An integrated analysis of the Cootes Paradise watershed as a socio-ecological system

Session: Linking Human Well-being, Quality of Life, and Ecosystem Services to Conservation Efforts (1)

Cindy Yang, University of Toronto, [email protected]
George Arhonditsis, University of Toronto Scarborough, [email protected]

Abstract

Incorporating socioeconomic concerns into the decision-making process is imperative when considering the trade-offs of alternative management interventions. Cootes Paradise is a place of cultural heritage, tourism and recreation, and therefore the environmental benefits that people receive are expected to gain immensely from multi-scale ecosystem restoration. By describing ecosystems as providers of economically valuable benefits to humans, the concept of ecosystem services directly links ecosystem integrity and human welfare. This study first presents the most up-to-date predictions of future water quality conditions in Cootes Paradise. Given the considerable uncertainty regarding the prevailing conditions, the study presents an integrative analysis of Cootes Paradise as a socio-ecological system, with emphasis on factors that are critical in shaping the decision-making process in the area. After combining environmental characteristics in the watershed with socioeconomic traits of residents, we use artificial neural networks to delineate spatial clusters with similar socioeconomic and environmental attributes, also referred to as Socio-Environmental Management Units (SEMUs). We then (1) propose a rigorous sampling protocol to assess willingness-to-pay for ecosystem services by residents in the watershed, (2) predict P-export rates based on SEMU characteristics, and (3) explore the potential of economic valuation to design sustainable Reward for Ecosystem Service programs.