TY - JOUR

T1 - Selecting methods for ecosystem service assessment

T2 - A decision tree approach

AU - Harrison, Paula A.

AU - Dunford, Rob

AU - Barton, David N.

AU - Kelemen, Eszter

AU - Martín-López, Berta

AU - Norton, Lisa

AU - Termansen, Mette

AU - Saarikoski, Heli

AU - Hendriks, Kees

AU - Gómez-Baggethun, Erik

AU - Czúcz, Bálint

AU - García-Llorente, Marina

AU - Howard, David

AU - Jacobs, Sander

AU - Karlsen, Martin

AU - Kopperoinen, Leena

AU - Madsen, Andes

AU - Rusch, Graciela

AU - van Eupen, Michiel

AU - Verweij, Peter

AU - Smith, Ron

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 - Biophysical

KW - Decision trees

KW - Guidance

KW - Method

KW - Monetary

KW - Socio-cultural

KW - Tool

KW - Biology

KW - Sociology

KW - Sustainability Science

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031108981&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.09.016

DO - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2017.09.016

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:85031108981

VL - 29

SP - 481

EP - 498

JO - Ecosystem Services

JF - Ecosystem Services

SN - 2212-0416

IS - C

ER -