•Institute of Nature Conservation

•Research Institute for Knowledge Systems (RIKS)

•Nature Division, Environment Administration, Flanders

EcoVisie Decision Support System: a tool for ecosystem management

Willy Huybrechts & Guy Engelen

EcoVisie Decision Support System: a tool for ecosystem management

Willy Huybrechts & Guy Engelen

•In Flanders: total nature area is growing with an evolution to larger nature units

•Chances for nature development are high in floodplains (social, ecologic)

•Floodplains: abiotic conditions, especially hydrology, are important for nature

BackgroundBackground

Questions in the field

•Where can/should nature area be developped, where are possibilities less;

•Which type of nature should be conserved, developped or restored;

•How this nature should be managed;

•What should be the boundary conditions (e.g. hydrology)

BackgroundBackground

Vision

1.A combination of models and expertise to explore the potentials of floodplains (knowledge)

2.Based on this knowledge: make choices to come to a vision spatial distribution of ecotopes (with the support of a DSS)

3.Implementation in the field: • Development of nature area• Apply management schemes

ApproachApproach

Input for EcoVisie Input for EcoVisie •Description of ecotope types

(‘natuurtypen’) • ‘ecotope groups’

(‘natuurtypegroepen’) : ecotope types with the same abiotiek preferences but different management

•Potential distribution of ‘groups’ under certain abiotische scenario’s

Characteristics of ecotope type• Origin and succesion• Environmental conditions (groundwater, soil,…)• Occurence in Flanders

•Flora-vegetation•Fauna•Management•Nature Value

Ecotope typesEcotope types

• Species

Ecotope typesEcotope types

ID Naam kort Naam lang Naam wetenschappelijk

GroepsmeGroepI

D

UFK Rode lijst categorie

Internationa

al belan

g

OpmerkOrganism

e

512 ACER_PSE Gewone esdoorn Acer pseudoplatanus

1 9 Nee 513 ACHILMIL Gewoon duizendblad Achillea

millefolium

1 10 Nee 514 ACHILPTA Wilde bertram Achillea

ptarmica 1 7 Nee

515 ACORUCAL Kalmoes Acorus calamus

1 5 5 Nee

NatuurTypeID SoortID TypischeSoort DominanteSoort CodominanteSoort21 512 Ja Neen Neen22 512 Neen Neen Neen23 512 Neen Neen Neen1 513 Neen Neen Neen2 513 Neen Neen Neen3 513 Neen Neen Neen4 513 Ja Neen Neen

• their relation with ecotopes

Ecotope Groups Ecotope Groups

1 - kleine zeggenvegetatie - verruigde kleine zeggenvegetatie - mesotroof elzenbroek

Kleine zeggenvegetatie Verruigde kleine zeggenvegetatie

Verruigde kleine zeggenvegetatie

Wilgenstruweel Oligotroof elzenbroek

1a1 - verruigde kleine zeggenvegetatie - mesotroof elzenbroek

Grote zeggenvegetatie Grote zeggenvegetatie Grote zeggenvegetatie Wilgenstruweel Mesotroof elzenbroek

2 - dottergrasland - moerasspirearuigte - mesotroof elzenbroek

Dottergrasland

Kamgrasland met moerasrolklaver

Moerasspirearuigte Wilgenstruweel Mesotroof elzenbroek

2a1 - moerasspirearuigte - mesotroof elzenbroek

Dottergrasland Zilverschoongrasland Moerasspirearuigte Wilgenstruweel Mesotroof elzenbroek

3 - RG glanshavergrasland - brandnetelruigte - ruderaal elzenbos

RG glanshavergrasland Typisch kamgrasland Vochtige ruigte Braamstruweel Vochtig berken-eikenbos

3a1 - overstromingsgrasland RG glanshavergrasland Zilverschoongrasland Vochtige ruigte Braamstruweel Vochtig berken-eikenbos

4 - natte heide - berkenbroek

Vochtig heischraal grasland (Natte heide)

Vochtig heischraal grasland (Natte heide)

Natte heide Gagelstruweel Berkenbroek / Vochtig berken-eikenbos

5 - droge heide - berken-eikenbos - eiken-beukenbos

Droog heischraal grasland Droge heide

Droog heischraal grasland Droge heide

Droge heide Bremstruweel Berken-eikenbos Eiken-beukenbos

NT-groep

gekarteerdvegetatietype

Intensief beheer

maaibeheer begrazing

kort cyclisch beheer(5 à 10 jaar)

lang cyclisch beheer(10 à 15 jaar)

nulbeheer

(Vallei van de Zwarte Beek)

