CHAPTER 4 . Methods and Tools to Support eZM
79
In the present paper we will not discuss the concept of performance indicators. We
will concentrate on the definition of the state indicators, which characterize the value
of our "green capital".
In order to use the method for a practical case more detailed information has to be collected.
• Firstly, the relevant indicators should be defined, and their monetary/non monetary
units should be established;
• Secondly, a monitoring network should be established and selected indicators should
be monitored depending on the issue concerned measurements should be taken
intermittently or continuously;
• Thirdly, criteria should be established for recommended values of state parameters;
• Finally, actual values should be evaluated against these criteria and appropriate action,should be initiated when needed.
As a starting point, the indicators described in de Groot (1992), for the various functions of nature can be used. The environmental parameters which influence the various functions are given in Table 4.2. Not all of these parameters are equally important
for all functions. A more detailed matrix per function is given in the above reference.
4.4.4
Step 3: Impact and Response
Changes in the state of the environment will have an impact on the performance of
the system. Often such impacts are inducing a sequential cause-effect chain. Changes
in the state of the socio-economic system will induce technological developments which
in turn will cause changes in the natural environment. If such changes are not properly managed they may affect human welfare and well being and may ultimately have
an adverse effect on the production capacity of the system.
Therefore it is ess~ntial that changes should be detected well in advance so that
mitigating responses can be initiated timely. To that end a control system should be
integrated in the system analogy of the coast, as shown in Fig. 4.4C.
In first instance such a control system will be passive. The system will only monitor
the state indicators and'responses will be reactive. The coastal zone manager ill use
the observed data to decide when, where and how he should react.
Once the system is better understood and cause effect relations can be established, such
relations can be used to improve the control function. The control system is now more active, it will not only monitor the state indicators but can also predict the effect of impacts
on the system. In this way a more active control strategy can be applied. A further improvement can be obtained when the governing processes are known and process models can be
used to predict the effect of both impacts and mitigating responses. The control system can
now be used interactively, so that a proactive anticipatory control strategy can be set up.
In order to use the method in a real-world case, an evolutionary an incremental
approach should be used.
• Firstly, the actors responsible for the pressures and the resulting deterioration of the
environment should be defined. To that end the Pressure State Response diagram
should be used in reverse order.
79
In the present paper we will not discuss the concept of performance indicators. We
will concentrate on the definition of the state indicators, which characterize the value
of our "green capital".
In order to use the method for a practical case more detailed information has to be collected.
• Firstly, the relevant indicators should be defined, and their monetary/non monetary
units should be established;
• Secondly, a monitoring network should be established and selected indicators should
be monitored depending on the issue concerned measurements should be taken
intermittently or continuously;
• Thirdly, criteria should be established for recommended values of state parameters;
• Finally, actual values should be evaluated against these criteria and appropriate action,should be initiated when needed.
As a starting point, the indicators described in de Groot (1992), for the various functions of nature can be used. The environmental parameters which influence the various functions are given in Table 4.2. Not all of these parameters are equally important
for all functions. A more detailed matrix per function is given in the above reference.
4.4.4
Step 3: Impact and Response
Changes in the state of the environment will have an impact on the performance of
the system. Often such impacts are inducing a sequential cause-effect chain. Changes
in the state of the socio-economic system will induce technological developments which
in turn will cause changes in the natural environment. If such changes are not properly managed they may affect human welfare and well being and may ultimately have
an adverse effect on the production capacity of the system.
Therefore it is ess~ntial that changes should be detected well in advance so that
mitigating responses can be initiated timely. To that end a control system should be
integrated in the system analogy of the coast, as shown in Fig. 4.4C.
In first instance such a control system will be passive. The system will only monitor
the state indicators and'responses will be reactive. The coastal zone manager ill use
the observed data to decide when, where and how he should react.
Once the system is better understood and cause effect relations can be established, such
relations can be used to improve the control function. The control system is now more active, it will not only monitor the state indicators but can also predict the effect of impacts
on the system. In this way a more active control strategy can be applied. A further improvement can be obtained when the governing processes are known and process models can be
used to predict the effect of both impacts and mitigating responses. The control system can
now be used interactively, so that a proactive anticipatory control strategy can be set up.
In order to use the method in a real-world case, an evolutionary an incremental
approach should be used.
• Firstly, the actors responsible for the pressures and the resulting deterioration of the
environment should be defined. To that end the Pressure State Response diagram
should be used in reverse order.