A Toolkit for Integrated
Wetland Assessment
O. Springate-Baginski, W. Darwall, L. Emerton,
E. Allison, A. McIvor and C. Bambaradeniya
This document was produced under the project “Strengthening Pro-Poor Wetland Conservation Using Integrated
Biodiversity and Livelihood Assessment”, carried out with financial support from the Darwin Initiative of the UK
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily
reflect those of IUCN or DEFRA.
Published by:
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit, IUCN Species Programme
[insert new IUCN logo]
Copyright:
© 2009 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
ISBN:
978-2-8317-1119-5
Citation:
O. Springate-Baginski, W. Darwall, L. Emerton, E. Allison, A. McIvor, D. Allen, and C.
Bambaradeniya. 2009. A Toolkit for Integrated Wetland Assessment. Freshwater Biodiversity Unit,
IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature, Cambridge.
Cover Photo:
Fishermen in the Mekong River, Stung Treng, Cambodia. © William Darwall 2006
Design:
???
Produced by:
IUCN – International Union for Conservation of Nature
Available from:
Freshwater Biodiversity Unit
IUCN Species Programme
219c Huntingdon Road
Cambridge CB3 ODL
United Kingdom
species@iucn.org
Tel.: +44 (0)1223 277966
Contents
Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................ iii
List of Boxes, Figures and Tables ..................................................................................................................................... v
Terms Used....................................................................................................................................................................... vi
About the authors ............................................................................................................................................................ viii
Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................................................9
Foreword ........................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
SECTION I: THE INTEGRATED ASSESSMENT PROCESS .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
1
Introduction and conceptual framework ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.1
Purpose of the toolkit ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.2
Wetland ecosystems and their governance - supporting inclusive and informed decision-making ...........Error!
Bookmark not defined.
1.3
Wetland assessment: improving upon conventional approachesError! Bookmark not defined.
1.4
Integrating when, how and by whom the assessment is carried outError! Bookmark not defined.
1.5
Conceptual integration in what is being assessed............ Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.6
Summary........................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2
How to conduct an integrated assessment .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.1
Introduction ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.2
Identifying the management issue to be addressed and the questions to be answeredError! Bookmark not
defined.
2.3
Form the integrated team and allocate roles .................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.4
Identify the information required, frame the study and take sampling decisionsError! Bookmark not defined.
2.5
Collation of Secondary Data / Pre-existing literature ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.6
Completing a planning matrix ........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.7
Planning within constraints ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.8
Conducting the fieldwork .................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.9
Integrated data management and storage protocols ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.10 Integrated data analysis .................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.11 Integrated presentation of results: a GIS-based approachError! Bookmark not defined.
2.12 Feedback and policy engagement .................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3
Practical guidance and methods sheets .................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.1
Forming an integrated team and working together ........... Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.2
Data management – the Species Information Service (SIS)Error! Bookmark not defined.
3.3
Threat mapping ................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
4
Maximising Impact: A Process Approach to Integrated Wetland Assessment ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.
SECTION II: THE TOOLS................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
5
Biodiversity assessment tools .................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.1
B1. Background and overview .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.2
B2. Planning a field survey ............................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.3
B3. Conducting species surveys ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.4
B4. Fish survey sampling methods ................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.5
B5. Mollusc sampling methods: Gastropods .................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.6
B6. Odonate sampling methods ....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.7
B7. Sampling methods for non-fish vertebrates associated with wetlands (herpetofauna, birds and mammals)
Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.8
B8. Plant survey methods ................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.9
B9. Market surveys (to be written – see B4 Fish) ............. Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.10 B10. Documentation of wetland conservation issues through field surveysError! Bookmark not defined.
iii
5.11 B11. Assessment of species threatened status (IUCN Red List)Error! Bookmark not defined.
5.12 B12. Alternative methods for biodiversity assessment ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.
6
Economic valuation tools ......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.1
E1. Why value wetland goods and services? ................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.2
E2. Summary of steps in wetland valuation ...................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.3
E3. Setting the study scope and parameters (Stage I) ..... Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.4
E4. Defining wetland values (Stage 2) ............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.5
E5. Valuing wetland costs and benefits (Stage 3) ............ Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.6
E6. Applying wetland valuation techniques (Stage 3) ...... Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.7
E7. Analysing and presenting the data for decision-making (Stage 4)Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.8
E8. References for this chapter ........................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
6.9
E9. Field checklists for wetland valuation ......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
7
Livelihood assessment tools .................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.1
L1. Organisation of livelihoods fieldwork - overview ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.2
L2. The sustainable livelihoods framework ....................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.3
L3. Research design, village and household selection .... Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.4
L4. Research methods ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.5
L5. Secondary data, key informants and group methods . Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.6
L6. Wealth ranking ............................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.7
L7. District or wetland site profile and village profile ........ Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.8
L8. Village livelihoods, past and present .......................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.9
L9. Effect of institutions on livelihoods .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.10 L10. Special questions on wetland resource use ............. Error! Bookmark not defined.
