Categories Of Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Measuring the Ecosystem Services Value of Kalimpong District (West Bengal), India with Respect to Land Use Land Cover Dynamicity

Ecosystem services may be defined as profits human gain from ecosystems and it provided four major categories of ecosystem services like cultural, regulating, provisioning, and supporting service also known as ecological integrity. Ecosystem is the main base for creation of service which is essential for people benefits. In this paper, LULC map of the district are prepared by satellite image landsat-5 for 1991 and landsat-8 for 2021 using ArcGIS 10.3.1 software. The district is characterised by seven categories of LULC like water bodies, build up area, agriculture land, agriculture plantation, agriculture fallow land, social forestry and forest. Forest cover area and agriculture plantation of district were reduced from 1991 to 2021 because forest cover area was 51.47 % in 1991 and 36.94 % in 2021 and area of agriculture plantation was 9.81% in 1991 and 7.49 % in 2021. The LULC map was applied along with coefficient of ecosystem service values of biomes that propounded by Costanza and his group 1997 and 2014 to understand the spatio-temporal transformation in the value of ecosystem service of landscape. The paper represents a total of US$ 3.83 million of ecosystem services was decreased as per Costanza and his group, 1997 and US$ 1.37 million of ecosystem services was increased as per Costanza and his group, 2014 due to LULC transformation from 1991 to 2021. Ecosystem service value of forest cover area was reduced. Coefficient of sensitivity analysis applied to evaluate the reliability of ecosystem service value and finally the output results are more reliable due to the value of coefficient of sensitivity is <1 that indicates inelastic.

Opportunities to integrate Ecosystem Services into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): a case study of milk production in Brazil

World dairy production is growing rapidly having increased by 339 million tons over the last twenty years. However, it remains unclear how anthropic activities in the milk sector can impact the Ecosystem Services (ES) supply to society. The aim of this study was to propose and determine the Net Environmental Performance (NEP) of different milk production systems. For this purpose, a case study on a confined compost barn farm, located in southeastern Brazil was selected as reference scenario and compared with three other systems. The mapping of ES benefits was carried out using the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services, while environmental impacts were calculated using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The LCA results and ecosystem benefits were combined and converted into monetary units to calculate the NEP per 1 kg of milk. The results indicated that semi-confined systems had the worst environmental performance (90 % more impacts) compared to the compost barn milk system. On the other hand, confined systems generate few ES benefits, but their environmental impacts were lower for most LCA impact categories (up to 87 % minimized impacts) compared to semi-confined systems. Finally, we concluded the confined systems in SP and PR showed the best NEP (1.07 and 1.48) aiming for both environmental impacts and ES benefits to fit the win–win situation.

Review of forest ecosystem services evaluation studies in East Africa

The East African region hosts diverse forest ecosystems, such as woodlands, highland forests, and coastal mangrove forests. These ecosystems are crucial for biodiversity and support various plant and animal species. They provide essential resources, benefiting livelihoods directly and indirectly. Examining regional and global variations in forest ecosystem valuation, especially regarding livelihood benefits, is crucial for sustainable resource management aligned with forest-based climate solutions. The aim of this review is to assess how regional contextual factors and global trends impact the valuation of ecosystem services (ES) in East Africa, with two main objectives (1) to identify the most evaluated ES in East Africa and (2) to identify the preferred ES valuation methods and approaches applied in East Africa. Data from the Web of Science/Clarivate platform was used in the systematic review process using the Reporting standard for Systematic Evidence Syntheses to retrieve and analyse 222 articles. The ES were categorized using the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment framework and the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services in order to create a review database. Provisioning services i.e., wood biomass and food production were the most assessed at 55%, followed by 30% regulating services i.e., carbon storage, 8.6% support services i.e., habitat and 6.4% cultural services i.e., ecotourism which reflected communities’ direct reliance on forest resources. The preferred direct ES valuation techniques included market price at 14.9% for assessing provisioning services and travel cost methods at 10.4% for cultural services. Amongst the indirect ES valuation techniques, remote sensing at 14.7% were preferred as they proved efficient for large and remote tropical forest areas. Participatory methods such as interviews at 11.8% were also preferred because they offer holistic perspectives on community priorities. This review provides spatial context on the regional priorities of ES valuation which is vital for safeguarding natural resources for future generations.

