A national scale web mapping platform for mainstreaming ecosystem services in Greece

Abstract

This study outlines the conceptualisation and development of a public participation geographic information system (ppGIS) and web GIS (webGIS) platform for hosting, visualizing, and updating ecosystem services (ES) related data at national scale through participatory mapping. The ppGIS/webGIS is developed within the framework of the LIFE-IP 4 Natura, a project has received the most substantial nature-focused funding scheme for Greece approved by the European Commission. One of the project's central goals is the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES) in Greece. This initiative contributes to the implementation of Action 5 of Target 2 of the European Union (EU) Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, following the standard EU MAES guidelines. The LIFE-IP 4 Natura online mapping infrastructure hosts and visualizes spatially explicit maps and information produced earlier in the project at a national level. It also provides a mechanism for updating this baseline information via public participation, thereby fostering increased public awareness of the necessity for ecosystem protection, conservation, and management. Following a multi-stakeholder user requirement analysis, the herein presented ppGIS/webGIS platform is designed and developed. The platform incorporates various geospatial data explorers (GDE), ppGIS services for local and national public participation, geotools and data, visual content representation, and an introductory-level knowledge repository for ES (ES-pedia). An, overview of the platform's preliminary usage is presented, and its potential in promoting the uptake and mainstreaming of the ES concept is discussed.