Ecosystem Services最新文献

Including human dimensions in conservation practice is increasingly recognized as being essential for creating sustainable and equitable solutions to the current biodiversity crisis. However, including ecosystem services in conservation planning is challenging because services can be intangible and difficult to map, and incorporating equitable access to the resulting benefits of ecosystem services has hardly been considered. Ecological Infrastructure (EI) is a promising framework for integrating ecosystem services into systematic conservation planning (SCP), yet its application remains to be tested. We aimed to quantify the effects of including EI, with and without equitable access, in a biodiversity-based SCP, where EI is the spatial representation of ecosystem services. We took an experimental, scenario-planning approach, running five scenarios in Marxan software with different combinations of input features: biodiversity (n = 135 features), EI (n = 6) and EI with equitable access (hereafter EI*, n = 84) for the South African coastal zone. The resulting conservation networks were compared using multivariate statistics, considering: the proportion of feature targets met; coverage of core areas (areas with 100 % selection frequency for biodiversity features, EI, and EI*); conservation network size and cost; and spatial configuration. Including biodiversity and equitable access drove the dissimilarity among scenarios, and only when all input features were included, were all core areas well covered and all feature targets met. Therefore, biodiversity features were not an adequate surrogate for EI or EI*, and including ecosystem services (via EI*) in SCP is necessary to ensure equitable access to benefits. However, including EI increased the mean size (7.0 % more planning units) and cost (by 9.1 %) of conservation networks. Despite this, the social and economic benefits of investing in EI (e.g., securing dunes for coastal protection) likely outweigh these costs, especially in the longer term.

Climate change is considered a major driver for environmental changes and impacts on human well-being. Understanding the relationships between climatic changes and ecosystem services (ES) is therefore crucial to develop effective adaption and mitigation measures. However, studies that comprehensively assess climate change impacts on ES, providing also spatially explicit information, are greatly lacking. To address this gap, this study aims at assessing and mapping potential impacts on multiple ES in Central Europe, using the example of Austria. Our analysis steps included (1) mapping provisioning, regulating, and cultural ES (n = 19) using a land use/cover-based approach, (2) deriving potential impacts on indicators (n = 58), used to assess ES, through a literature analysis, (3) mapping potential impacts on ES in qualitative terms, and (4) analysing spatial patterns across Austria. Our results indicate that, in particular, water-related ES and cultural ES will decline, while some provisioning and regulating ES will improve. The spatial analysis revealed that regions located in the south-eastern parts of Austria will be potentially affected the most by climate change impacts, while less ES will decline in western mountain regions. Our findings contribute to the knowledge base for decision-making at different governance levels, supporting the development of policies and management strategies at the national and international level, as well as fostering communication with stakeholders and the elaboration of targeted management plans at the local and regional level. Our proposed mapping approach is easily transferable to other regions, but future research should address current limitations related to uncertainties in climate projections, the clear distinction of climate-induced impacts, and the role of climate-related hazards.

Flood mitigation service provides crucial information for reducing flood disasters and assessing ecosystem capacities by quantifying how much damage is reduced and how many benefiting areas are protected during flood events. However, there remains a gap in the full-process quantification, which results in less precise simulation outcomes. In this study, we introduce a novel methodology to accurately quantify the flood mitigation service of ecosystems by coupling hydrological and hydrodynamic models. We utilized the Hydrological Simulation Program-Fortran (HSPF) model to simulate peak flow and flood volume and then used these data as inputs for the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC) hydrodynamic model to simulate the spatial extent and depth of flood inundation. The contribution and capacity of the ecosystem are reflected through the reduction in peak flow, flood volume, and inundation areas. We used the Nandu Basin flood event in October 2010 as a case study to illustrate our approach, comparing our assessment results with those simulated by the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) model and the Height Above Nearest Drainage (HAND) model. The results demonstrate that coupling the HSPF model (R² = 0.93) with the EFDC model (overlap ratio = 83.71 %) allows for precise quantification of flood mitigation service. The process-based hydrological and hydrodynamic models show a high correlation with the simpler and faster InVEST and HAND model simulations, with the full-process models reducing relative errors by 7.66 % and 5.25 % respectively. This study offers a promising approach for accurately and comprehensively assessing flood mitigation ecosystem service and provides a basis for model selection.

