Ecosystem Services and Abrupt Transformations in a Coastal Wetland Social-Ecological System: Tubul-Raqui after the 2010 Earthquake in Chile

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Natural disasters can trigger sudden transformations and move ecosystems to different states where the provision of ecosystem services is altered. These changes in ecosystem services affect local communities' well-being and challenge users' adaptation capacities. We used the ecosystem services framework to understand the impacts of abrupt transformations, in a coastal wetland, associated to a ~ 1.6 meter coseismic uplift after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake in Chile. Using mixed methods we (1) identified and prioritized ecosystem services from Tubul-Raqui wetland; (2) assessed conditions of services and human well-being before and after the earthquake; (3) investigated postcatastrophe human adaptations and responses; and (4) explored users' interests and visions about possible future social-ecological pathways. Results show spatially diversified effects of the uplift on ecosystem services, both negative and positive, representing threats and opportunities for different user groups around the wetland. The total loss of the cultivated seaweed "pelillo" is associated with the most manifest reduction in perceptions of well-being among coastal users. Adaptive capacities triggered by pre-existing livelihood portfolios generated intensification in the exploitation of less impacted or enhanced ecosystem services which could be reducing resilience. Results show that two years after the transformation there is little attempt to create untried, new beginnings in the Tubul-Raqui wetland from which user groups could evolve to a more innovative livelihood and resource management system after the shift. Although visions about the future are not homogeneous among users, common interests regarding the conservation of key services are shared. The analysis of abrupt transformations through an ecosystem services approach provides a powerful framework for the study of environmental change and associated impacts on local communities.

Social Perception of Ecosystem Services in a Coastal Wetland Post-Earthquake: A Case Study in Chile

“…Finally, despite the substantial physical and environmental disturbances resulting from the tsunami, pelillo extraction exhibited a gradual recovery in 2012, which is supported by recovery of the physical structure of the habitat and the aquatic biota two years after the event in Reference [39]. However, Aswani et al [14] indicated that social recovery was not always concurrent with environmental recovery, which is undoubtedly related to the perception level of the population; possibly, this environmental recovery will influence the recovery of balance in the exploitation of ES in the Tubul-Raqui wetland, as evidenced by Marín et al [54].…”

“…A similar situation (high social perception) regarding regulating services occurred in the habitat for species service, in the study of Marín et al [54], carried out 18 months after the earthquake, the diversity of bird species was one of the most important ES perceived by the inhabitants of the Tubul-Raqui fishing village. This perception can be linked to daily observations of the abundant biodiversity provided by the wetland, including local and migratory bird species (83), micromammals (4), reptiles (6), and amphibians (1), which provides a unique sense of landscape beauty.…”

“…Algae and fish obtained a greater valuation, even though the official data indicated a significant drop in pelillo extraction, an increase in unemployment, and a decrease in incomes following the 2010 earthquake [37]. Indeed, Marin et al [54] indicate that navigation and algae services were completely lost after the event. In this study, the greater social perception of the fish and algae production service is explained by three factors.…”

Using people's perceptions of ecosystem services to guide modeling and management efforts

“…Such analyses allow modelers to estimate which combinations of ESs are possible given biophysical constraints. On another hand, a range of qualitative and quantitative valuation methods help elicit what matters to people (Klain and Chan, 2012;Marín et al, 2014;Gould et al, 2015) and explore how ESs underpin human wellbeing (Bratman et al, 2012;Hicks and Cinner, 2014;Bratman et al, 2015;Hicks et al, 2015).…”

Transitions between risk management regimes in cities

“…Drawing from socio-technological systems thinking, transitions may be fast or slow, intentional or forced, proactive or reactive, planned or surprising and are often associated with resultant regime shifts and tipping points, i.e., moments of system alteration where rapid change could take place (Geels and Schot 2007). For example, Wallace and Wallace 2008, Ernstson et al 2010, Smith and Sterling 2010, Markard et al 2012 describe the conditions of transitions in urbanized settings and other human https://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol22/iss2/art38/ Bentley et al 2014, Marin et al 2014, Rocha et al 2015 describe the conditions of tipping points and abrupt shifts within social and social-ecological systems. Resultant regime shifts are associated with large and persistent changes in the structure and function of a system that are often only recognizable after the fact.…”