The Link between Ecosystem Services and Human Wellbeing in the Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Assessing Four River Basins in Europe

Abstract

: This paper explores the relationship between the environment and human wellbeing whilst considering water resource pressures in the context of ecosystem services, before assessing the management actions to facilitate human wellbeing under the European Union’s Water Framework Directive (WFD). By focusing on four river basins in four European countries currently working to implement the WFD, we explore the effects of multiple pressures faced within each one on human wellbeing. Under an Ecosystem Services framework, we identify those effects and consolidate them into Human Wellbeing Factors to assess the management actions. Then, by conducting a qualitative content analysis, we assess the effectiveness of each Program of Measures at river basin level and relate them to Human Wellbeing Factors. Findings indicate that factors such as population growth trends intensify the effects of these pressures on human wellbeing. Finally, the paper pinpoints that human wellbeing must remain an ever-present consideration to be weighed against any other competing policy objectives.

Freshwater: The Importance of Freshwater for Providing Ecosystem Services

“…Provided the increasing population, which is expected to reach 8 billion in 2025, water withdrawals are expected to increase; the business as usual scenario predicts increase in water withdrawals of 22% by 2025 while the crisis scenario foresees 37% increase. Consequently, the stress to freshwater resources and the need to sustain ecosystem services, also as a means to achieve the targets set towards achieving the SDGs, are becoming increasingly pressing in the coming years (Aylward et al, 2005).…”

“…Holistic ecosystem-based management allows for trade-offs between the Ecosystem Services while taking societal goals into account. Ecosystem services are engaged, within this framework, to map the impacts of ecosystem changes to human wellbeing, ultimately aiming at identifying mitigation options or actions for the sustainable use of ecosystems, able to adverse the effects of drivers and pressures and improve quality of life via meeting the sustainable development goals (Apostolaki, Koundouri and Pittis, 2019). This framework works well provided it is initially well defined, it is based on extensive and consistent monitoring and on elaborate evaluation processes.…”

“…Kummu et al 2011). The vicinity of surface open water bodies was always an attraction of increased amenity value, from early settlers to the proponents of urban design based on water features, such as the 'Garden City Movement' of Ebenezer Howard, and the restoration actions of Niagara Falls(Apostolaki and Jefferies, 2009;Apostolaki and Duffy, 2017) to the latest decade that has seen explicit assessments of the importance of the water-human interactions in urban environments through numerous decision support tools aiming to quantify this relationship(Farell et al, 2010;Braat and de Groot, 2012; Russi et al, 2013). Attractiveness of surface freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity richness attract visitors, sport practitioners and nature lovers, bearing clear benefits to their physical, mental and psychological well-being.…”

“…Attractiveness of surface freshwater ecosystems and their biodiversity richness attract visitors, sport practitioners and nature lovers, bearing clear benefits to their physical, mental and psychological well-being. The presence of surface water bodies and the contact with biodiversity are considered to provide health benefits, thus improve mental, spiritual, cultural, and physical health(Völker and Kistemann, 2013;McFarlane et al, 2019) and even increase property prices(Apostolaki and Jefferies, 2009;Venohr et al, 2018), at occasionally high levels.…”

The Economics of Sustainable Development

“…The Water Framework Directive (WFD) sets the guidelines for efficient management and in this line Koundouri et al (2016) introduce a methodology that evaluates the total economic value of water services aligned with the WFD. Navarro-Ortega et al, 2015and Akinsete et al (2019) under the GLOBAQUA project explore the linkages between the factors affecting water quality and human wellbeing by focusing on several river basins respectively. Sustainable river management (Dávila et al, 2017;Pistocchi et al, 2017), the value of biodiversity (Birol et al, 2009), the marine and coastal ecosystems mitigation measures against climate change (Remoundou et al, 2009;Remoundou et al, 2015), the oceans (Koundouri, & Giannouli, 2015;Koundouri, 2017) as well as the seas (Remoundou et al, 2014;Stuiver et al, 2016;Van den Burg et al, 2016;Zagonari et al, 2018) have also been subject to research.…”