Spatial Assessment of Water-Related Ecosystem Services to Prioritize Restoration of Forest Patches

Abstract

Forests provide several ecosystem services and its presence near streams can increase water quality and quantity. In human-dominated landscapes such as agricultural lands, the forests are usually limited to a few patches. To improve the protection of water ways in these areas, we propose a methodological framework to: (i) assess the contribution of water-related ecosystem services offered by the present forest vegetation in the landscape, and (ii) prioritize areas for recovery and restoration actions. The methodology is based on a balance between local demand (physical variables) and supply (forest characteristics) of water-related services. This balance has the advantage of showing the amount of forest that currently has potential to provide services and the areas with higher deficit of services. Although this method still needs to be validated, its simplicity and easy replicability makes our methodology a rapid assessment of forest potential to provide water-related ecosystem services within agricultural areas.