Land-use and land-cover patterns, including their spatial heterogeneity and configuration, are fundamental in shaping landscape-level ecological processes, functions, and services. Despite growing recognition of the importance of these patterns, gaps remain in our understanding of how they influence the functional connectivity of ecosystem services (ES)—a crucial aspect for ecosystem resilience and sustainability. This research aims to bridge this gap by investigating the functional connectivity among multiple ES, such as pollination, carbon storage, soil erosion control, wetland-based ES such as habitat provisioning and water storage capacity from marshes, swamps, and open water wetlands, and agricultural food production within a complex landscape. We define functional connectivity as the extent to which the landscape facilitates or impedes the interactions and interdependencies of ecological processes that combine to create distinct ecosystem services. This definition encompasses the dynamics within a spatially interconnected mosaic of land use and land cover, exemplified by connections such as those from pollination provisioning areas to croplands. The primary goal of this research is to develop an empirical framework that encapsulates ‘network topological’ interactions— essentially, the complex interplay among various components of the ecosystem — specific to agricultural landscapes and then to apply this framework to the Canadian prairies. Our methodology uses the spatial tools including InVEST, ARIES, and GIS to map diverse ES. An ecological network is then constructed for these ES at the landscape scale, designating network nodes based on high-value ES provisioning areas and defining links between pairs of ES according to their functional connections (overlapping and proximal in physical space). These functional connections effectively delineate areas of the landscape where the majority of ES flows occur. Mapping ES connectivity and network building revealed that around 29% of the studied landscape lies within functional connectivity zones for the selected ES, representing hotspots of significant ES interactions. Our findings reveal that although soil erosion-control spans just 1.36% of the total area, a substantial 72.59% of its spatial extent was identified as functionally connected. Land cover analysis in functional connectivity zones revealed that natural habitats such as shrublands, broadleaf forests, wetlands, and grasslands are vital mediators of ES. The variability in ES interconnectivity in the landscape was evident both in the intensity of interactions and observed connections. Our findings, informed by Ecological Network Analysis (ENA), emphasize the need for integrating connectivity and systems thinking in conservation sciences to achieve sustainability and ecosystem resilience. The insights offer a foundation to explore optimal ES provisioning scenarios at the landscape scale.

Quality valuation research should adhere to best practice or state-of-the-art guidelines for conducting the research. This study systematically reviewed existing valuation literature for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on wetland ecosystem services. The objective of the study was to identify and assess this valuation literature for compliance with best practice in accordance with contemporary state-of-the-art guidelines. The results showed that the majority of studies were conducted in marine wetland or marine ecosystems, used stated preference methods, and adhered to the majority of the considered guidelines. Less adherence was found regarding temporal considerations, probability sampling and validity and reliability testing for the stated preference methods. For the revealed preference methods there were also a lack of validity and reliability testing. Thus, there is scope for improving valuation studies in SIDS to more effectively contribute to the valuation research agenda and thereby the policy relevance of valuation research in the future.

Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) are highly context-specific and inherently linked to local identity, which challenges their assessment. Participatory methods have proven to capture the multiple values and aspects of CES for local communities. This paper presents an attempt to understand the different dimensions of CES in the Saint-Philippe municipality, Réunion Island, France. We applied a tiered, participatory approach that utilises knowledge co-creation processes over a period of 3 years. First, we co-created the aim of the research and brought together focus groups and participatory GIS mapping. In a second step, we used an expert-based matrix assessment to estimate CES supply capacities and added social big data using InVEST modelling of CES flows. Outputs of these processes are 1) the mapping of important landscape features, 2) ecosystem capacities for CES supply and 3) modelled use of CES. Results of the participatory GIS mapping show 110 features linked to CES supply in the municipal area, including historic sites, recreational areas, and non-timber forest products such as pandanus leaves and vanilla production. Based on land use classes, the capacities of the landscapes to supply emblematic or symbolic values, landscape aesthetics and recreational activities were assessed. Ten experts contributed to the assessment in workshop format in February 2023. Spatial information on recreation patterns show that visitation mostly took place alongside the coast and along hiking trails, mainly corresponding with landscape aesthetics. Accessibility of sites close to infrastructure was found to be an important governing factor. The coastline, with its rocky basaltic shores, was highly appreciated. The outcomes of this co-creation approach show the value of ES for tourism and regional economic activities. Bringing this information together allows identifying the contribution of ecosystems to regional economic activities and informing policy and decision-makers with recommendations for enhanced land use planning and economic development.

