The ecosystem service agenda is an integral part of the European strategy to maintain and protect biodiversity. Pursuant to the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 (Action 5), Member States are obliged to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services on their national territories by 2014. The assessment of economic values of these services, and the promotion of their integration into various systems on the national and EU level, is recommended by 2020.
Evaluated Ecosystem Services
Nine ecosystem services have been evaluated in PSA, and two of them
on the whole range of rivers Drava, Sava and Danube and their floodplains. To evaluate ecosystem services, different ecosystem valuation methods have been used, depending on data integrity and time availability. All relevant stakeholders and experts connected to the field of agriculture, forestry, water management, physical planning,
tourism and nature protection were included in the project. Altogether, 25 meetings were held regarding the use of river and floodplain ecosystem services on regional and national level.
Pilot Study Area Drava - Molve
Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
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Figure 2: Location and extent of PSA Drava – Molve, extent of inundation zone in PSA (width ranges from 1.5 to 3 km), and position of dykes
Ecosystem services relevant for Drava-Sava-Danube floodplain ecosystems and Pilot Study Area:
List of Ecosystem services relevant for Drava Sava Danube Floodplains
Functions Ecosystem service Highly relevant Relevant Evaluated Not
Regu
latin
g
Flood mitigation
Balance of erosion and acumulation
Nutrient retention and water self purification
Carbon sequestration
Local climate regulation
Air purification
Draught mitigation, water storage
Supp
ortin
g
Habitat and biodiversity provision
Biocorridor provision
Prov
isio
ning
Timber production
Biomass energy
Fish production
Game animals production
Drinking water supply
Irrigation water supply
Agriculture production
Cultu
ral
Estetic value of landscape
Recreation/Tourism
Naive art inspiration
Raw material for local crafts
Habitats for indigenous breeds
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Comparison of scenarios for evaluated ecosystem services:
List of Ecosystem services relevant tor Drava Sava Danube Floodplains
Ecosystem serviee Estimate for scenario
$A B C
mil. $. for pilote study area 201 km2.year–1
Wood production 284 $.ha of forest–1.year–1 60 55 67
Fish production 277 $.ha of water body–1.year–1 0,45 0,5 >A
Flood mitigation 5020 $.ha of floodplain–1.year–1 26,4 -7,4 31,5
Habitat provision 17800 $.ha of floodplain–1.year–1 139 107 179
Game animals production 18 $.ha of floodplain–1.year–1 1,45 <A >A
Drinking water provision 396 $.ha of floodplain–1.year–1 19,5 ? >A
Nutritient retention 250 $.ha of floodplain–1.year–1 0,95 ? 1,28
Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
Scenario B: Drinking water provision can not be evaluated properly due to the complexity of hydrological processes and lack of data. However, it can be assumed that scenario B due to the absence of inundation and less permeable bottom of accumulation (compared to active river bottom) would lead to the reduction of groundawater recharge. To evaluate nutrient retention in scenario B additional analyses should be done.