Concept Of Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Implementation of the Ecosystem Services Concept in the Environmental Legislation of Ukraine: Current State and Prospects

The article outlines the general principles of the concept of ecosystem services and examines the current state and prospects of its implementation in national environmental legislation. It is established that the need to introduce this concept has already been envisaged by a number of strategic programmatic documents, headed by the “Basic Principles (Strategy) of the State Environmental Policy of Ukraine for the Period up to 2030”, but this concept is still not reflected at the level of key environmental legal acts, in particular, the Law of Ukraine “On Environmental Protection” and resource-specific codes and laws which not only lack any mention of ecosystem services, but also hardly ever use the term “ecosystem” at all. It is proved that one of the ways to implement the concept of ecosystem services in Ukraine is to develop an appropriate legal framework, namely: The Law of Ukraine “On Ecosystem Services” and other related bylaws, which should be done in the near future. At the same time, it is substantiated that in addition to the adoption of new legislation in this area, it is extremely important to analyze the current environmental legislation through the prism of the ecosystem approach and make appropriate changes and additions to it, since only under such conditions can legislative gaps and conflicts be avoided and a coherent model for implementing the concept of ecosystem services be developed, which in the current realities of the armed aggression of the russian federation will help to assess and take into account all the damage caused to the environment of Ukraine.

Semi-arid's Unsung Heroes: Hymenoptera and the Vital Ecosystem Services Enabled by Encholirium spectabile, a Rupicolous Bromeliad in the Brazilian Semi-arid Region.

The concept of Ecosystem Services (ES) recognizes the importance of natural ecosystems in supporting human well-being. Hymenoptera, a diverse group of insects including ants, bees, and wasps, play crucial roles in providing ESs. Despite their significance, the provision of ESs by Hymenoptera is often undervalued, leading to ecosystem degradation and loss of important services. This study focuses on the association between Hymenoptera and a rupicolous bromeliad species (Encholirium spectabile) and explores the ESs promoted directly and indirectly by these insects. The study area is located in the Caatinga region of Brazil, characterized by irregular rainfall and a dry season. The results show that Hymenoptera, particularly bees, ants, and wasps, provide a range of ESs including pollination, honey production, pest control, cultural symbolism, and educational value. These services are vital for plant reproduction, food production, and ecosystem functioning in both seasons; there are no differences in species richness between seasons, but rather in species composition. Understanding the importance of Hymenoptera for ESs is crucial for informing conservation and management practices to ensure the sustainability of natural ecosystems. The study highlights the need for conservation actions to protect the intricate ecological relationships between Hymenoptera and bromeliads, which indirectly support ESs by providing habitat and resources, especially during droughts when resources are scarce in the region. By recognizing the importance of bromeliads in supporting Hymenopteran communities, conservation efforts can focus on preserving these critical ecological interactions and maintaining ES provision.

Integrating social-ecological outcomes into invasive species management: the Tamarix case

Incorporating societal considerations into decisions related to invasive species management is desirable, but can be challenging because it requires a solid understanding of the ecological functions and socio-cultural and economic benefits and values of the invaded environment before and after invasion. The ecosystem service (ES) concept was designed to facilitate such decision-making by establishing direct connections between ecosystem properties and human well-being, but its application in invasive species management has not been systematic. In this Discussion paper, we propose the adoption of the ES cascade model as a framework for understanding the environmental effects, costs and benefits associated with controlling an invasive shrub (Tamarix spp.) in riparian systems of the western United States. The cascade model has the advantage of explicitly dissecting social-ecological systems into five components: ecosystem structure and processes, ecological functions, ecosystem services, benefits and the economic and socio-cultural valuation of these services and benefits. The first two have received significant attention in the evaluation of Tamarix control effectiveness. The last three have long been implicitly acknowledged over decades of Tamarix management in the region, but have not been formally accounted for, which we believe would increase the effectiveness, accountability and transparency of management efforts.