Identifying priority ecosystem services in tidal wetland restoration.

Classification systems can be an important tool for identifying and quantifying the importance of relationships, assessing spatial patterns in a standardized way, and forecasting alternative decision scenarios to characterize the potential benefits (e.g., ecosystem services) from ecosystem restoration that improve human health and well-being. We present a top-down approach that systematically leverages ecosystem services classification systems to identify potential services relevant for ecosystem restoration decisions. We demonstrate this approach using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Ecosystem Service Classification System Plus (NESCS Plus) to identify those ecosystem services that are relevant to restoration of tidal wetlands. We selected tidal wetland management documents from federal agencies, state agencies, wetland conservation organizations, and land stewards across three regions of the continental United States (northern Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, and Pacific Northwest) to examine regional and organizational differences in identified potential benefits of tidal wetland restoration activities and the potential user groups who may benefit. We used an automated document analysis to quantify the frequencies at which different wetland types were mentioned in the management documents along with their associated beneficiary groups and the ecological end products (EEPs) those beneficiaries care about, as defined by NESCS Plus. Results showed that a top combination across all three regions, all four organizations, and all four tidal wetland types was the EEP naturalness paired with the beneficiary people who care (existence). Overall, the Mid-Atlantic region and the land steward organizations mentioned ecosystem services more than the others, and EEPs were mentioned in combination with tidal wetlands as a high-level, more general category than the other more specific tidal wetland types. Certain regional and organizations differences were statistically significant. Those results may be useful in identifying ecosystem services-related goals for tidal wetland restoration. This approach for identifying and comparing ecosystem service priorities is broadly transferrable to other ecosystems or decision-making contexts.

A critical review of peatland ecosystem services research in Indonesia: Uncovering knowledge gaps and research needs

Peatlands provide a broad range of ecosystem services (ES) that are critical to ecosystem regulating and human well-being. However, anthropogenic activities threaten their existence, leading to degradation, destruction, and loss of these ecosystems. To effectively convey the value of peatlands, it is important to share knowledge on the ES they provide. This review aims to provide an overview of the ES provided by peatlands in Indonesia. We undertook a critical review of articles published on Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar to investigate various aspects of peatland ES. Our examination encompassed data types, valuation methods, modes of assessment, ecosystem services categories, study site scale, temporal patterns, purposes of publication, and study limitations related to peatland ES. From a set of 1,115 potentially relevant papers, 45 were selected for analysis. Our findings showed that ES studies are heavily concentrated on the Kalimantan and Sumatra islands, with most studies focused on specific provinces such as Central Kalimantan and Riau. The most commonly used data type, method, and mode of assessment were secondary data, look-up tables, and economic valuation, respectively. Provisioning services were the most frequently studied ES category, followed by regulating services, supporting services, and cultural services. However, gaps persist, including limited data, understanding, and long-term sustainability consideration. Future research should address these gaps by focusing on underrepresented peatland ecosystems, integrating diverse approaches, and considering global peatland issues.

Analysis of the Economic Value of Environmental Services of Mangrove Ecosystem in Cendi Manik, Sekotong District, West Lombok Regency

The area of mangrove ecosystems in West Nusa Tenggara Province continues to decline each year. One of the threatening factors that substantially contribute to such condition is socioeconomic activities of human beings in fulfilling their needs. An effort that can be made primarily to preserve the mangrove ecosystem is to quantify the economic value of environmental services provided by the mangrove ecosystem as a whole, so that the existence and sustainability of the mangrove ecosystem could be maintained. This research aims to calculate the total economic value of mangrove ecosystem services which indicate the four categories of ecosystem services including supporting services, provisioning services, regulatory services and cultural services. The research was carried out using a survey method by collecting data and information from location of this study to obtain actual data regarding the existence of the mangrove ecosystem. The results of the analysis show that the total economic value of mangrove ecosystem environmental services is 963,888,060/year. This value is divided into provider services (supply services) amounting to Rp. 153,002,250, regulatory services (arrangement services) Rp. 598,339,702, supporting services (support services) Rp. 2,243,250, and cultural services (cultural services) Rp. 210,308,857. The magnitude of the total economic value of mangrove ecosystem environmental services can be a reference for the government in determining compensation for services if there is degradation to mangrove ecosystem resources in the area.

