Critique of the DPSIR framework Alice Newton IMAR

Critique of the DPSIR framework Alice Newton IMAR- University of Algarve

DPSIR “vocabulary” ~Drivers ~Pressures ~State ~Impacts ~Responses Advantage: ordinary words not jargon Disadvantage: frequently misused or substituted OECD (1993). OECD core set of indicators for environmental performance reviews. OECD Environment Monographs No. 83. OECD. Paris.

DPSIR Pressures + eutrophication BOD DO Nutrients State variables Responses O. E. C. D. 1993, 2004

DPSIR + eutrophication

Drivers: need to update, maybe price of oil will be a major driver with increased biofuels Pressures: need to consider “difficult” aspects such as loss of denitrifying wetlands, atmospheric deposition

Examples of “New” drivers ~ Tourism: car, plane, golf, demographics of coast ~ Lifestyles: joining EU!, changing economies central to market, changing diets, more meat ~ Agriculture (actually biomass production): biofuels, aquaculture

Impacts Need to break these down and check on all to see if there is are impacts that are: Environmental Ecological Economic Social Health

Impacts ~ environmental e. g. increase turbidity, ~ ecological, e. g. loss of biodiversity, ~ economic e. g. lower fish catches, ~ social e. g. loss of fishing jobs ~ health e. g. contaminated shellfish

Impacts ~ Environmental ~ Ecological ~ Economic ~ Social ~ Health ~ Poor water quality ~ Loss of seagrass, ecosystem service nursery function ~ Loss of fishing catch and revenues ~ Loss of fishing jobs ~ Contaminated shellfish

ECOLOGICAL IMPACT Biological Quality Elements ~ Phytoplankton ~ Other plants ~ Benthos ~ Fish Annex V of WFD and Intercalibration

STATE Supporting elements: Nutrient concentrations Si: N N: P Transparency Bottom water Oxygen BQE metrics Chlorophyll a Cell counts HAB Opportunist algae biomass Biodiversity of benthos AMBI Annex V of WFD and Intercalibration IMPACT (ECOLOGICAL) Biological Quality Elements Phytoplankton Other plants Benthos Fish

ECOLOGICAL IMPACT Phytoplankton Increase HABs, NABs Other plants Loss of seagrass Increase opportunistic algae Benthos Loss of sensitive taxa, Increase tolerant taxa Fish Loss of nurseries for juveniles Loss of sensitive taxa Annex V of WFD and Intercalibration ECONOMIC IMPACT Loss of aquaculture revenue Loss of tourism revenue Public health concerns ASP, DSP, NSP Cost of removing algae Mass mortalities Loss of shellfisheries revenue Fish kills Loss of fisheries revenue

Responses of society, e. g. new management criteria, new infrastructure, new policy

Conclusions

Drivers: need to update, maybe price of oil will be a major driver with increased biofuels Pressures: need to consider “difficult” aspects such as loss of denitrifying wetlands, atmospheric deposition State: need to test the metrics for the physicochemical supporting quality elements and the Biological Quality Elements and move towards INTEGRATIVE ASSESSMENT Impact: must link economic impact to ecological impacts, NOT consider them separately. Clearly shows the value of ecosystem services Response: Should address the drivers! Is building UWWT plants the only answer? What about CAP and farming practices?