Mapping ecosystem services

Ecosystem services maps visualise and quantify where and to what extent ecosystems contribute to human well-being and therefore maps operationalize the ecosystem services framework and concepts. To understand ecosystem service provision in a spatial context, there is a need to identify both where services are generated and where they are used. Accordingly, several methods have been developed to map supply of and demand for ecosystem services, with recent attention to the mapping of ecosystem service flows. Mapping approaches typically follow a tiered approach starting from maps derived from land cover or land use datasets which serve as a basis to add more detailed information about ecosystem functioning or expert-based knowledge about ecosystems. There is a growing number of tools and decision support systems which can be used to map ecosystem services, which are presented in this chapter. Key to high quality ecosystem services maps are scientific accuracy, reproducibility and credibility. This can be achieved by incorporating stakeholder knowledge, by the use of common mapping standards and by improving our systems to monitor ecosystem services.

MAES Joachim;  CROSSMAN Neville;  BURKHARD Benjamin; 

2016-02-01

Routlegde

JRC90156

978-1-13-802508-0,   

https://www.routledge.com/products/9781138025080,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC90156,