Ecosystem services & blue economy

The ocean and its various stakeholders are usually studied and addressed in isolation. But how all these seafarers and assets interact is vital to consider when asking questions of conservation, enterprise and public policy. How can biodiversity aid coastal defenses? What nature-based solutions can we gain from the ocean? What roles do marine ecosystems play in combating climate change? The Ecosystem Services & Blue Economy team was created to join up the dots and help inform win-win solutions for all ocean stakeholders.

Tourism, coastal development, trade, transport, fishing, pollution… Many human activities place pressures on marine and coastal ecosystems. These pressures can reduce biodiversity and the many benefits that these ecosystems provide. As such, we need to look broadly at the ocean’s ecology, consider the many different stakeholders who use it and find ways to sustainably explore it.

The Madeira archipelago lies in an important oceanic area. This area is also very busy in terms of traffic and marine activities. The mission of the Ecosystem Services & Blue Economy research group is to contribute to a decision-making system with and for the ocean’s various stakeholders, allowing them to make well-informed choices concerning their many activities in this area of the Atlantic.

Research is essential for understanding the complex interactions between human activities and marine ecosystems. It provides the knowledge and tools necessary to make informed decisions, promote sustainable practices, and ensure the long-term viability of the blue economy while preserving the valuable services provided by ecosystems. The key research areas of the group include:

• Assessing and quantifying the various ecosystem services provided by marine and coastal ecosystems.
• Investigating methods to assign economic values to ecosystem services.
• Developing sustainable practices and innovative technologies for fisheries, aquaculture, biotechnology and other blue economy activities, considering the ecological, economic, and social aspects.
• Developing effective strategies for managing coastal zones to balance economic development with the preservation of ecosystem services.
• Investigating adaptation strategies to minimize the risks and maximize the resilience of coastal communities and economies regarding climate change.
• Studying governance frameworks, policy instruments, and institutional arrangements to support the sustainable development of the blue economy and the effective management of ecosystem services. 

Leadership