7.11 L11. Example tabulation for summarising group discussionsError! Bookmark not defined.
7.12 L12. Household survey forms ........................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
8
Mapping tools ........................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.1
M1. Mapping overview ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.2
M2. Sources of maps ........................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.3
M3. Finding maps on the internet ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.4
M4. Digitising and manipulating maps .............................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.5
M5. Mapping wetland habitats and species distributions . Error! Bookmark not defined.
8.6
M6. Mapping resource harvest areas and factors affecting access to resourcesError! Bookmark not defined.
8.7
M7. Budget and timetable for mapping activities .............. Error! Bookmark not defined.
SECTION III: CASES STUDIES OF USING THE TOOLKIT -......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
9
Mtanza Msona Case Study ...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
10 Stung Treng Case Study .......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Further Reading and References...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Further reading ............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
References ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
iv
List of Boxes, Figures and Tables
Boxes
Box 1: Examples of conservation and development goals that are incompatible and compatible ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 2: Examples of single discipline and integrated management questions ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 3: The importance of pure biodiversity and livelihoods information to an integrated study ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 4: How might we map the threats from a proposed dam?...................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 5: Participatory research on fish species and fishery related ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 6: Using market price techniques to value freshwater wetlands in the Zambezi Basin, Southern Africa ................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 7: Using effect on production techniques to value forest flood attenuation benefits in Eastern Madagascar .......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 8: Using travel cost techniques to value the impacts of improved environmental quality on freshwater recreation in the USError! Bookmark not
defined.
Box 9: Using hedonic pricing techniques to value urban wetlands in the US ................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 10: Using replacement costs techniques to value wetland water quality services in Nakivubo Swamp, Uganda .... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 11: Using mitigative or avertive expenditure techniques to value wetland flood attenuation in Sri Lanka ............... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 12: Using damage cost avoided techniques to value the role of flood attenuation in the Lower Shire Wetlands, Malawi and Mozambique and
Barotse Floodplain, Zambia ......................................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 13: Using contingent valuation techniques to value coastal wetlands in Korea ...................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 14: Using participatory valuation to value wetland utilisation in Sacred Lake, Kenya ............................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 15: Schematic maps showing biodiversity, livelihoods and economic values in a wetland ..................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Box 16: Digitising a map .............................................................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figures
Figure 1: A disintegrated approach to wetland assessment .......................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 5: Using integrated assessment to describe the links between wetland ecosystem services and human wellbeingError! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 6: Species contributions to livelihoods, and how human impacts can in turn affect species ............................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 7: Disaggregating natural resources and their beneficiaries in economic valuations .......................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 8: An adaptation of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (DFID, 1999), showing where biodiversity and economic valuation information can
feed in.......................................................................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 9: The biodiversity and livelihoods information sets, and the subset of information relevant to the project ......... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 10: The main information required as part of an integrated assessment, using wetland resources to link between species and livelihoods
information, and highlighting the spatial information components ................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 11: Sampling intensity and duration .................................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 12: Example of biodiversity data collection sheet .............................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 13: A hand-dredge (mouth: 46 x 21cm, weight 1kg, mesh size 2.5cm) .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 14: A hand-net for sampling small bivalves ....................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 15: Template for making paper triangles ........................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 16: IUCN Red List categories and criteria ......................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 17: Conceptual scheme of procedure for assigning IUCN Red List category at the regional level...................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 18: Summary of stages and steps in wetland valuation ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 19: The total economic value of wetlands.......................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 20: Ecosystem services, human well-being and the total economic value of wetlands....................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 21: The total economic cost of wetlands............................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 22: Methods for wetland valuation ..................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 23: Overview of fieldwork methods.................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 24: The sustainable livelihoods framework as a means to understand natural resource management systems . Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 25: Map of qualitative data components ............................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 26: Example tabulation for summarising group discussions .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Figure 27: Example household survey forms ............................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Tables
