The ecosystem approach is a strategy for the integrated management of land, water, and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. It recognizes humans as an integral part of ecosystems and aims to balance ecological health with human well-being.
This approach is advocated by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is based on 12 principles that include:
- Management at the appropriate spatial scale
- Decentralized decision-making
- Considering ecosystem services and functions
- Adaptive management based on continuous learning
In sustainable development, the ecosystem approach is valuable because it:
- Maintains ecological integrity: Ensures that biodiversity and ecosystem processes are not compromised.
- Promotes stakeholder participation: Involves local communities in managing resources sustainably.
- Balances competing demands: Considers economic, social, and environmental trade-offs.
- Supports resilience: Encourages systems that can recover from shocks such as natural disasters or market fluctuations.
For example, in watershed management, integrating forestry, agriculture, and fisheries using an ecosystem approach results in better water conservation, improved biodiversity, and enhanced livelihoods for communities. This holistic method is crucial for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially those related to life on land (SDG 15), clean water (SDG 6), and climate action (SDG 13).