Assessing Impacts of Soil Management Measures on Ecosystem Services

Gudrun Schwilch ,Dominika Krzeminska ,R.p.j.j Rietra ,Teodoro Marañón ,Tatenda Lemann ,Mark Tibbett ,Ioannis Ν Daliakopoulos ,Artemi Cerdà ,Sandra Valente ,Grzegorz Siebielec ,Christos Zoumides ,Örjan Berglund ,Carlo Camarotto ,Jóhann Þórsson ,Jan Van Den Akker ,Hedwig Van Delden ,Silvia Kohnová ,Nicoleta Vrînceanu ,S.j.e Verzandvoort ,Rudi Hessel

doi:10.3390/su10124416

Abstract

Only a few studies have quantified and measured ecosystem services (ES) specifically related to soil. To address this gap, we have developed and applied a methodology to assess changes in ecosystem services, based on measured or estimated soil property changes that were stimulated by soil management measures (e.g., mulching, terracing, no-till). We applied the ES assessment methodology in 16 case study sites across Europe representing a high diversity of soil threats and land use systems. Various prevention and remediation measures were trialled, and the changes in manageable soil and other natural capital properties were measured and quantified. An Excel tool facilitated data collection, calculation of changes in ecosystem services, and visualization of measured short-term changes and estimated long-term changes at plot level and for the wider area. With this methodology, we were able to successfully collect and compare data on the impact of land management on 15 different ecosystem services from 26 different measures. Overall, the results are positive in terms of the impacts of the trialled measures on ecosystem services, with 18 out of 26 measures having no decrease in any service at the plot level. Although methodological challenges remain, the ES assessment was shown to be a comprehensive evaluation of the impacts of the trialled measures, and also served as an input to a stakeholder valuation of ecosystem services at local and sub-national levels.

Highlights

Ecosystem services (ES) related to soil have recently become increasingly important to justify and support sustainable soil management for the mitigation or prevention of soil threats
We have reviewed the current scientific debate and, in an earlier step, proposed an adapted framework for soil-related ES that is suited for practical application in the prevention and remediation of soil degradation across Europe [3]
As we aimed at a comprehensive perspective integrating all ES potentially affected by soil management, we evaluated available lists of ES, such as CICES ([43]; www.cices.eu) and TEEB ([44]; teebweb.org)

Summary

Introduction

Ecosystem services (ES) related to soil have recently become increasingly important to justify and support sustainable soil management for the mitigation or prevention of soil threats. Rutgers et al [4] developed a method to quantify soil quality indicators on arable farms, with land users and experts giving scores to various ES indicators. Schulte et al [5] identified proxy indicators for five soil functions based on agro-environmental indicators from current policy debates on interactions between agriculture and environment. Dominati et al [6] worked with a comprehensive list of proxies for each service and units for measuring them, but omitted cultural services due to their non-biophysical nature and the related challenges of quantifying them. Van Oudenhoven et al [7] applied the cascade model of Haines-Young and Potschin [8] to a multifunctional rural landscape in the Netherlands for the assessment of land management effects

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion