TY - JOUR
T1 - Selecting methods for ecosystem service assessment
T2 - A decision tree approach
AU - Harrison, Paula A.
AU - Dunford, Robert
AU - Barton, David
AU - Keleman, Eszter
AU - Martin- Lopez, Berta
AU - Norton, Lisa
AU - Termansen, Mette
AU - Saarikoski, Heli
AU - Hendriks, Kees
AU - Gómez-Baggethun, Eric
AU - Czúcz, Bálint
AU - Llorente, Marina García
AU - Howard, David
AU - Jacobs, Sander
AU - Karlsen, Martin
AU - Kopperoinen, Leena
AU - Madsen, Anders
AU - Rusch, Graciela M.
AU - Eupen, Michiel
AU - Verweij, Peter
AU - Smith, Rognvald
AU - Tuomasjukka, Diana
AU - Zulian, Grazia
PY - 2018/2
Y1 - 2018/2
N2 - A range of methods are available for assessing ecosystem services. Methods differ in their aims; from mapping and modelling the supply and demand of ecosystem services to appraising their economic and non-economic importance through valuation techniques. Comprehensive guidance for the selection of appropriate ecosystem service assessment methods that address the requirements of different decision-making contexts is lacking. This paper tackles this gap using the experience from 27 case studies which applied different biophysical, socio-cultural and monetary valuation methods to operationalise the ecosystem service concept towards sustainable land, water and urban management. A survey of the reasons why the case study teams selected particular methods revealed that stakeholder-oriented reasons, such as stakeholder participation, inclusion of local knowledge and ease of communication, and decision-oriented reasons, such as the purpose of the case study and the ecosystem services at stake, were key considerations in selecting a method. Pragmatic reasons such as available data, resources and expertise were also important factors. This information was used to develop a set of linked decision trees, which aim to provide guidance to researchers and practitioners in choosing ecosystem service assessment methods that are suitable for their context.
AB - A range of methods are available for assessing ecosystem services. Methods differ in their aims; from mapping and modelling the supply and demand of ecosystem services to appraising their economic and non-economic importance through valuation techniques. Comprehensive guidance for the selection of appropriate ecosystem service assessment methods that address the requirements of different decision-making contexts is lacking. This paper tackles this gap using the experience from 27 case studies which applied different biophysical, socio-cultural and monetary valuation methods to operationalise the ecosystem service concept towards sustainable land, water and urban management. A survey of the reasons why the case study teams selected particular methods revealed that stakeholder-oriented reasons, such as stakeholder participation, inclusion of local knowledge and ease of communication, and decision-oriented reasons, such as the purpose of the case study and the ecosystem services at stake, were key considerations in selecting a method. Pragmatic reasons such as available data, resources and expertise were also important factors. This information was used to develop a set of linked decision trees, which aim to provide guidance to researchers and practitioners in choosing ecosystem service assessment methods that are suitable for their context.
KW - Guidance, Method, Decision trees, Biophysical, Monetary, Socio-cultural
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.09.016
DO - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.09.016
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2212-0416
VL - 29
SP - 481
EP - 498
JO - Ecosystem Services
JF - Ecosystem Services
IS - C
ER -