This document discusses ecosystem thresholds and the precautionary principle as they relate to One Health. It proposes four mechanisms to support a science-policy process that creates healthy environments: 1) Develop political consensus, 2) Foster collaborative, knowledge-based work, 3) Focus resources effectively, and 4) Communicate honestly. Case studies show ecosystem responses at different phosphorus thresholds, demonstrating impacts on water quality, cyanobacteria levels, and human health. The conclusion emphasizes observing nature, creating healthy environments for health and well-being, and taking action now through orientation and progress within a short time scale.

1. Ecosystem Threshold Concept of
Precaution towards One Health
Prof. Dr. Günter Klein
International Center for Sustainable Development
University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg
guenter.klein@brsu.de
Grantham-Allee 20
D 53757 Sankt Augustin

2. Titration

3. Hysterese

4. Margaret Catley-Carlson, Bonn,
June 2010

5. Four Mechanisms for the Science-Policy-Process
towards Environments supportive to Health
1. Develop Consensus in the political arena
• Constructive processes and institutions at national, regional and global level,
2. Foster Collaboration Knowledge - based
• Intersectoral fields of work and case studies
• Environment and Lifestyle, socio-environmental determinants of health,
preventive action
3. Focus Resources effectively
• Aspects of EH-Economy, internalization of externalities, sustainable investment
and human resources
4. Communicate honestly
• Cultural aspects – towards future living in healthy environments

6. Understanding
– Human
– Technical
– Scientific
– Ecologic
- Systems …
…and how we tend to describe their interaction:

7. Phytoplankton response to restoration–
annual means of Chl.a and TP before and after restoration
Excluded from
regression
Vollenweider and Kerekes (1982) regression including
the data for Schlachtensee (red) and Lake Tegel (blue)

8. Phytoplankton response to restoration–
annual means of Chl.a and TP before and after restoration
100
1980 1980
1984
1984
2006
30 20
06
Chl (1 m) in mg/m³
2006
10
2006
3
Schlachtensee ('80 – 06')
Lake Tegel ('84 -'06)
1 30
10 30 100 300 1000
Pл (1 m) in mg/m³
Vollenweider and Kerekes (1982) regression including Annual means for each Berlin lake,
the data for Schlachtensee (red) and Lake Tegel (blue) connected chronologically

12. What to control?? And Why?
Biovolume of Toxic Cyanobacteria in Relation
to Concentrations of Total Phosphorus
Lake Tegel '87-'04 Schlachtensee '81-'02
60
Cyanobacterial biovolume [mm³/L]
50
40
30
20
10
0
10 100 1000
Total phosphorus [µg/L]

13. Threshold level
towards oligotrophy
Biomass
1980
1985
1990
Threshold level Phosphate
towards eutrophy concentration

14. System Response
System Load
28.01.2010

15. Eutrophication North Sea 1962 -1984
(Data Helgoland Reede, bearbeitet: Klein, Pawlitzky 1988)
µg/l BM4
81
40 80
83
82
30
20 73
84
74
65 72
10 63
62
64
71
66
70
10 20 30 µg/l P04
28.01.2010

16. Eutrophication impounded Ruhr River (Germany)
28.01.2010

17. Kurvenzug der Wertepaare von Chlorophyll-a- und P-Fracht
über die Zeit von 1965 bis 1986 an der Ruhr

18. Vereinigung von 5-Jahreskollektiven der Wertepaare zu Wertefeldern
und Verlauf des rechnerischen Schwerpunktes
der Felder in der Zeit von 1965 bis 1986
1965 – 1970
1971 – 1975
1976 – 1980
1981 – 1986

19. Vereinigung von 5-Jahreskollektiven der Wertepaare zu Wertefeldern
und Verlauf des rechnerischen Schwerpunktes
der Felder in der Zeit von 1965 bis 1986
1965 – 1970
1971 – 1975
1976 – 1980
1981 – 1986

20. Vereinigung von 5-Jahreskollektiven der Wertepaare zu Wertefeldern
und Verlauf des rechnerischen Schwerpunktes
der Felder in der Zeit von 1965 bis 1986
1965 – 1970
1971 – 1975
1976 – 1980
1981 – 1986

21. General Applicability – observed or tested?

22. Protecion of drinking water catchment
•
Zone I
Well or source protection:
Closed, locked.
Zone II
Inner Protection Area:
e.g. 50 days residence for
ground water
Zone III
Wider Protection Area:
specific restrictions

23. Biosphere Reserve Zones
Biosphere reserves are organized into 3
interrelated zones:
• the core area
• the buffer zone
• the transition area

24. the buffer zone
Lake Wonderful
Core area
Well Miracle Forest

25. Some Words about Time Scale and Focus….

26. Initiativbüro Wasserstrategie
Water consumption in paper manufacturing industry down to 20% !
Wertschöpfung Wasser2011

27. System response
Restoration A F C 2004
Automobile Fuel Consumtion
1974
System Load
Invest.
100 %
Cost Effectiveness
„Value Added“
positive negative
0

28. Verantwortlich für den weltweiten
jährlichen CO2 Ausstoß sind:
Internationale
Schifffahrt
25 % Internationale
Schienen-verkehr Luftfahrt
2.7%
Binnen-schifffahrt
0,5% 1.9% / Fischerei
0,6%
Transport (Straße)
21.3% Strom- und
Wärme-erzeugung
Industrie und Bau 35,0%
18.2%
Andere
Stromerzeugung Sonstiges
4.5% 15.3%
© 2010 Voigt & Collegen
Quelle: 2. IMO GHG Studie 2009

29. Percentage of urban population in Europe* exposed
to air quality NOT in compliance with EU standards

31. Theoretical exploration or practical experience?

32. Theoretical exploration or practical experience?
Or in other words:
We dont know!
Margaret Catley-Carlson, Bonn, June
Wertschöpfung Wasser2011
2010

33. Real Impact of deviation of two rivers from the Aral Sea
towards cotton fields….1970 - 1980
before
Or in other words:
We know!
after
Wertschöpfung Wasser2011

34. Threshold level
towards oligotrophy
Biomass
1980
1985
1990
Threshold level Phosphate
towards eutrophy concentration

35. Cyanobacteria and Health Delivery
Lake Tegel '87-'04 Schlachtensee '81-'02
60
Cyanobacterial biovolume [mm³/L]
50
We know. We dont know! We know!!
40
30
Health and Ugly and Unhealthy Nature
20 Well - Being Disease and Suffering
10
0
10 100 1000
Total phosphorus [µg/L]

36. System response
Restoration Destabilisation
System Load
Invest.
100 %
Cost Effectiveness
„Value Added“
positive negative
0

37. What to do and how to go towards One Health:
Observe and learn:
• Nature‘s Memory cannot be cheated
• Healthy Environments can provide Health and
Well Being
• Brain and hands can deliver orientation and true
progress within short time scale
• This is not a 21. - Century Task, but the Task to…
…Start Now and Deliver!

38. Thank You for
Your attention!!