University of Kiel, Ecology Centre, Msc Environmental Science, a seminar paper
Status: completed (2009)
Marine application of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) – framework
Astrid Fehling
astridfehling@gmx.de
Abstract
The Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response framework is increasingly used for environmental assessment reports and monitoring management in different (construction) projects with potential effect to the environment. The framework helps to structure data in the context of a cause-effect chain, to point out potential environmental changes and to estimate consequences caused by anthropogenic activities. The DPSIR approach can be applied to the installation of an offshore wind park to identify the effects of human activities and to assess, analyse and predict changes in the marine environment that may negatively affect the functionality of the marine ecosystem.
Key words: Driver – Pressure – State – Impact - Response, DPSIR, Cause-effects chain, Indicator, Marine Environment, Offshore Wind Park.
Content
- Introduction
- The D-P-S-I-R approach
- Marine application
- Examples for marine indicators within the DPSIR - framework
- Example: Application of the DPSIR framework for offshore wind parks
- Conclusions
- References
- Useful links
1. Introduction
Natural resources, whether terrestrial, marine or atmospheric, are limited and increasingly vulnerable. Regarding the rising demands for natural resources, their measurement and management reach more importance, especially when considering population growth, the intensified exploitation and use of natural resources and an increase in human migration towards coastal regions. Especially the sea and coastal zones play a key role in the development of regions and nations as they are a significant source of various goods and services. There exists a spatial distribution of socio-economic activities and related uses and an increasing need for spatial planning strategies. For a satisfying assessment of the environment and its management the DPSIR model is increasingly used. The DPSIR – framework allows a structured, easy and gradual presentation of cause-and-effect relationships on a set of indicators that represent the different compartments of Driving Forces, Pressures, State, Impacts and Response.
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2. The D-P-S-I-R approach
The DPSIR model is a causal framework for organising information about the state of the environment and describing interactions between society and environment adopted by the European Environment Agency (EEA), “acting as an integrated approach for reporting, e.g. in the EEA’s State of the Environment Reports” (Kristensen, 2004; see figure 1). According to the framework “anthropogenic uses that cause pressure on natural systems are a result of individual drivers constellations. These pressures can change the state of natural systems which again can impact human-environmental systems (Burkhardt and Daschkeit, 2006).” All components of the DPSIR framework are typically represented by indicators. “An indicator is a measure, generally quantitative, [……] including trends and progress over time” (EEA, 2005). “The use of indicators for the description, quantification, and monitoring of the individual process components improves the performance of the DPSIR approach” (Burkhardt and Müller, 2008). As shown in figure 1 the conceptual DPSIR framework helps to organize and structure these indicators in the context of a chain that links (Nijmeier and de Groot, 2008) driving forces (D) of social and economic development exert pressure (P) on the environment thereby changing its state (S), potentially resulting in impacts (I) on human health and/or ecosystem function that may elicit an environmental management response (R).
“Driving Forces are considered normally to be the economic and social policies of governments, and economic and social goals of those involved in industry” (Borja et al, 2006). Moreover a driving force can be a need, for example the need for raw materials or energy. These drivers cause certain changes in existing use patterns. Some uses decline in comparison to others, some are intensified or new ones are added (Licht-Eggert, 2007). These human activities exert 'pressures' on the environment. Pressures can be for instance excessive use of environmental resources and emissions (of chemicals, waste, radiation, noise) to air, water and soil. As a result of pressures, the ‘state’ of the environment is affected, so the quality of the various environmental compartments (air, water, soil, etc.) in relation to their functions is endangered. The changes in the physical, chemical or biological state of the environment determine the quality of ecosystems. Changes in the state may have ‘impacts’ on the functioning of ecosystems, their life supporting abilities, and finally on human health (Kristensen, 2004). Such welfare changes may elicit an environmental management response by society or policy makers “which depends on the institutional structure, culture system and competing demands for scarce resources and for other goods and services” (Turner, 1998). “The intrinsic value of the model emerges from the interaction of its components. As different cause and effect chains are included, […] the model is adaptive to arising changes and developments” (Burkhardt and Müller, 2008).
Figure 1. DPSIR based model of human-environmental systems (Burkhardt and Müller, 2008).
Hence the DPSIR framework provides a basis for analysing the interrelated factors that can affect environment, including social driving forces, their pressures on the environment, the resulting changes in the state of the environment, its impacts on ecosystems and health, and the role and effectiveness of laws and regulations (EEA, 2005a).
