Integrating ecosystem service bundles and socio-environmental conditions – A national scale analysis from Germany

Abstract

Understanding the relationship and spatial distribution of multiple ecosystem services (ES) in the context of underlying socio-environmental conditions is an essential element of national ecosystem assessments. Here, we use Germany as an example to present a reproducible blueprint approach for mapping and analysing ecosystem service bundles (ESB) and associated socio-environmental gradients. We synthesized spatial indicators of eleven provisioning, regulating and cultural ES in Germany and used the method of self-organizing maps (SOM) to define and map ESBs. Likewise, we collated data from 18 covariates to delineate socio-environmental clusters (SEC). Finally, we used an overlap analysis to characterise the relationship between the spatial configuration of ESBs and co-occurring SECs. We identified and mapped eight types of ESBs that were characterized to varying degrees by provisioning, cultural and regulating/maintenance services. While ESBs dominated by provisioning ES were linked to regions with distinct environmental characteristics, cultural ESBs were associated with areas where environmental and socio-economic gradients had similar importance. Furthermore, spatial stratification of ESBs indicated hot spots where more detailed analysis is needed within national assessments. Our approach can serve as a blueprint for ESB analysis that can be reproduced in other geographical and environmental settings.