MANAGEMENT OF THE OTMOOR PROTECTED AREA (OXFORDSHIRE) (MULTIFUNCTIONAL WETLANDS IN AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES: AN EVALUATION OF VALUES, IMPACTS AND THE APPLICATION OF THE ECOSYSTEM-BASED APPROACH) (NR0112) Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Authors McInnes, R.J., Crane, M., Rodda, H.J.E., Danks, P.W., Hogan, D.V., and Field, A.I. Full Report to Defra NR0112 September 2008 McInnes, et al., 2008 Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Slimbridge Gloucestershire GL2 7BT T 01453 891900 F 01453 890827 W www.wwt.org.uk Reg. charity no. 1030884 This document should be cited as: McInnes, R.J., Crane, M., Rodda, H.J.E., Danks, P.W., Hogan, D.V., and Field, A.I. 2008. Management of the Otmoor protected area (Oxfordshire) (Multifunctional wetlands in agricultural landscapes: An evaluation of values, impacts and the application of the ecosystem-based approach) (NR0112 – Full Report). WWT Report to Defra. Project Reference: NR0112. WWT, Slimbridge, UK. p95. ii NR0112: Management of Otmoor Protected Area CONTENTS Executive Summary v How to use this document viii 1 Introduction 1 1.1 An ecosystems approach 1 1.2 Otmoor protected area 2 1.3 Objectives 3 2 Identification of policy objectives 4 2.1 Introduction 4 2.2 Policies and drivers 4 2.3 Stakeholder responses 5 2.3.1 Introduction 5 2.3.2 Summary 6 3 Assessment of ecosystem services 8 3.1 Introduction 8 3.2 Regulating: Water purification and waste treatment 8 3.2.1 Introduction 8 3.2.2 Quantification of the ecosystem service 9 3.2.3 Economic evaluation 10 3.3 Regulating: Natural hazard regulation 11 3.3.1 Introduction 11 3.3.2 Quantification of service 11 3.3.3 Economic evaluation 12 3.4 Provisioning: Food production 13 3.4.1 Introduction 13 3.4.2 Quantification and economic evaluation 13 3.5 Cultural: Recreation 14 3.5.1 Introduction 14 3.5.2 Quantification and economic evaluation 14 4 Assessment of uncertainty 16 4.1 Assessment of uncertainty 16 5 Evaluation of an ecosystems approach 20 5.1 Introduction 20 5.2 Methodological observations 20 5.2.1 Data and methodological constraints 20 5.2.2 Causal chains 22 5.2.3 Reasoning and modelling 22 5.3 Participatory framework 22 McInnes, et al., 2008 5.4 Evaluation and application 23 5.5 Conclusions and recommendations 24 Acknowledgements 26 6 References 27 Appendix 1 – Otmoor protected area 32 Appendix 2 – Stakeholder responses 40 Appendix 3 – Conceptual framework for predicting and valuing ecosystem services 53 Appendix 4 – Assessment of ecosystem services 58 Appendix 5 – Soil types found at Otmoor 86 Appendix 6 – Otmoor SSSI citation 87 Appendix 7 – Notes from field visit, November 2006 89 Appendix 8 – Flood estimation handbook catchment descriptors 93 Appendix 9 – Climate change scenario 94 iv NR0112: Management of Otmoor Protected Area EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction The ‘Ecosystem Approach’ has been adopted by the Convention on Biological Diversity as a framework for sustainable development. In response to this, the application of an ecosystems approach is being progressed by Defra as part of its commitment to the development of a more holistic and integrated policy framework for the natural environment which ensures that the value of ecosystem services is truly recognised across Government. Otmoor protected area covers approximately 1100 hectares of Oxfordshire farmland. The site represents one of the most important wetland areas in central-southern England. The area carries a range of designations and consequently differing management practices. Four land designations represented at the site are: a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) reserve, land under the Upper Thames Tributaries Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and agricultural land outside of the ESA. Aims and objectives The information generated by this case study informs the implementation of an ecosystems approach through an assessment of a limited range of ecosystem services and an interrogation of how successfully an ecosystems approach is being applied at the Otmoor protected area. This is achieved through the following objectives: • identification of policy drivers and stakeholder preferences; • assessment of four ecosystem services; • evaluation of uncertainty in assessing ecosystem services and applying an ecosystems approach; and • overall evaluation of the project methodology and how successfully an ecosystems approach is being applied at Otmoor. The results presented are not intended to be definitive, but rather illustrate a method which informs the debate on applying an ecosystems approach. The intention has been to demonstrate an approach to implementing and understanding elements of an ecosystems approach. Therefore, whilst the individual outcomes are all open to question, interrogation