Ecosistemas acuáticos continentales y sus servicios: Enfoques y escenarios de aplicación en el mundo real

Miguel Pascual; María P. Barral; María Poca; Natalia Pessacg; Leandro García Silva; Ricardo Albariño; María E. Romero; Esteban G. Jobbágy

doi:10.25260/EA.22.32.1.1.1290

Authors

Miguel Pascual Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, IPEEC-CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
María P. Barral INTA, Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce. Balcarce, Argentina.
María Poca Grupo de Estudios Ambientales, IMASL, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, CONICET, San Luis, Argentina.
Natalia Pessacg Instituto Patagónico para el Estudio de los Ecosistemas Continentales, IPEEC-CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
Leandro García Silva Unidad de Planificación Estratégica, Autoridad de Cuenca Matanza Riachuelo (ACUMAR). Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ricardo Albariño Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET. San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina.
María E. Romero Dirección Nacional de Gestión Ambiental del Agua y los Ecosistemas Acuáticos, Ministerio de Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible de la Nación (MAyDS). CABA, Argentina.
Esteban G. Jobbágy Grupo de Estudios Ambientales, IMASL, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, CONICET, San Luis, Argentina.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25260/EA.22.32.1.1.1290

Keywords:

conservation, aquatic resources, water policies, Argentina

Abstract

Continental aquatic ecosystems (CAE) constitute elements of great natural, social and cultural value. They are also natural sinks of different processes that involve the water-land-atmosphere interface and, therefore, the first ones at a territorial level to show symptoms of environmental degradation. In this article, we analyze the ecosystem services (ES) approach and its application to CAE. Our primary objective is to provide an introduction and critical review of the approach and its practicalities for scientists, technicians and officials interested in water problems. We present the approach in general and carry out a breakdown of the main elements of the analysis, particularly those that we consider most relevant to promote an environmental and comprehensive view of the CAE. We also review the more contentious aspects of the ES approach and discuss the extent to which they represent practical nuances rather than conceptual divides. We then characterize different scenarios that provide opportunities for their application from an environmental stewardship perspective, including a review of nature-based solutions compared to their gray infrastructure-based counterparts. Beyond all the positive characteristics that could be attributed to the approach, we recognize that its effective incorporation into the traditional decision-making spheres of our country’s water resources will not be automatic. In this sense, we propose that it is necessary to align the ES approach with that of the integrated management of water resources, which is the basis of the ‘Guiding principles of water policy of the Argentine Republic’ adopted by the nation and the provinces.

Ph: Microsoft Argentina

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