Environment and ecosystem services

Abstract

In this subchapter, we discuss the need for investing in long-term assessment of impact on ecosystem services. We also think that governments should keep supporting national accounting of ecosystem services and that they should use the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) for that purpose. Mapping and assessment of the assets can also be employed for ecosystem accounting. Ecosystem services impact as- sessment, even though it is very important and necessary, cannot hide the facts that disaster risk management should move towards an ecosystem-based approach and that ecosystem degradation must be reversed. It is also important to highlight that impact on ecosystem services triggers a cascading effect that could be reflected in direct and indirect losses. These elements are discussed in detail, and we provide examples of and bibliographical references on how the ecosystem-based approach stands as a promising approach that can impact all elements of the disaster risk equation: mitigating hazards, reducing exposure, reducing vulnerabilities and increasing the resilience of exposed communities.