Making explicit an Ecosystem Services indicator as a policy instrument

ABSTRACT Some policy-oriented concepts such as Ecosystem Services (ESS) remain widely utilized, despite obvious difficulties in operationalizing them. How does the concept persist? In a large EU Horizon 2020 project, researchers from different institutes worked together to develop an indicator of the environmental performance of agricultural practices, expressed in terms of ESS. Two observations of this project help to explain how ESS are progressively turned into a socially shared concept that may transform its environment and perpetuate itself. Firstly, the challenges of operationalizing ESS facilitated the formation of a group of researchers dedicated to the concept. As the project advanced, researchers progressively cut ties with the environmental sciences on which ESS are meant to be based. The interpretive flexibility of the ESS concept contributed to shaping the socially shared reality within which it was situated. Secondly, the legal obligations and procedures of the Horizon 2020 project were an essential factor for the constitutive strength of the ESS concept. As a straitjacket, the grant agreement ensured that the project maintained the researcher-indicator relationship. Thus, researchers were persistently oriented towards developing and expanding the ESS concept. This case illustrates how a research project can be formed and maintained around relatively ill-defined concepts in large consortia that are meant to produce policy-relevant science.

Aligning nature-based solutions with ecosystem services in the urban century

In an increasingly urbanized world, the concepts of ecosystem services and nature-based solutions can help tackle grand challenges. However, ambiguity in their definitions and in the relationship between the two concepts complicates comprehensive research efforts as well as their effective application in policy and planning in urban systems. This paper presents a framework to clarify and explicitly relate the two concepts, enhancing their applicability in the management of urban challenges. Within the framework, addressing urban challenges serves as the starting point for the development and implementation of nature-based solutions. Nature-based solutions alter the flows of ecosystem services that are produced by an ecosystem by altering the performance of the ecosystem or by changing how people engage with the ecosystem. This results both in changes in the target ecosystem services, as well as non-targeted ecosystem services, leading to benefits. Using two illustrative case studies, we show how the framework can be applied to two urban challenges that are expected to increase in intensity in cities across the world: stormwater management and urban heat stress. Moreover, we highlight key research topics that will benefit from more integrated use of nature-based solutions and ecosystem services. The framework helps emphasize co-benefits, and can be used to help make co-benefits and multifunctionality explicit in urban decision-making and planning processes.

A Review of Research on Progress in the Theory and Practice of Eco-Product Value Realization

A Review of Research on Progress in the Theory and Practice of Eco-Product Value Realization

Integrating monetary and non-monetary valuation for ecosystem services in Piatra Craiului national park, Southern Carpathians: a comprehensive approach to sustainability and conservation

The concept of ecosystem services and their valuation has gained significant attention in recent years due to the profound interdependence and interconnectedness between humans and ecosystems. As several studies on valuation of forest ecosystem services have stressed the human-nature interactions lately, in the research study area, the environmental conditions shows rapid changes while human pressures on forests intensify. Thus, the research questions are as follows: (i) what are the the monetary and non-monetary value of ecosystem services provided by forests in Piatra Craiului National Park and (ii) their relationship with other variables, focusing on identifying differences and resemblances between each approach. The R PASTECS package was utilized to analyze primary statistical indicators for both monetary and non-monetary values, revealing significant variability in the results (s% monetary 141% and s% non-monetary 62%). Both monetary and non-monetary assessments were computed at the management unit level and the data used was provided by the Forest Management plans and photograph analysis which have significant value as indicators of ecosystem services. The correlation between nature and culture was assessed through social-media based method, highly known to stimulate participant engagement while the quantitative data was assessed through forest data computation and PCA method for visualization. The research highlighted that, in monetary terms, the minimum value of identified ecosystem services was €34 and the maximum value exceeded €570,000 at management unit level and in non-monetary terms, the values ranged from 1 to 5 (kernel score). The research reveals a substantial variability in both types of valuations. Strong associations between certain variables (monetary value with carbon stock and stand volume), moderate connections (slope with stand productivity), and weaker relationships (non-monetary value with altitude, age with slope, type of flora with altitude, and altitude with stand productivity) were revealed. The findings provided valuable insights for policymakers, land managers, and stakeholders involved in natural resource management and conservation, emphasizing the importance of considering both economic and non-economic benefits in decision-making processes. The integrated approach of this study shows how we can better assess the mixed value of ecosystem services, contributing to the ongoing actions of raising awareness and social responsibility.

