A cegueira do óbvio: a importância dos serviços ecossistêmicos na mensuração do bem-estar

Abstract

Given the global environmental crisis, ecosystems become increasingly vulnerable and therefore the benefits offered by them, known as ecosystem service. The ecosystem services influence directly and indirectly the promotion of human well-being. Its benefits cross borders, but its production can happen in a local way, which process is still poorly understood by scientists. For years, the ecosystem services have been neglected, especially by countries with little knowledge and interest about their own biodiversity. However, the challenge to live in a finite planet with a growing world population announce a scenario where increasing impact on the use of natural resources will drive the need to invest in efficient management of its allocation . This study starts from the hypothesis that the measurement of well-being by the sustainable development’s approach would include indicators that address the integration of human well-being and ecosystem services. The main goal of this research is present indices that portray, in a sustainable development’s approach, the importance of integrating provisioning ecosystem services in measuring of well-being in degraded areas. This interaction brings with it the obvious: the relevance of ecosystem services for human well-being. Taking into account the literature review, we adapted the Prescott-Allen model to make it appropriate for our study area. A set of indices and indicators were developed in different dimensions resulting in two indices: the Human Well-Being Index (HWBI) and the Ecosystem Well-Being Index (EWBI).The HWBI consists of five dimensions: Health and Population, Household Wealth, Knowledge and Culture, Community and Equity, and fifteen indicators. The EWBI also consists of five dimensions: Land, Water, Air, Biodiversity and Resource Use; and seven indicators. The interaction between these two indices generated a framework that shows the dependence between each of the variables analyzed. The proposed set of indicators was tested in Sitio do Brum community, located in the Caatinga biome in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Unknown to many, the Caatinga is in a rapid degradation process due to mismanagement of environmental resources and the climatic conditions of the region. The main results of the use of indices and indicators for ecosystem services managed to capture the relationship between ecosystem services and human well-being, and to validate the ability of the chosen indicators to describe the socio-ecosystems and their interaction. The choice of application of the parameters in a degraded and often undervalued biome, such as the Caatinga, revealed not only the importance of the impact of human actions in this type of biome, but the veil that covers them. A community was identified, which understands its reality, craves for changes, has its own collective vision of the future, but has no ability to bring about change. Although it is not easy to act on the basis of intergenerational concerns, changes only occur when the assessments of ecosystem services also encompass people, which in turn involves motivations and cognitive limitations in acquiring and processing information, essential to ensure the well-being of current and next generations, approach suggested by the framework in question.