The agricultural strategy developed in Extremadura, southwest Spain, has successfully improved the region's socioeconomic conditions over the last 50 years. However, it has led to an increased dependence on natural ecosystem services, which are now more vulnerable due to biodiversity degradation and the impacts of climate change. Despite this, in the region, there is no comprehensive economic impact assessment of the provisioning of ecosystem services to the agricultural sector that could improve decision-making processes in these areas. In this context, the aim of this paper is to provide an economic estimate of three ecosystem services (water used for irrigation, pollination and natural pest control using birds and bats) under different adaptation scenarios for the agricultural production in Extremadura. The preliminary results show that this region has intensive ecosystem services in the agricultural production. Irrigation was found to be the most important service, contributing 49 % of agricultural gross production value, followed by pollinators (10 %) and natural pest control by birds and bats (4 %). A scenario analysis showed that the expansion of irrigation has led to greater dependence on other ecosystem services, such as pollination, increasing agricultural production vulnerability. This paper proposes a line of research to achieve methodological progress in policymaking for regional development. Analysis of the interrelationship between ecosystem services and environmental cost–benefit analysis should become a standard practice when expanding irrigation.

While terrestrial ecosystems are easily monitored, marine systems suffer from a scarcity of spatial data due to their high dynamism nature and tri-dimensional environment. In this context, mapping is recognized as a critical instrument to bring ecosystem services (ES) into practical applications, and modelling could represent an essential resource for assessing marine ecosystem services. The scope of this study is to analyse the status quo of the spatially-explicit data of marine ecosystem services in European seas, (i) providing an overview of the mapping and assessment of marine ecosystem services in Europe; and (ii) highlighting the challenges and importance of including spatial analyses in the socio-economic valuation of marine ecosystem services. These results show that the mapping and assessment of ES in European marine and coastal areas are still limited and not harmonized in the evaluation approach. Most studies have provided a general assessment of marine and coastal ESs, and only few have performed detailed habitat-specific ES analyses, e.g. coastal lagoons, seagrass and meadows, neglecting the rest of marine and coastal ecosystems. Such disequilibrium was not only limited to habitat type, but it was also extended to the ES categories. Finally, the monetary and non-monetary valuation of marine ecosystems services is extremely relevant and fundamental in the process of boosting the conservation of marine habitats and resources, and of overseeing a more sustainable development for the maritime activities. Nevertheless, the methodology for the socio-economic valuation of marine assets is still under discussion due mainly to the hindrances intrinsic to marine environment. An outlook of future steps and recommendations is provided.

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment report was a milestone that placed the concepts of Ecosystem Services (ES) and Disservices (EDS) on the research and policy agenda. Since then, several gaps in these frameworks have limited their effectivity, including a conceptual ambiguity and the questioning of aspects reflected in the co-production, provision, and maintenance of ES/EDS, making it difficult to generate greater interaction and understanding of scientific work. We jointly address ES/EDS from a conceptual approach, providing an analysis of the definitions and typologies available in the literature between 2000 and 2024 that included the terms “ecosystem services” AND “ecosystem disservices.” We analyzed 297 studies based on 15 evaluation criteria. Our findings underscore the importance of delimiting the ecological processes that give rise to ES/EDS and the social phenomena that influence how they are perceived and appropriated. Both concepts were recognized as multifaceted, with diverse meanings that in some cases hinder the clarity with which different messages are communicated. These concepts hold the potential for bringing a more pluralistic view of the human-nature relationship into decision-making. We warn of the risks associated with minimizing the need for academic consensus in the identification of ES/EDS, especially as it may lead to risky management practices that affect ecosystems.

The Ecozoic is defined as an era characterized by the mutual flourishing of humans and the rest of Nature. The field of Ecosystem Services should be dedicated to achieving this goal. However, ecosystem services (ES) are commonly defined as Nature’s benefits to people, an anthropocentric concept. Many schemes proposed to assess and value ES are market oriented, thus focused on the satisfaction of subjective individual preferences, an egocentric approach. Yet modern science accepts that all complex species, including humans, are an inseparable part of Nature, incapable of surviving without the ecosystem services Nature generates. Nature is the whole, the economy is the part; we must internalize the economy into nature, not vice versa. This article builds on evolutionary theory, anthropology and ecological economics to explain the necessity of an ecocentric approach to ecosystem services embodied in economic institutions prioritizing Nature. We must create new economic institutions focused on the health of the whole system to complement existing institutions focused on the individual (e.g. markets) and on society (e.g. the public sector and other collective institutions), with the recognition that system health also depends on the health of system components. We therefore propose redefining ecosystem services as Nature’s benefits to the biotic community of which humans are a part. The relationship of humanity to nature should be the same as that of a cell to the human body: prioritize the health of whole and take only the minimum necessary for secure sufficiency.