Relationships between ecosystem services provided by forest ecosystems and human well-being

Current climate change trends significantly influenceing the structure and functioning of natural ecosystems, including forest ecosystems, which directly or indirectly affects human well-being. The present study consists in reviewing the specialized literature on the effects of the relationships between ecosystem services provided by forest ecosystems and human well-being, describing the following aspects: the definition of the concept of ecosystem services, their history, categories of ecosystem services and the relationship between them and human well-being. The concept of ecosystem services has become an important model of the link between forest ecosystem functioning and human well-being. Understanding this linkage is essential for a wide range of decision-making contexts for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems. We conclude that humanity’s dependence on nature for well-being and survival is complex.

Ecosystem service research in the dry subtropics: Current state, temporal changes and drivers of regional variability

Dry subtropical (DST) regions that share similar climatic and topographic conditions exhibit today significant disparities in population density, agricultural intensity, wealth and cultural values. In addition, they are also facing increasing pressures on their natural resources. These attributes collectively shape individuals' varying dependence on natural resources and may influence their perception of ecosystem services (ES). In this study, we conducted a systematic literature review, focusing on the DST regions, to address two main questions: 1) What is the current state, temporal trends and regional variability in scientific research on ES and 2) What are the potential drivers of the variability in ES research? Amongst the 471 publications found in our review, 53% focused on provisioning services, followed nearly equally by cultural (33%) and regulating (30%) services. Only 13% addressed more than one ES category and approximately 33% mentioned economic valuation. Our study reveals that research on ES in the dry subtropics experienced a significant increase from 2005 onwards. Approximately 45% of the publications included the term 'ecosystem service' and its frequency has risen substantially over time. Most publications primarily focus on African dry subtropics (over 60%), followed by South and North American ones. Publications from southern Asia and NE Australia were more scarce. Importantly, we found no clear relationship between the number of publications, publication density or representativeness and the variables used as indicators of human pressure (e.g. population density). Consequently, research efforts in the DST regions appear to be influenced by a diverse range of financial and institutional constraints, international research agendas, as well as the personal interests of researchers, contributing to the idiosyncratic nature of this field.

Estimating Economic and Livelihood Values of the World’s Largest Mangrove Forest (Sundarbans): A Meta-Analysis

We explored the state of the art economic and livelihood valuation of ecosystem services (ES) in the Sundarbans mangroves, including a comparative analysis between the Bangladesh and Indian parts of the region. We identified 145 values from 26 studies to estimate the Sundarbans’ economic and livelihood values. The number of ES valuation studies of the Sundarbans is scant, and it has gradually increased over time, focusing mainly on the estimation of provisioning ES (66.2%), followed by regulating and maintenance (25.5%), and cultural (8.3%) ES. However, recently, attention has been paid to estimation, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES. The number of studies on ES was higher for the Bangladesh (73%) part of the Sundarbans than the Indian (27%) one. The estimated economic values of the Sundarbans’ provisioning, regulating and maintenance, and cultural ES were US $ 713.30 ha−1 yr−1, US $ 2584.46 ha−1 yr−1, and US $ 151.88 ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Except for cultural ES, the identified values for the other two ES categories were about 1.5 to 2.5 times higher for the Bangladesh Sundarbans compared to the Indian ones. The results of the meta-regression model showed that the estimated economic and livelihood values of ES are affected by the associated variables (e.g., type of ES, valuation methods, study area, population, and GDP). Our study also identified some remarkable gaps and limitations in the economic and livelihood valuation of the ES of the Sundarbans, highlighting the need for further research to find out the values of all ES to help with policy decision-making.

