Final answer:
Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is a multidisciplinary approach to sustainable environmental governance. It focuses on balancing use with preservation and involves assessing and managing the collective impact of human activities. EBM is being implemented worldwide, including significant investments in ecosystem services and the use of specialized tools like InVEST for decision-making support.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ecosystem-based management (EBM) is a complex yet feasible approach which addresses the cumulative impacts of human activities on the environment, particularly in marine ecosystems. This strategy involves comprehensive spatial planning and aims to balance sustainable use with the conservation and restoration of ecosystems. The concept is informed by practices such as community-based natural resource management, integrated conservation and development projects, and the valuation of ecosystem services.
One of the most significant implementations of EBM can be seen in ocean zoning as adopted by countries like Australia for the Great Barrier Reef. EBM is also supported by the visionary aim of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, recognizing the intrinsic value of biodiversity and ecosystem services in decision-making processes. Moreover, countries like China have substantially invested in direct payments for ecosystem services, committing billions of yuan between 1998 and 2010 to preserve and enhance ecosystem functions.
EBM calls for participatory and multidisciplinary research and management, involving not only conservation biologists but also a wide spectrum of stakeholders including agroecologists, agronomists, farmers, indigenous peoples, foresters, and land managers. Tools like InVEST are being utilized to project and assess the provision of ecosystem services under various management scenarios and are instrumental in guiding resource decisions globally.