and potentially refinement, it is the approach taken which is considered more important than the absolute nature of outcomes. Methodology The methodology drew upon stakeholder consultation (44 structured interviews) and limited field observations (primarily on land-use and soils) combined with desk-based analysis of readily available data. The main rationale for the approach was to investigate the extent to which existing information could be utilised in understanding the application of an ecosystems approach at Otmoor rather than implementing a large, empirically based study. Stakeholder preferences and policy drivers A range of policy drivers influence the delivery of the benefits derived from ecosystem services and the implementation of an ecosystems approach at Otmoor. The views of the majority of relevant sectors of society were canvassed to understand better their understanding of ‘ecosystem services’ and their awareness of the multi-functional benefits delivered by the Otmoor protected area. The concept of ‘ecosystem services’ was alien to the majority of stakeholders interviewed. However when explained as the benefits to people and wildlife provided by a natural area stakeholders were able to identify a range of benefits. The following was generally agreed by those interviewed: conservation of all species should be a priority on Otmoor; flooding should be allowed to occur naturally across all of Otmoor, at least in the long-term; and a large increase in visitors to Otmoor should not be encouraged. The main areas of disagreement were: achieving the appropriate balance between profitable farming and achievement of biodiversity goals; the extent to which flooding can and should be managed across Otmoor for the benefit of farming and conservation; and the extent to which M40 runoff is responsible for pollution of parts of Otmoor. The disagreements are primarily policy-related and require further investigation and resolution. The key question to be answered is what is the appropriate balance between farming and conservation on Otmoor? If farming practices are a key mechanism for the delivery of conservation objectives then this must be recognised. If policies, such as the Common Agricultural Policy are distorting the market then this needs to be addressed to ensure that the natural systems are valued appropriately. McInnes, et al., 2008 Conceptual framework A priority target for an ecosystems approach is the conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning in order to maintain ecosystem services. Based on the terminology adopted in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, elements of four ecosystem services (drawn from the only three of the main ecosystem service categories and omitting ‘supporting’ services) were investigated at Otmoor: Regulating: Water purification and waste treatment: specifically the removal of phosphorus and nitrogen. Regulating: Natural hazard regulation: specifically reducing the likelihood of extreme flood events. Provisioning: Food: specifically conversion of light, energy and nutrients into agricultural biomass. Cultural: Recreational: specifically provision of recreational opportunity. These services were selected on a priori knowledge of the site and in advance of any stakeholder consultation and do not necessarily represent the most important or economically valuable ecosystems services delivered by Otmoor. In order to quantify, and subsequently determine an economic valuation for, the four ecosystem services it was necessary to understand what was meant by ‘ecosystem services’. A conceptual model was employed in the investigations at Otmoor which reduced services to functions, processes and the variables which control relationships among them. Causal chains were derived in order to understand further and illustrate the relationships which exist among ecosystem services. Assessment of ecosystem services Each of the ecosystem services listed above was quantified and, where possible, an economic value was calculated. The assessment was undertaken across the four different land designations in order to understand better how different levels of protection influence the delivery of ecosystem services. Site and ecosystem service specific methodologies had to be developed for the quantification and economic valuation component of this study. Due to limitations in the approach it was not possible to assign an economic value to natural hazard regulation. Subtle, but not significant differences in the economic value of the ecosystem services were identified for the four different land designations. Food production was the most significant economic benefit ranging between £259 and £355 per hectare per annum. Water purification ranged between £15 and £ 20 per hectare per annum and recreation between £8 and £31 per hectare