Synthesizing Recent Trends in Interventions and Key Ecosystem Services in Indonesian Peatland

This study conducted a systematic literature review focusing on peatlands studies in Southeast Asia, specifically in Jambi, South Sumatra, and the Riau province of Indonesia, covering the period from 2001 to 2023. To ensure the quality and rigor of the analyzed articles, a critical process and systematic review were employed. Journal articles were extracted using reputable resources, including Google Scholar and Scopus, to enhance the validity and reliability of the research results. We identified significant research topics based on region, province, and sector. Additionally, we synthesized the existing classification of ecosystem services, drawing on previous studies conducted in Indonesia. These services were categorized as provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services. We also reviewed the classification of ecosystem service types based on peatland degradation and restoration. This study identified evidence of peatland intervention to evaluate ecosystem services in Indonesia. We found that large-scale cultivation and production of palm oil, local policies, and forest fires were the main intervening factors in Indonesian peatlands. Furthermore, Indonesian peatlands have undergone conversion to oil palm, timber, and crop plantations. It is imperative to substantiate the effectiveness of future peatland restoration plans and further refine the quantification of services provided by peatland ecosystems through cooperative projects.

Assessment of the losses of ecosystem services of non-flowing waters as a consequence of military intervention

This study explores the challenges in developing a contemporary system of assessment indicators for determining damage to biodiversity. It specifically focuses on the eco-economic aspects of assessing losses in ecosystem services of non-flowing water bodies due to military intervention. To achieve the set objectives, the article utilizes a combination of general scientific and specialized methods from modern ecosystem theory and general ecological assessment, including analysis, synthesis, generalization, systematization, abstract-logical methods, and more. The methodological and theoretical foundation of the research is based on key principles of modern ecosystem theory (following the CICES methodology) regarding the assessment of ecosystems based on selected categories (types) of ecosystem services. In this context, a comprehensive evaluation of lost ecosystem services in non-flowing water bodies is proposed, focusing on major types of potential losses (functional features: provisioning, regulation and support, cultural and recreational services). Using the case study of the destroyed Kakhovka Reservoir, the article applies scoring methods (according to Ya. Didukh) and the «transfer of value» method (according to R. Costanza) to calculate losses in ecosystem services. The article suggests a comprehensive structure for the eco-economic assessment of losses in ecosystem services of non-flowing water bodies, combining two distinct components: ecological and economic. The ecological component may include scoring, expert, and experimental assessments, while the economic component may involve the assessment of losses in ecosystem services of freshwater ecosystems in non-flowing water bodies: a) by their major types (functional features); b) in general. The practical application of the proposed methodological approaches allowed for the monetary assessment of the complex of lost ecosystem services of the Kakhovka Reservoir due to military actions, amounting to approximately $27,452,889,000, which should be fully compensated by the aggressor state. Future research prospects lie in the theoretical-methodological justification and development of a domestic mechanism for assessing losses in ecosystem services of surface waters, particularly non-flowing water bodies, resulting from military intervention. These prospects are rooted in a comprehensive examination of scoring, expert, and experimental assessment indicators within the framework of general ecological assessment

Perceptions on Cultural Ecosystem Services of World Cultural Heritages in Beijing: A cross-cultural Comparison of Social Media-based Online Reviews and Images

This study introduces an innovative approach combining social media text and image comments to quantify the perceptual differences of cultural ecosystem services among various sociocultural groups. For five World Heritage Sites in Beijing, natural-language processing classifies visitor perceptions using social media comments and image data, and importance-performance analysis quantifies the differences between Chinese and international visitor perceptions of these cultural ecosystem services. For the six perceived cultural ecosystem service categories, cross-cultural and local visitors exhibit the same satisfaction trends. In particular, international tourists assign higher importance scores for a given cultural ecosystem service than Chinese tourists. The proposed methods incur a lower cost than traditional methods and acquire large volumes of broad-ranging data. Additionally, the importance of‒the performance analysis data-acquisition method is improved. Moreover, World Heritage Site sustainability can be promoted by understanding the different heritage tourism perceptions of different cultural groups. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights for decision-makers to improve tourism management and conservation strategies.