Expert knowledge-based modelling approach for mapping beekeeping suitability area

It is becoming increasingly accepted that beekeeping is declining due to the damaging effect of global changes such as climate and land-use change that directly and indirectly impact Apis Melliferas. Despite numerous investigations, a comprehensive study that incorporates both global and local knowledge has yet to be conducted. For a long time, researchers have suggested that expert knowledge should be taken into account when creating decision support tools for managing activities related to natural resources, such as beekeeping. Unlike previous studies, this research seeks to tackle these questions while also introducing the concept of ecosystem service in modelling, offering a fresh perspective on sustainable land use. To achieve this goal, we combined several methods, including using literature knowledge, beekeeper knowledge, and multi-source geospatial data. These data are employed in a hierarchical fuzzy inference system in a unified way. The proposed approach was applied in the Québec region and the suggested technique appears to be both reliable and effective. The validation step revealed that the landscape variable, particularly the area used for agriculture or grassland, had the greatest impact on changes in hive weight throughout the season. In addition, we demonstrated that meteorological factors such as rainfall and relative humidity are strongly correlated to beekeeping. We showed that access to data and knowledge can be a critical factor in decision-making in the beekeeping industry, and thus we suggest that wild-bees conservationists, decision-makers, farmers, beekeepers, and other stakeholders adopt a collaborative approach.

Enhancing multiple benefits of brownfield cleanups by applying ecosystem services concepts.

Brownfields are increasingly called upon to be transformed from potentially contaminated, often vacant properties into community assets that provide multiple benefits. Further, brownfields revitalization can provide critical opportunities and, particularly, nature-based solutions can enhance multiple ecological, human health, and economic benefits. Through a series of non-exhaustive surveys of existing examples of environmental benefits of cleanups, case study examples of brownfield cleanups achieving environmental benefits, and potential ecosystem services tools relevant to steps of a brownfields cleanup effort, we explore practical ideas for enhancing environmental benefits of brownfields cleanups by applying ecosystem services concepts. Examples of nature-based solutions, where appropriate, include the use of rain gardens, permeable pavements, green spaces, and the use of green technologies. Further, this article provides an overview of recent policy initiatives focused on nature-based solutions and enhancing ecosystem services in brownfields cleanup, revitalization, and reuse. Our goals are to increase the knowledge base on these opportunities and discuss how these concepts can be achieved through sharing success stories, making outreach materials accessible, and holding workshops to help successfully operationalize these concepts in a community's visioning for upcoming revitalization projects.

Exploring The Synergies between Flood Risk and Urban Needs - Floodplain Development In Aceh River.

A Floodplain is an area next to a riverbed that is more or less frequently covered with water in times of high-water discharges from adjacent rivers. It usually has a high environmental value because of its heterogeneous habitats for wildlife species. However, the condition of rivers in each country could be unique and different, because of their history and location thus creating a different nuance. The object study of this research is a constructed floodway and flood plain in Krueng Aceh (Aceh River) owned and managed by the local government. Since the last big flood in 2000, this wide flat land remained dry in several areas and was used by some villagers to make a living. In 2020 it had cleared from several illegal land uses, resulted a grassland floodplain with low-intensity use which in theory is in a good direction. Meanwhile, in the perspective of urban needs, river development could also bring economic, social, and environmental benefits to community. The objective of this study is to investigate the concept of ecosystem services and human-landscape connectivity. The method used in this research is semi-qualitative research that combines theories and observation. In the context of ecosystem services identification through activities monitoring, it shows that cultural and provision services is the highest while regulating and supporting services still need further research. As for human-landscape connectivity, there are more ‘rooms’/spaces to develop align with the availability of cultural services.

