Advanced Guide

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The Ecosystem Approach Advanced User Guide

1. Introduction

2. Steps to using the ecosystem approach

3. Applying the Ecosystem Approach

3.1	Task 1. How do you involve all members of society in decisions associated with the management of land, water and living resources?

3.2	Task 2. How do you ensure management is decentralised to the lowest appropriate level?

3.3	Task 3. How do you ensure the effects of management actions (potential or actual) on adjacent and other ecosystems are taken into account?

3.4

Task 4. How can the economic context be understood so that
Market distortions that affect biological diversity are reduced
Incentives are developed to promote biodiversity and sustainable use
Ecosystem costs and benefits are externalised?

3.5	Task 5. What measures could be used to conserve ecosystem structure and functioning so as to maintain ecosystem services?

3.6	Task 6. What measures can be taken to ensure ecosystems are managed within the limits of their functioning?

3.7	Task 7. What actions can been taken so that the problem(s) is (are) addressed at the appropriate temporal and spatial scales?

3.8	Task 8. How can varying temporal scales and lag-effects be taken into account when considering the sustainable use of ecosystems?

3.9	Task 9. How can adaptive management be used to address the problem(s) identified?

3.10	Task 10. How can an appropriate balance be sought between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity?

3.11	Task 11. How do you ensure all forms of relevant knowledge including, scientific, indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices are included?

3.12	Task 12. What measures can be taken to facilitate the involvement of all stakeholders including all sectors of society and scientific disciplines?

3.13	Cross-cutting issues

4. Creating a Management Plan

5. Assessing a project against the ecosystem approach

References