. Our aim: to collaborate with local stakeholders and policy... Read more

McDonald, Hugh; Benjamin Boteler; Holger Gerdes, Helene Hoffman, Keighley McFarland and Lina Röschel. 2018. D9.2 : Case Study 8 Report: Ecosystem-based solutions to solve sectoral conflicts on the path to sustainable development in the Azores. Ecologic Institute: Berlin. Available: https://aquacross.eu/content/case-study-8-ecosystem-based-solutions-solve-sectoral-conflicts-path-sustainable-development