TY - JOUR

T1 - A blueprint for mapping and modelling ecosystem services

AU - Crossman, Neville D.

AU - Burkhard, Benjamin

AU - Nedkov, Stoyan

AU - Willemen, Louise

AU - Petz, Katalin

AU - Palomo, Ignacio

AU - Drakou, Evangelia G.

AU - Martín-Lopez, Berta

AU - McPhearson, Timon

AU - Boyanova, Kremena

AU - Alkemade, Rob

AU - Egoh, Benis

AU - Dunbar, Martha B.

AU - Maes, Joachim

PY - 2013/6

Y1 - 2013/6

N2 - 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 conference. 2) 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.

AB - 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 conference. 2) 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.

KW - Ecosystem assessment

KW - Environmental accounting

KW - Geographic information systems

KW - Indicators

KW - Spatial analysis

KW - Standards

KW - Sustainability Science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879452917&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2013.02.001

DO - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2013.02.001

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84879452917

VL - 4

SP - 4

EP - 14

JO - Ecosystem Services

JF - Ecosystem Services

SN - 2212-0416

ER -