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R2R2R: A life cycle approach to ecosystem services assessments at contaminated sites
Citation:
Hoffman, J., K. Williams, AND J. Rhodus. R2R2R: A life cycle approach to ecosystem services assessments at contaminated sites. ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services, Washington, D.C., DC, December 12 - 15, 2022. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.21809646
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation to the ACES: A Community on Ecosystem Services Meeting December 2022. Remediation to Restoration to Revitalization (R2R2R) is a framework to identify ecological and policy-based relationships between waterfront revitalization and large-scale aquatic sediment remediation or habitat restoration projects. As a life cycle approach, R2R2R involves a comparative analysis of potential remediation and restoration designs. Our research has focused on developing ecosystem service assessments and incorporating community values into remediation and restoration decision-making. We conclude that R2R2R represents a first step in establishing a community of practice for integrating ecosystem service and community values into decision-support for remediation of urban waterfronts.
Description:
Remediation to Restoration to Revitalization (R2R2R) is a framework to identify ecological and policy-based relationships between waterfront revitalization and large-scale aquatic sediment remediation or habitat restoration projects. Undertaking large-scale ecological restoration projects along urban waterfronts provides an opportunity to improve aquatic and riparian habitat, as well as to enhance community well-being by reconnecting communities with their riverbanks and shorelines. However, to consider both opportunities simultaneously, a community-based decision support process is required, particularly to incorporate the knowledge and values of the community into decision-making. As such, in the R2R2R framework, translating ecological restoration to improved ecosystem services (ES) assessments to public benefits such as fishing, boating, and swimming is critical to support decision-making. As a life cycle approach, R2R2R involves a comparative analysis of potential remediation and restoration designs. An ES analysis based on the design alternatives along with a community values analysis is conducted to compare the community wellbeing impacts associated with ES provided by the alternatives. To do so, specific pathways are analyzed to characterize the direction, magnitude, and likelihood of impacts on the well-being of a variety of groups affected by the decision. In numerous case studies conducted to date, we have found different alternatives each can produce a different mix of ES, which can differently impact the health of several populations. Ultimately, this leads to both social and ecological trade-offs among alternatives. Further, we have found that including community input into decision-making can mitigate negative impacts to well-being and improve the benefits from the project. We conclude that R2R2R represents a first step in establishing a community of practice for integrating ecosystem service and community values into decision-support for remediation of urban waterfronts.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: R2R2R: A life cycle approach to ecosystem services assessments at contaminated sites
ACES_HOFFMAN_DEC2022_BASE.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 3630.853 KB, about PDF)