Land Use/Cover-Related Ecosystem Service Value in Fragile Ecological Environments: A Case Study in Hexi Region, China

The monetary value assigned to ecosystems and their essential goods and services is known as ecosystem service value (ESV). Fragile ecological environments, susceptible to climate change and human disturbances, require significant ecological protection. This protection is vital not only for stabilizing socio-economic conditions but also for fostering a positive feedback loop within natural systems. Looking ahead, identifying priority conservation areas and regions of particular concern in fragile environments based on ESV changes is a proactive approach. Until now, current studies on ESV in fragile ecological environments have been insufficient, falling short of adequately serving the purpose of ecological protection in such areas. The Hexi region (HXR), situated in the interlaced area of the Qilian Mountains and the Alxa Plateau in northwest China, possesses a fragile ecological environment. Due to the intricate interactions between humans and the environment, it stands out as a crucial area for studying ecosystem services in fragile habitats. Hence, this study aims to systematically analyze the ESV in the HXR over the past 30 years. Here, the values of 11 ecosystem service categories in HXR during 1990–2020 were calculated, clarifying their spatiotemporal difference and dynamic changes based on land use/cover (LULC) products for years 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, and 2020, using an improved equivalent factors method. The findings revealed that the unit standard equivalent factor is 1.51 × 105 CNY·km−2·a−1, and the total ESV value has grown from CNY 182.50 to 185.48 billion from 1990 to 2020. Hydrologic regulation, climate regulation, and soil conservation service values are the principal single ESV categories across HXR. Over the past three decades, ESV changes in HXR have been primarily driven by water area, grassland, and wetland, with the sensitivity of ESV to LULC generally increasing (0.15~9.10%). Natural forcing and anthropogenic perturbations have combined to cause changes in LULC in HXR, influencing ESV fluctuations. Future ecosystem protection activities in HXR should prioritize the maintenance of grasslands, water regions, and wetlands to ensure the preservation of ESV. This study clarifies the impacts of LULC change on ESV in fragile natural environments and highlights the significance of focusing on ESV changes for the health promotion of natural-social systems. The findings provide a foundation for constructing a sustainable development model that is in harmony with both people and the environment.

Groundwater Ecosystem Services: Redefining and Operationalizing the Concept

In the last decade, the publication of research studies in the field of groundwater ecosystem services and their classification has increased dramatically. Several academic and other institutions have developed ecosystem service classification systems for use in environmental policy research. However, the existing classification systems need to be optimized in the following areas: (a) the weak correlation between concepts and the definitions assigned, which creates double counting in economic valuation, (b) the absence of correlation of the concept of use value with the ecosystem service, (c) the non-categorization of final and intermediate services, and (d) the overlapping of wetland, soil, and groundwater regulating ecosystem services. Our research aims, through the results of a literature analysis and the synthesis of the results of an expert consultation process, to develop a unified categorization system for groundwater ecosystem services. In the context of the conceptualization of groundwater ecosystem services, this research implemented an expert judging elicitation process where subject discussions and targeted interviews were performed, combined with a literature review analysis. Through the completion of a specific questionnaire and expert interviews, a new groundwater ecosystem services classification system, namely GROUNDWES, was established.

Perception paysanne de la fourniture des services éco-systémiques des forêts communautaires de Nafourgo et Dassissé dans le Centre-Ouest du Burkina Faso

Forest ecosystems are of global importance and vital to local communities. These communities depend on forests for their livelihoods, even their survival. The aim of this study was to identify the categories of ecosystem services that benefit local people and to measure the level of consensus around these services. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews, primarily focusing on the ecosystem services provided by the forests studied. Household surveys, interviews, and field observations were used to gather information on the ecosystem services provided by these forests to local people. The results revealed a rich assemblage of 34 species representing 32 gene-ra and 20 families. These forest species contribute to the provision of three provision-ing ecosystem services with an informant consensus factor ranging from 0.8 to 0.97. These services are food (68%), traditional medicine (28%), and wood energy (4%). These findings confirm that local populations how important forest resources are for their basic needs. To ensure the availability of these resources in the long term, it re-mains necessary to provide them sustainable management practices.