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3. Marine application
The explained DPSIR model can be applied for a wide range of topics and relationships. For the assessment of marine and coastal ecosystems the use of the DPSIR model can be very helpful in order to describe potential changes in marine and coastal use patterns, to estimate the consequences caused by anthropogenic activities and to point out and understand cause-effect relationships. In the most marine and coastal areas the level of resource use and utilization density is very high and require an increasing level of monitoring and management. The space on land and is limited, so nowadays more and more industries are competing for the use of marine and coastal ecosystems and there exists a “spatial distribution of socio-economic activities and related land uses” (Turner, 1998). Fisheries, oil and gas production as well as gravel and sand extraction remove raw materials from the seas. The military uses the area for training purposes. Shipping, telecommunication and the oil and gas industry use the sea as transit space for goods, data and raw materials. Additionally, parts of the sea and coast are protected due to their high biodiversity and sensitivity. Most importantly perhaps is that multiple interactions exist between marine and land uses. Shipping needs access to the mainland, resulting in the development of harbours and various infrastructures. Vice versa, many land-based uses take advantage of the sea, such as coastal tourism which benefits from the sea as a recreational factor. Despite these high levels of pressure, utilization of marine resources shows no signs of levelling off. On the contrary, new uses seem to rapidly conquer the marine environment, amongst them offshore wind energy, hydrogen production or mariculture. All forms of marine and coastal resource use have impacts on the marine and coastal systems. These include ecological impacts in terms of the ecological integrity of the system, positive as well as negative economic impacts through specific branches of industry, and on social systems in terms of quality of life and social infrastructure in coastal areas (Licht-Eggert, 2007; see also BMVBS and BBR 2006). (For possible developments of drivers and development of anthropogenic pressures in the German coastal zones see also Burkhardt and Daschkeit, 2006). This dense distribution of human activities reflects the demand for a variety of goods and services within the seas and coastal regions and from outside (Turner et al, 1998). “It is necessary to be aware of the spatial and temporal links in the marine system coupled with the diverse nature of stressors on the systems” (Elliot, 2002). Inevitably the densities of utilisation modify the State of the environment and may have an impact on marine and coastal ecosystems (and on human well-being) and additional effects of global climatic change can accelerate the impacts of already existing disturbances (see for example IPCC, 2007 and WBGU, 2006). Therefore “there is an increasing need to demonstrate, quantify and predict the effects of human activities on the interrelated components in space and time” (Elliot, 2002). This problem can be simplified by the DPSIR approach. Commonly countries with a coastline and access to the sea have an interest in the sustainable use management of the marine and coastal resource systems and the multiple goods and services generated by the resources. The DPSIR framework can be used to describe developments and cause-effect relationships of already existing use patterns and if new spatial uses emerge in a certain area. It helps to determine existing interplays between certain sea uses and coastal uses as well as between human activities and these ecosystems (Licht-Eggert, 2007).
Marine and coastal ecosystems are very complex systems encompassing highly variable biotic and abiotic components (Karakos, 2002). Because of the complexity and various uncertainties in the marine environment, it could happen that there is no simple causal relationship between the elements of the DPSIR chain. With respect to coastal management issues, such complexity entails the necessity of studying the various natural components to understand the structure and function of the systems and various human forcing on the resources and their ability to absorb the ensuing pressures (Karakos, 2002).
The difficulty is that scientists are mostly working on very detailed and narrow aspects whereas decision makers require a holistic ecosystem approach, not necessarily at a very high level of detail (Elliot, 2002). It is problematic to understand the interactions between the activities taking place in the sea and the coastal zone, whether natural or socio-economic processes, by traditional observational studies alone (Turner, 1998). So there is the “need to link the science to the causes of change and to the social, economic and legal responses” by humans and decision makers to that change (Elliot, 2002).
The use of the DPSIR framework is a supporting management tool if new uses, as for instance offshore wind parks, are planed in a certain area and when impacts to the direct or indirect environment are expected. Thereby the causal-chain framework helps to categorize and structure relationships between the new pressure and the natural systems and other various important aspects which need to be taken into consideration. The DPSIR framework can help to find appropriate indicators and to reduce uncertainties by exploring a wide range of possible environmental changes, their consequences as well as mitigation policy options.
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4. Examples for marine indicators within the DPSIR - framework
Following a few exemplary indicators are mentioned which can be used for the marine and coastal environment. They are structured by the different components of the DPSIR framework.
Drivers: Human activities that influence the environment, e.g. the need for food, energy and raw material, transport, …, climate change, etc.
Pressure: water quality, effects of fishery, construction of wind parks, oil and gas industry, noise, discharge of pollution and waste, fishery, traffic density, sedimentary transport from rivers, coastal squeeze, etc.
