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 addresses 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.

HARRISON Paula;  DUNFORD Robert;  BARTON David;  KELEMEN Eszter;  MARTÍN LÓPEZ Berta;  NORTON Lisa;  TERMANSEN Mette;  SAARIKOSKI Heli;  HENDRIKS Kees;  GÓMEZ-BAGGETHUN Erik;  CZÚCZ Bálint;  GARCÍA-LLORENTE Maria;  HOWARD David;  JACOBS Sander;  KARLSEN Martin;  KOPPEROINEN Leena;  MADSEN Anders;  RUSCH Graciela;  VAN EUPEN Michiel;  VERWEIJ Peter;  SMITH Ron;  TUOMASJUKKA Diana;  ZULIAN Grazia; 

2018-01-11

ELSEVIER B.V.

JRC108431

2212-0416,   

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041617300487,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC108431,   

10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.09.016,