Coupling spatial pollination supply models with local demand mapping to support collaborative management of ecosystem services

João Fernandes,Paula Antunes,Rui Santos,Grazia Zulian,Pedro Clemente,Diogo Ferraz

doi:10.1080/26395916.2020.1800821

João Fernandes, Paula Antunes + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2020.1800821

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Mapping of ecosystem services (ES) is a powerful tool for communication and knowledge sharing about the implications of ecosystem management practices for human wellbeing. This research aimed to show the usefulness of ES mapping for decision-making by combining modelling of ES supply with ES demand mapping in a participatory process with the engagement of relevant stakeholders. We used the ESTIMAP-pollination model to map wild bee abundance and pollination supply in the Sudoeste Alentejano and Costa Vicentina Natural Park (PNSACV) in Portugal. The model was modified by adding a behavioural component that distributes pollinator visits according to floral availability. Balancing pollination supply with crop dependency levels allowed visualising potential areas of satisfied and unsatisfied demand and testing the effectiveness of ecosystem management interventions. The discussion of these results in two participatory workshops triggered the first collective debate about pollination in the PNSACV. This engagement enabled the development of a shared understanding about this ES and highlighted the role of ES maps as tools to support collaborative natural resources management.

Highlights

For that we interviewed local farmers, bee keepers, experts and the park management to gain an understanding of the general context of agroeco system management and planning in the area and to query the relative importance of pollination services
The supply map based on the original model (PSL) shows an omni-directional pollinator diffusion (Figure 5(b)) while the modified model (PSF) directs visitation rates according to floral availability (Figure 5(c))
We show how ecosystem services (ES) supply and demand maps can be used to support an interactive discussion between stakeholders

Summary

Introduction

Plant–pollinator relationships are critical to ecosystem functioning, as most wild and cultivated flowering species depend, at different extents, on pollinator visits to set seed and reproduce (Kevan 1999; Ollerton et al 2011). Such interactions contri bute to the increase in yield, stability and quality of an array of crops (Klein et al 2007; Garratt et al 2014), which includes fruits and vegetables, that pro vide essential nutrients to healthy diets (Eilers et al 2011; Chaplin-Kramer et al 2014). Pollinatordependent wild plant communities contribute to landscape aesthetics and sense of place, delivery of food and shelter resources to different species and processes that support other ES (e.g. pest control, soil protection) (Wratten et al 2012)

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