A blueprint for mapping and modelling ecosystem services

Neville D. Crossman, Benjamin Burkhard, Stoyan Nedkov, Louise Willemen, Katalin Petz, Ignacio Palomo, Evangelia G. Drakou, Berta Martín-Lopez, Timon McPhearson, Kremena Boyanova, Rob Alkemade, Benis Egoh, Martha B. Dunbar and Joachim Maes

Ecosystem Services, 2013, vol. 4, issue C, 4-14

Abstract: The inconsistency in methods to quantify and map ecosystem services challenges the development of robust values of ecosystem services in national accounts and broader policy and natural resource management decision-making. In this paper we develop and test a blueprint to give guidance on modelling and mapping ecosystem services. The primary purpose of this blueprint is to provide a template and checklist of information needed for those beginning an ecosystem service modelling and mapping study. A secondary purpose is to provide, over time, a database of completed blueprints that becomes a valuable information resource of methods and information used in previous modelling and mapping studies. We base our blueprint on a literature review, expert opinions (as part of a related workshop organised during the 5th ESP conference22〈http://www.espconference.org/previous_editions/80045/5/0/60〉. ) and critical assessment of existing techniques used to model and map ecosystem services. While any study that models and maps ecosystem services will have its unique characteristics and will be largely driven by data and model availability, a tool such as the blueprint presented here will reduce the uncertainty associated with quantifying ecosystem services and thereby help to close the gap between theory and practice.

Keywords: Environmental accounting; Spatial analysis; Geographic information systems; Ecosystem assessment; Standards; Indicators (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (143)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoser:v:4:y:2013:i:c:p:4-14

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2013.02.001

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