Dear Dr Zaunberger
I have just read the researchable ideas posted on this web board. I did not see any mention of the trade in whole ecosystems – rather the focus appears to be only trade of the elements extracted from an ecosystem/landscape. Habitat destruction is recognized as one of the primary causes of biodiversity loss and therefore preservation of the whole habitat is important. International companies, even on a voluntary bases, have shown interest to invest in the preservation of biodiversity and environmental services from landscapes but a mechanism to initiate international trade is currently lacking (for example http://www.katoombagroup.org/). A mechanism is urgently required to protect existing ecosystems/habitats/landscapes both in Europe and globally. A quote on the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund web site illustrates my point for a river island in Sierra Leone http://www.cepf.net/xp/cepf/news/in_focus/2003/february_feature.xml?USE_TEXT_ONLY=false). "Tiwai Island is like a ripe banana and we people around this area are very hungry. You are telling us to keep this banana for now and future generations but what would you give us while we are taking care of the banana for you?" The principle of payment for services is equally true in European landscapes. The EU is currently significantly changing land-use policy through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform without a truly evidence based decision mechanisms in place. The outcome is currently highly unpredictable.

The lack of a truly integrated evidence-based mechanism for valuating ecosystems/landscapes in terms of biodiversity supported, environment services provided and potential income generated is currently limiting European, national and local land-use policy-making. It is difficult to make informed decisions regarding land use because social, economic and ecological issues are not valued in a comparable way – policy makers do not have a tool to evaluate all the elements of the ecosystem/landscape – this is a serious researchable problem.

Dr Jan Dick
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Edinburgh
Bush Estate
PENICUIK
Midlothian
Scotland, UK
EH26 0QB
Tel - (44)-0131-445-4343
Fax - (44)-0131-445-3943