Sustainability Factor for the Cost–Benefit Analysis of Building-Integrated Greenery Systems

Building-integrated greenery (BIG) systems, which include green roofs and green facades, are well-established nature-based solutions (NBS) with proven scientific benefits. However, initial costs and economic apprehensions stemming from potential negative outcomes act as adoption barriers. Furthermore, the lack of standardized indicators and assessment methodologies for evaluating the city-level impacts of BIG systems presents challenges for investors and policy makers. This paper addresses these issues by presenting a comprehensive set of indicators derived from widely accepted frameworks, such as the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) and the NBS impact evaluation handbook. These indicators contribute to the creation of a ‘sustainability factor’, which facilitates cost–benefit analyses for BIG projects using locally sourced data. The practical application of this factor to a 3500 m2 green roof in Lleida, Catalonia (Spain) demonstrates that allocating space for urban horticultural production (i.e., food production), CO2 capture, and creating new recreational areas produces benefits that outweigh the costs by a factor value of nine during the operational phase of the green roof. This cost–benefit analysis provides critical insights for investment decisions and public policies, especially considering the significant benefits at the city level associated with the implementation of BIG systems.

The final ecosystem goods and services Voltron: the power of tools together.

Environmental decision-making benefits from considering ecosystem services to ensure that aspects of the environment that people rely upon are fully evaluated. By focusing consideration of ecosystem services on final ecosystem goods and services (FEGS), the aspects of the environment directly enjoyed, used, or consumed by humans, these analyses can be more streamlined and effective. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has developed a set of tools to facilitate this consideration. The central feature of FEGS is that ecosystems are viewed through the diverse ways people directly benefit from them. The National Ecosystem Services Classification System (NESCS) Plus provides a framework for describing and identifying FEGS consistently. The standardization made available by NESCS Plus allows other tools and databases to interact using the NESCS Plus architecture and taxonomy, providing diverse insights for decision makers. Here, we examine the synergy of using the following four tools together: (1) the FEGS Scoping Tool; (2) the FEGS Metrics Report; (3) the EnviroAtlas; and (4) the EcoService Models Library. The FEGS Scoping Tool helps users determine what ecosystem services are relevant to a decision by harnessing FEGS understanding to enable communities to identify the relative importance of beneficiaries relevant to a decision and biophysical aspects of the environment of direct relevance to those beneficiaries. The FEGS Metrics Report can guide which metrics to monitor or model to represent those priority services. The EnviroAtlas, a powerful tool containing geospatial data and other resources related to ecosystem services, chemical and non-chemical stressors, and human health, and the EcoService Models Library, a database of ecosystem models, are two tools that support users in mapping and modeling endpoints relevant to priority services. While each of these tools is valuable on its own, together, they provide a powerful approach to easily incorporate and operationalize ecosystem services efforts into different parts of decision-making processes across different types of decisions. We illustrate how these integrated tools can be used together with a hypothetical example of a complex environmental management case study and the combined benefit of using the FEGS tools together.

Optimizing ecosystem function multifunctionality with cover crops for improved agronomic and environmental outcomes in dryland cropping systems