Biodiversity and ecosystem services: Complementary approach for catchment protection and land use in northeastern Poland

The concept of ecosystem services introduced a new view on the relationship between biodiversity and goods of human well-being. Are both ideas, biodiversity and ecosystem services, mutually beneficial for catchment protection? We aimed to explore how and to what extent specified the environmental and economic criteria determined the protection and urban land use intensity in the catchment in northeastern Poland. The relation between biodiversity, ecosystem services and land use intensity was made using 14 criteria that are also weights in the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Borda multi-criteria decision analysis by using open public data resources, such as the Topographic Objects Database, digital terrain model, forms of nature protection, the database of recognised deposits of natural resources, geological map portals, Urban Spatial Information System and information on flood hazard areas, and open-source applications across the catchment.A combined procedure including categories of land cover elements, i.e. spatial objects of the surface, land use intensity and multi-criteria decision-making model, finally determined different variants for catchment biodiversity areas, from best (Variant 15) to worst (Variant 5) from 16 variants total. The spatial results showed that biodiversity and ecosystem services show an evident decline with increased land use intensity. Biodiversity was negatively correlated with the built-up areas and intensive land use in the central part of the catchment, but positively with which concerns the initial and final reaches of the river. The main factor affecting biodiversity was the distance of the river valley sections in the catchment area from the developed space of the city centre.Results suggest that biodiversity conservation in the catchment is needed for high biodiversity and low-intensity land use. For most green and agricultural areas with multifunctional benefits and, a good state is required compromise for ecosystem services and biodiversity. The functioning of the built-up areas and intensively used for humans is described only by the value of provisioning ecosystem services.

A drought and heat risk assessment framework for urban green infrastructure

AbstractUrban green infrastructure (UGI) is a prominent concept toward climate adaptation and urban resilience, but it is also affected by droughts and heat. Hence, this study aims to advance the multi‐assessment of drought and heat risks (DHRs) for UGI through the DHR assessment framework with conceptual and methodological features, paving the way toward knowledge creation and decision support. The framework was systematically developed, starting with defining the situation, analyzing concepts, and finally, constructing the framework. The situation is interpreted as a coupled human and natural system to represent the biophysical and immaterial elements, processes, and interrelations. Further, the concepts of risk, UGI, and ecosystem services lead to a risk system showing the compound hazards, the exposure, and the cascading vulnerabilities of the UGI. The DHR assessment framework distinguishes two stages, multi‐risk analysis and multi‐criteria risk evaluation. The analysis includes the definition and interpretation of the UGI situation under drought and heat conditions, analyzing the hazards, exposures, and vulnerabilities of the system, and translating the risk system into an indicator‐based information system. Hereby, the vulnerability analysis of the biophysical UGI aspects comprises the susceptibility and resilience of UGI entities, as well as the degree to which providing ecosystem functions and services can be affected. The multi‐criteria risk evaluation covers the assignment of thresholds and weights for indicators, in addition to the aggregation methods. The resulting framework intends to support local actors in the risk assessment of current and future conditions, fostering evidence‐based decisions and interventions to deal with compound DHRs.

Let’s Do It for Real: Making the Ecosystem Service Concept Operational in Regional Planning for Climate Change Adaptation

The application of ecosystem service (ES) knowledge to planning processes and decision-making can lead to more effective climate change adaptation. Despite the increased attention given to the ES concept, its degree of integration and use in spatial planning processes are still below the expectations of those who are promoting this concept. Barriers hindering its operationalisation cover a span of aspects ranging from theoretical to procedural and methodological issues. Overall, there is a general lack of guidance on how and at what point ES knowledge should be integrated into planning processes. This study aims to promote the inclusion of ES knowledge into spatial planning practices and decision-making processes to enhance climate change adaptation. A replicable GIS-based methodology is proposed. First, the potential supply of ESs that can support climate change adaptation (ESCCAs) is defined, mapped, and quantified. Then, a need for an ESCCA supply is identified, and territorial capacities to respond to the expected climate change impacts on natural and socio-economic sectors are assessed. The methodology is applied to the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region (Italy) as an illustrative case study. The results reveal that areas with similar geomorphological characteristics tend to respond similarly. Forest ecosystems, inland wetlands and specifically salt marshes can potentially supply a greater variety of ESCCAs. In the case study area, about 62% of the supplied ESCCAs can contribute to reducing the impacts in more than 50% of the impacted sectors. The territory of the study site generally shows good preparedness for expected impacts in most of the analysed sectors; less prepared areas are characterised by agricultural ecosystems. This reading approach based on land cover analyses can thus assist in developing policies to enhance different territorial capacities, ultimately leading to better and more sustainable decision-making.

