An environmental indicator system for

1. An environmental indicator system for SIERRA NEVADA LTERsite: Conceptual framework and implementation Francisco Bonet García (fjbonet@gmail.com) Centro Andaluz de Medio Ambiente. Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucía

2. How could we measure the conservation status of a given ecosystem? Single multimetric indexes Single multimetric indexes State State Pressure Pressure Response Response

3. The first step to create an indicator system is to get relevant and up to date raw data. In the last three years we have implemented a monitoring program based on GLOCHAMORE project and LTER's experience

4. We have implemented 40 different monitoring protocols that gather information about more than 100 variables related to structure and functions of the socio-ecological system Birdtransect Kw Hab Sp Sp Fd Ab Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

5. From this point we have followed two different approaches to design the indicator system Birdtransect Kw Hab Sp Sp Fd Ab Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

6. The first approach is the most challenging under a scientific point of view, but it is also the most complex to accomplish. Hierarchical list of aspects and attributes that will be used to “label” each environmental variable in order to obtain indicators Economy Population Birdtransect Kw Phenology Structure Hab Sp Sp Ab Fd Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

7. Then we add labels to show the type of indicator that we are creating: state, pressure or response. StatePressure StatePressure State State Economy Population Birdtransect Kw Structure Phenology Hab Sp Sp Ab Fd Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

8. But what is the real relationship between these indicators and the conservation status of the system? How could we integrate these partial results to obtain a single multimetric index? StatePressure StatePressure State State Economy Population Birdtransect Kw Structure Phenology Hab Sp Sp Ab Fd Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

9. We, as ecologist, does not have knowledge enough to know, for example, what is the relationship between the flowering date and the conservation status of the ecosystem. In fact, we do not even have a single and comprehensive definition of conservation status. StatePressure StatePressure State State Economy Population Birdtransect Kw Structure Phenology Hab Sp Sp Ab Fd Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

10. What if we try to create an indicator system using the concept of work (ecosystem services) in stead of the concept of “internal force” (unknown ecosystem functioning)? StatePressure StatePressure State State Economy Population Birdtransect Kw Structure Phenology Hab Sp Sp Ab Fd Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

11. If we are able to quantify some of the most important ecosystem services using the variables obtained in the monitoring program, we will be able to know how much “work” a given ecosystem is able to do. StatePressure StatePressure State State Economy Population Birdtransect Kw Phenology Structure Hab Sp Sp Fd Ab Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

12. If we are able to quantify some of the most important ecosystem services using the variables obtained in the monitoring program, we will be able to know how much “work” a given ecosystem is able to do. StatePressure StatePressure State State Population Economy Birdtransect Kw Phenology Structure Hab Sp Sp Fd Ab Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

13. If we are able to quantify some of the most important ecosystem services using the variables obtained in the monitoring program, we will be able to know how much “work” a given ecosystem is able to do. Supporting and cultural services Provisioningservices Supporting and cultural services Birdtransect Kw Regulatingservices Hab Sp Sp Fd Ab Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

14. This second approach has another advantage. We can quantify the demands that human societies have of ecosystem services, using the socio-economic variables collected in the monitoring program. Supporting and cultural services Provisioningservices Energydemand Food, water, etc. demands Supporting and cultural services Birdtransect Kw Regulatingservices Hab Sp Sp Ab Fd Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

15. We could be able to create a single multimetric index that shows the state of a given socioecological system by calculating the relationship between the ecosystem services provided and the demands that human societies have. Supporting and cultural services Provisioningservices Energydemand State Food, water, etc. demands Supporting and cultural services Birdtransect Kw Regulatingservices Hab Sp Sp Ab Fd Electric comsumption Census Phenologyplot

16. Conclusions: We propose two different and complementary approaches to create a system of indicators for Sierra Nevada. Indicatortype Aspects Ecosystemservicesprovided Variables Protocol