Marine and coastal ecosystem-based risk management handbook.

Abstract

Management of any environmental issue requires the application of management measures designed to eliminate, control, mitigate, or compensate for pressures related to the drivers of human activities to avoid potential environmental effects. Management strategies are typically implemented in the form of regulations, policies, programmes, best management practices, standard operating procedures, management targets, and even stewardship and education, to name a few. In practice, environmental management measures target driver-specific pressures to reduce the risk of environmental effects and subsequent impacts on vulnerable ecosystems and environmental services. Particularly in the marine environment, the coastal zone is influenced by many drivers occurring within a very dynamic ecosystem, integrating land-based and marine influences. Already managed by a complex jurisdictional framework, each of these pressures can cause environmental effects individually or in combination with pressures from other drivers. From a simple management perspective, the challenge lies in identifying environmental management priorities that consider the most significant pressures and ecosystem vulnerabilities. Risk analysis and management are widely used in various management constructs from civil and mechanical engineering to food safety and human health. The World Trade Organization (WTO) has embedded risk analysis in the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures, which considers the protection of human, animal, and plant health in products traded internationally. Among the types of risk analysis and management approaches studied, some are based on probabilistic models and others are more qualitative in nature. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) also published a standard on risk management and risk assessment techniques. In this standard, the management of risks is based on identifying clearly the sources of these risks, analysing their consequences, and evaluating management options. Under the lead of a competent authority, the process includes communication and consultation with affected stakeholders as well as review and monitoring. In environmental management, the application of such risk management approaches provides assurance that management measures adequately protect the sustainability of the most vulnerable ecosystems and environmental services. Such a process not only assesses ecosystem risks, but aims to implement management measures and deploy resources to priorities of the highest ecosystem, social, cultural, economic, and policy risks. A key benefit of risk management frameworks and processes is also the identification and implementation of the most effective and efficient management measures based on existing scientific knowledge, legislation, and technologies. In this handbook, the ISO 31000 standard for risk management and risk assessment techniques is used as the basis for an ecosystem-based, risk management approach. Considered as “events”, environmental effects are at the centre of this process, where the consequences can alter, disrupt, or even degrade ecosystems. This document bridges the ISO 31000 risk management framework with the ecosystem-based management approach used in environmental assessment, integrated coastal and oceans management, and marine spatial planning. Given the generic content of this framework, the intent of this document is to provide basic project planning blocks for any ecosystem-based management project.