Table 1: Assessment methods and the subject areas to which they relate ................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 2: Standard sampling techniques to record herpetofauna ................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 3: Standard sampling techniques to record birds ................................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 4: Degradation and deterioration of habitats and ecosystems (qualitative/quantitative) ...................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 5: Spread of Invasive Alien Species ................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 6: Over-exploitation and destruction of species .................................................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 7: Valuation checklist #1 - Identifying and listing wetland values ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 8: Valuation checklist #2 - Selecting wetland costs and benefits to be valued..................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 9: Valuation checklist #3 - Choosing wetland valuation techniques..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 10: Valuation checklist #4 - Identifying data needs and sources ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
Table 11: Timetable of mapping activities .................................................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
v
Terms Used
Assessment
Evaluation, estimation (of the quality, value, or extent of), to gauge or judge. (OED 2008)
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine
and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species,
between species and of ecosystems.” The importance of this definition is that it draws attention to the many dimensions of
biodiversity. It explicitly recognizes that every biota can be characterized by its taxonomic, ecological, and genetic
diversity and that the way these dimensions of diversity vary over space and time is a key feature of biodiversity. Thus
only a multidimensional assessment of biodiversity can provide insights into the relationship between changes in
biodiversity and changes in ecosystem functioning and ecosystem services (CF2). (MEA 2005 Biodiversity Synthesis
p.18)
Ecosystem services
As defined by the MA, ecosystem services are “the benefits people obtain from ecosystems. These include provisioning
services such as food and water; regulating services such as regulation of floods, drought, land degradation, and disease;
supporting services such as soil formation and nutrient cycling; and cultural services such as recreational, spiritual,
religious, and other nonmaterial benefits.” This term corresponds with the usage by the Convention of the terms
“products, functions and attributes” (as shown in the definition of ecological character). The classification of water as a
provisioning service rather than a regulating service is debated, but this does not affect its general meaning within the
context of this report. (MEA 2005)
Governance
The patterns of exercise of public power. Relates to allocation of rights and adjudication between claims
Livelihood
Means of living, maintenance, sustenance; esp. to earn, gain, get, make, seek a livelihood. (OED 2008)
Public goods
Products and services which benefit society at large. Many wetland services are public goods, such as hydrological
regulation services.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty which provides the
framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their
resources. There are presently 158 Contracting Parties to the Convention, with 1759 wetland sites, totalling 161 million
hectares, designated for inclusion in the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance. Mission Statement: "The
Convention's mission is the conservation and wise use of all wetlands through local, regional and national actions and
international cooperation, as a contribution towards achieving sustainable development throughout the world" (Ramsar
COP8, 2002).
Values and Valuation
Value is defined as ‘the relative status of a thing, or the estimate in which it is held, according to its real or supposed
worth, usefulness, or importance’ (Oxford English Dictionary 2008). Value may be estimated in terms of some standard,
medium of exchange or monetary value. However value is subjective as different people value things differently for a
range of reasons. In order to compare values, valuation methods are used. Note that value and price are different as
price involves a market bargaining and exchange situation.
Wetlands:
As defined by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, wetlands are “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural
or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine
water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres” (Article 1.1 of the Convention text). wetlands may be
categorised into freshwater and coastal zone
vi
Wise use of wetlands: This involves “their sustainable utilisation for the benefit of humankind in a way compatible with
the maintenance of the natural properties of the ecosystem” (Ramsar COP3, 1987). The STRP has proposed updating
the definition to: “the maintenance of their ecological character within the context of sustainable development, and
achieved through the implementation of ecosystem approaches.” This proposal will be formally considered by the Ramsar
Convention’s Contracting Parties in November 2005.
vii
About the authors
Oliver Springate-Baginski is a Lecturer at the School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, UK and Senior
Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Group. His research interests include community based natural resource
management, political economy, political ecology, collective action and local government. Email:
oliver.springate@uea.ac.uk
Anna McIvor is a freshwater ecologist currently working as a post-doctoral researcher in the Department of Zoology,
University of Cambridge, UK. Her interests include river ecology, freshwater mussels, ecosystem services and freshwater
conservation. E-mail: anna.mcivor@gmail.com
David Allen is a Programme Officer with the IUCN’s Species Programme’s Freshwater Biodiversity Unit (Cambridge,
UK), and assesses the conservation status of freshwater species for inclusion in the IUCN Red List, and undertakes GIS
mapping of species distributions. He has also worked as a freshwater ecologist and as a Ramsar wetland site manager.
E-mail: david.allen@iucn.org
William Darwall is a Senior Programme Officer in the IUCN Species Programme and is head of the Freshwater
Biodiversity Unit. He is the Project Coordinator for the Darwin Initiative Project of which this Case Study is a key
component. His other work includes coordination of the IUCN/CI ongoing Global Freshwater Biodiversity Assessment and
development of approaches for identification of important sites of freshwater biodiversity. He has more than 20 years
experience of working in aquatic ecosystems in both tropical and temperate zones. Email: william.darwall@iucn.org
L. Emerton, (independent)
E. Allison, (World Fish, Penang, Malaysia)
C. Bambaradeniya (IUCN Sri Lanka – or moved on?)
viii
Acknowledgements
Thanks to all those who have helped in the development of this toolkit
All the case study teams …
Sreng …
Thanks to Darwin for coughing up – formal text & disclaimer?
…
9