Vegetation management

Intensive extensive

Abiotics (soil, hydrology, inundation)

Ecotope GroupsEcotope Groups

Ecotope group 2 of Zwarte Beek: moist conditions without inundation

ManagementMapped vegetation types

Fen meadow (Calthion palustris)Tall-herb fen (Filipendulion)

Mesotrophic alder carrYearly mowing regimefen meadow (Calthion palustris)

Grazing

Dairy pasture

Cyclic mowing (short 5 to 10 years)

tall-herb fen (Filipendulion)

Cyclic management ( long 10 to 15 years)

Salix carr No management

Mesotrophic alder carr

Potential Distribution Ecotope GroupsPotential Distribution Ecotope Groups

The Demer Floodplain (with improved hydrologic conditions, no inundations)

Fen meadow

group

Arrhenatheretum grassland group

Siliceous grassland group

•Process information (maps and tables)

•Facilitate acces to this information for the decision maker

•Present the results of choices that are made in the process (interactive)

•Assist in developing different scenario’s for an area•Offer tools to evaluate scenario’s

DSS-functionsDSS-functions

Possible Applications • Prepare visions on nature in

Floodplains • Planning of nature development

projects• Design of nature management schemes• Assist in discussions about balance

between wishes (planners) en possibilities (managers in field)

• In discussions with other sectors (agriculture, forestry, ….)

DSSDSS

Studiegebied

Floodplain (study area) Ecosystem vision = map with desired ecotopes

Ecosysteemvisie

Ecosystem vision

Ecosysteemvisie

Selection of abiotics Design Abiotics

Maps with potential ecotope groups

Maps and tables abiotict

Studiegebied

Floodplain (study area)

Ecosystem vision

Ecosysteemvisie

Selection map based on abiotics

Design map

Maps potential ecotope types

Maps and tables abiotics

Selection map based on management

Drawing map management Design Management

Maps existing management (if available)

Maps and tables management

Studiegebied

Floodplain (study area)

Selection map based on abiotics

Design abiotics

Maps potential ecotope groups

Maps and tables abiotics

Selection map based on management

Drawing map management

Design management

Maps existing management(if available)

Maps and tables management

Ecosystem vision

Ecosysteemvisie

Selection map based on zoning

Zoning maps,Habitat and Bird

directives.

Zoning maps

Studiegebied

Floodplain (study area)

Studiegebied

Floodplain (study area) Ecosystem vision

Ecosysteemvisie

Selection map basedon abiotict

Design Abiotics

Maps potential Ecotope groups

Maps and tables Abiotics

Selection map based on zoning

Zoning maps,Habitat and Bird

directives

Zoning Maps

Selection map based on management

Drawing map management

Design Management

Existing management(if available)

Maps and tables abiotics

Mapsand tables target species

Maps and tables management costs

Maps and tables appreciation

Map and tables nature value

Tabular exportTabular export

Legenda items

Number of cells (frequency)

Area

Total, Average

Selection map basedon abiotict

Design Abiotics

Maps potential Ecotope groups

Maps and tables Abiotics

Selection map based on zoning

Zoning maps,Habitat and Bird

directives

Zoning Maps

Selection map based on management

Drawing map management

Design Management

Existing management(if available)

Maps and tables abiotics

Ecosystem vision

Ecosysteemvisie

Maps and tables target species

Maps and tables management costs

Maps and tables appreciation

Map and tables nature value

Studiegebied

Floodplain (study area)

PrototypePrototype DSS EcoVisie DSS EcoVisie

– Technically good functioning instrument •Decisions are translated quickly in results interactive use

– Integrates environmental conditions and management

– Financial aspects are considered (costs, subsidies)

– Can be applied in any floodplain, if necessary input available

PrototypePrototype DSS EcoVisie DSS EcoVisie

– For some applications ecological knowledge is insufficient•Relation species - ecotopes•Evaluation Nature Value (ecotopes, vision)

– Some functions are not considered •Spatial relations between ecotopes •Spatial relations between ecotopes and infrastructure

•Time aspect for ecotope development•Feasability of scenario’s

Technology

Knowledge

User

okt. 2001 Version1.2

Workshop users march 2002Improve ecological

knowledge

Version 2.0 ??