Development of quantitative indicators to balance supply and demand of ecosystem services and improve the evaluation of ecosystem management

Ecosystem losses and degradation is in contrast with the increasing knowledge on the importance of resilient ecosystems to coop with disturbances (e.g. climate change) and to deliver goods and services to society (e.g. food and protection). Managing ecosystems to restore them and deliver particular benefits is challenging because of bio-physical and social complexities. The concept of ecosystem services (ES) offers a framework to make the linkages between ecological and socioeconomic properties and processes. Despite rapid developments in ES research, still no consensus exists on how to measure ES and integrate natural and human sciences. This research project investigates how to calculate the supply and demand of ES as a necessary step for more accurate evaluation of management strategies for the case of estuaries. Five steps are followed: (1) unravel the bio-physical complexity to develop quantitative (and measurable) indicators for the supply of ES, (2) unravel the socio-economic complexity to develop quantitative indicators for the demand and use of ES, (3) develop a qualitative model, based on input from step 1 and 2, as a first step to integrate complex natural and human science aspects, (4) balance supply and demand for ES to identify management needs and opportunities, and (5) develop a tiered method for an ES-based evaluation of management strategies that incorporates complex estuarine ecosystem functioning and stakeholder benefits.

Keywords:ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Disciplines:Ecology, Environmental science and management, Other environmental sciences