CONTEXTIntegrating cover crop mixtures into dryland crop-fallow rotations may foster ecological intensification by enhancing ecosystem function multifunctionality compared with conventional fallows and monoculture cover crops. However, the expression of functional traits in cover crop mixtures is influenced by arrays of agronomic and environmental filters that differently influence cover crop performance. OBJECTIVETo (1) determine the identity and diversity effects of different cover crop functional types on ecosystem functions and trade-offs, and (2) determine the optimal cover crop mixture that maximizes ecosystem function multifunctionality in a subtropical dryland environment. METHODSUsing three-site-year field experiments, we assessed if cover crop mixtures enhanced ecosystem function multifunctionality (MF) above that of monoculture cover crops and conventional fallow. We measured a range of ecosystem functions as indicators of three major ecosystem service categories: 1) provisioning services (biomass production, cash crop yield, and profitability); 2) supporting services (weed suppression, soil active carbon accrual, soil aggregate distribution, nitrogen (N) mineralization, N supply, and N retention); and 3) regulating services (parasitic nematode suppression, promotion of free-living nematodes, soil respiration, and soil water conservation). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSWe found greater suite of ecosystem functions following mixture cover crops compared to monocultures, likely due to synergistic trait combinations that increased ecosystem function multifunctionality. The legume and forage brassica monocultures had consistently low multifunctionality (MF < 0.5). The oat:legume mixture resulted in the highest multifunctionality (MF > 0.5), driven by moderate water use and aboveground biomass production, and high groundcover residency, thus favouring higher cash crop yields and system profitability. They also generated overall improvements in soil health by providing additional carbon inputs, increasing the proportion of larger soil aggregates, and improving soil food web structure. We predicted the optimum cover crop mixture to maximize ecosystem function multifunctionality was 64% oat, 36% legume and 0% forage brassica. SIGNIFICANCEThis study offers novel insight into the agronomic and environmental impacts of replacing fallow with cover crops in a subtropical dryland. It shows that integrating mixture of oat:legume cover crops can increase multifunctionality. Further research is required on the extent of ecosystem trade-offs between competing ecosystem functions. The predicted optimum cover crop mixture composition will likely vary when different ecosystem functions are considered or if long-term experiment data are used. Hence, the recommended optimum cover crop mixture must be interpreted with caution and cover crop selection should be based on practical recommendations according to target management goals.

Multifunctionality and provision of ecosystem services by livestock species and breeds at global level

Beyond providing food, livestock species are linked to a wide range of uses and ecosystem services (ESs). Based on information reported by 41 countries on 3 361 national breed populations to the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, we investigated how factors such as species, region, breed adaptedness, or management system associate with the recognition of provision of a set of 52 ESs. Among species, a greater number of cultural ESs were reported for horses (2.47 for horses vs 0.75 on average across all species), while the major ruminant species (cattle, goats and sheep) were on average associated with more provisioning ESs (2.99 vs 2.39), and more regulating and maintenance ESs (1.86 vs 1.32). Compared to European breeds, African livestock contribute more provisioning ES (3.95 vs 1.88). Native breeds and, to a lesser extent, locally adapted breeds, were linked to more ESs than were exotic breeds (5.97 and 4.10 vs 2.90, respectively), regardless of the ES category considered. The total number of ES reported was greater for breeds primarily kept under Back Yard/Farm Yard and extensive management systems than in other production environments. Different “bundles” of ES were identified in relation to the interdependence among themselves, or according to species or regional specificities. Overall, our results highlight that native and locally adapted breeds, which tend to be raised in less specialized production systems than exotic breeds, are reported to play multiple roles contributing to rural community livelihoods and environmental sustainability of food systems.

Drivers and impacts of land use and land cover changes on ecosystem services provided by the watersheds in the Philippines: a systematic literature review

This study investigates the drivers and impacts of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on ecosystem services provided by the Philippine watersheds, aiming to enhance understanding of sustainable watershed management and land use planning in the country. A systematic literature review assessed LULC change studies from 2013 to 2022. Notably, among the category of ecosystem services, regulating services such as hydrologic regulation and soil erosion control received significant attention, while provisioning services, supporting services and cultural services received comparatively less attention. However, in general, considering the trend of watershed degradation in the country, the studies conducted linking the impacts of land use and land cover change on watershed ecosystem services are relatively few. Also, the impacts of land use and land cover change on watershed ecosystem services were not elaborately explored and mostly centered on either a single or selected ecosystem services. This suggests that a more holistic approach in assessing the impacts of land use and land cover change on the watershed ecosystem services can be considered for future studies. The primary drivers of LULC change were agricultural expansion, urbanization and human settlements, population factors, forest conversion, agricultural demand and profit motives. Among these, urbanization and human settlements were most frequently mentioned. The main impacts of LULC changes on watershed ecosystem services were associated with hydrologic processes. These findings have implications for future research, land use planning, and decision-making processes, aiming to advance sustainable watershed management and preserve ecosystem services.