State: fish family diversity, benthic macro-invertebrates (communities), species richness, endemic species, species threatened with extinction, structural and functional components e.g. physical, chemical and biological conditions, etc.
Impacts: fish decline, loss of species and habitats, decreasing biodiversity, diseases, eutrophication, etc.
Response: response to the changes in marine and coastal systems to prevent, mitigate and reduce negative impacts; agreements, policies, legislations, directives, ICZM, environmental awareness, etc.
Some applications of the DPSIR approach to marine waters have been undertaken: Andrulewicz (2005), Elliott (2002), Kannen and Burkhardt (2009). As well as some publications referring to coastal water: Borja et al (2006), Burkhardt (2006), Burkhardt and Daschkeit (2006), Elliot (2002), Karageorgis et al. (2004), Karakos et al (2003), Pirrone (2005). Additionally most technical reports of the European Environmental Agency are indicator based and organised in the framework of the DPSIR approach. See for instance: EEA (2004) - Technical report 92 and EEA (2003) - Technical report 87.
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5. Example: Application of the DPSIR framework for offshore wind parks
The DPSIR approach can be applied to any particular stressor in the marine environment, for example to offshore wind power. offshore wind parks is a relatively new form of anthropogenic use that has to compete for space with other, already established uses and is anticipated to be a main pressure in marine and coastal areas in future. The generation of offshore wind power is a chance to produce energy in a more sustainable way and to comply with the Kyoto Protocol commitments; however, the ecological risks arising out of the construction and operation of offshore wind farms are still largely unknown. The main risk is that the changes in the marine environment may negatively affect the functionality of the marine ecosystem as i.e. the processes at the basis of the provision of supporting services (Nunneri et al, 2008).
The overall drivers are the desire for clean and renewable energy that may partly replace fossil fuels and nuclear power. The pressures resulting from the activity mainly include the construction of the turbines, dredging and disturbance through noise and vibration of the turbines once operating. The status relates to the nature of the seabed where the structures are sited, its physical and biological features and the surrounding water column. The impacts will depend on local conditions and can emanate for example from the disturbance of hydrographic and sedimentological patterns. The effects of a changing seabed may influence the benthic populations and their predators. The effects on the water column may have affects to fish and sea mammals (Elliot, 2002). The so called reef effect, the addition of a hard substratum, is believed to cause the largest impact on the marine environment (Petersen and Malm, 2006). Additionally birds are potentially endangered by offshore wind farms through collisions, barrier effects and habitat loss. Finally, the human response to such potential problems is to mitigate and minimise any disturbance through choice of location as well as construction- and operation techniques (Elliot, 2002). Effects during construction period may be minimized by using good practice and avoiding areas containing rare habitats or species (Petersen and Malm, 2006). Moreover administrative and legal controls such as Environmental Impact Assessments and planning regulations are of a significant importance. In addition indicators for acceptable change have to be defined once the potential impacts have been clarified (Elliot, 2002).
Given the above there is the need to explain, demonstrate and illustrate to environmental managers, politicians, and workers in other disciplines, the complexity of the natural systems, the linking between components, the effects of activities and the responses at different levels of the system (Elliot, 2002). Any human activity will have impacts at one level or on one set of components. These impacts, resulting directly or indirectly in changing processes and altered conditions of the marine environment can be assessed and revealed by indicators. The DPSIR framework therefore gives a structure to present these indicators needed to enable feedback to decision makers. Therefore environmental managers require to understand or at least to be informed and aware of the interlinked nature of the effects in marine systems in order to minimise harmful effects (Elliot, 2002).
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6. Conclusion
With the increasing utilisation of the sea and the coastal zone there is an increasing need to monitor and manage new occurring use patterns additionally to already existing uses of the natural resources. Thereby the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response-approach is a useful management tool in describing the relationships between the origins and consequences of environmental problems. Beside the European commission more and more international environmental organisations develop their set of indicators according to the DPSIR assessment framework.
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References
- Andrulewicz, E. (2005): Developing the DPSIR framework of indicators for management of human impact on marine ecosystems, Baltic Sea example. In Gönenc I.E. et al (2005): Assessment of the fate and effects of toxic agents on water resources.
- BMVBS – Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung and BBR - Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (eds.) (2006). Integriertes Küstenmanagement (IKZM): Raumordnungsstrategien im Küstenbereich und auf dem Meer. Forschungsprojekt des BMVBS/BBR, Abschlussbericht. Berlin
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Useful links
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