Integrated mapping of ecosystems and assessment of forest ecosystem services at river basin scale

Ecosystems provide various goods and services to society and their valuation is among the main objectives of the concept of ecosystem services (ES). The mapping of ecosystems is the main building block of the whole process of the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES). The analyses of the ecosystem data produced during the implementation of the national methodology for mapping ecosystems in Bulgaria (MAES BG) reveal some problems that may cause confusion in cases of integrated assessment of all ecosystem types. In this paper, we present an approach that enables formulation of a uniform spatial dataset based on the mapping of the main ecosystem types, that can be used for mapping of ES at a river basin scale. It has been applied to the upper part of the Ogosta River basin and the result is a topologically correct uniform spatial data layer. The approach gives one possible solution to problems related to the different sources of information and the discrepancies between ecosystem types in the national mapping of ecosystems in Bulgaria. It is based on the use of a uniform spatial framework that outlines the ecosystem types and sets the initial database for further mapping. This ensures a topologically correct spatial dataset for the ecosystems and a background for further updates for each ecosystem at the different levels of MAES typology. The most appropriate spatial basis for the territory of Bulgaria is the database for the physical blocks of the Ministry of Interior. Its application to the studied river basin gives encouraging results and can be used as an example for similar areas. Further development of the approach will ensure the mapping of the forest ecosystems at level 3 of the MAES BG typology and more precise delineation of the grassland, heathland, freshwater, and sparsely vegetated ecosystems.

A process perspective of conceptual innovation: Integrating equity in applications of the ecosystem services concept in Ireland

The ecosystem services (ES) concept emerged as a metaphor to demonstrate humanity’s dependence on the natural environment and is increasingly applied to frame human-nature relationships in conservation science, policy and practice. This paper aims to enhance understanding of how the ES concept is applied for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation in the Irish context, with further applicability to international contexts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders involved in ES research, policy and practice to understand and reflect a variety of perspectives. Three contexts of ecosystem management in Ireland are examined as focal points for the ES framing: natural capital and ES research; Agri-Environment schemes as types of Payments for ES; and collaborative forms of governance for peatland conservation. Specifically, we examine the idea of conceptual innovation as a process where concepts evolve in time and space as they are applied by different societal actors. The contexts examined demonstrate a variety of perceptions and show the scope for agency in how concepts are applied when they meet local realities. The research also demonstrates how alternative concepts and ideas are continuously emerging in societal discourse, and suggests the need to develop ‘networks of concepts’ that can work together to manage the politics, power relations and inequities inherent in the application of any concept. Fostering transparency and reflection on values, language and how knowledge is produced helps make visible power dynamics underlying the ES concept and encourages the development of ES approaches that are effective, inclusive and actionable. Developing concepts from a process perspective has implications for changing the course of a concept as its future unfolds. Following from this, we suggest the need to map an emancipatory future agenda for ES research that centres the voices of those researching, participating and acting ‘from the margins’.

A shift from individual species to ecosystem services effect: Introducing the Eco-indicator Sensitivity Distribution (EcoSD) as an ecosystem services approach to redefining the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) for soil ecological risk assessment.

Incorporating the ecosystem services (ES) approach into soil ecological risk assessment (ERA) has been advocated over the years, but implementing the approach in ERA faces some challenges. However, several researchers have made significant efforts to the soil ERA, such as applying the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) to discern chemical effects on the soil ecosystem. Despite the considerable contributions of SSD to ERA, SSD fails to relate chemical impact on individual species to ES and account for functional redundancy as well as soil ecosystem complexity. Here, we introduce the Eco-indicator Sensitivity Distribution (EcoSD). An EcoSD fits ecological functional groups and soil processes, termed "eco-indicators," instead of individual species responses to a statistical distribution. These eco-indicators are directly related to critical ecosystem functions that drive ES. We derived an EcoSD for Cadmium as a model chemical and estimated a Soil Ecosystem Protection Value (EcoPVSoil ) based on the eco-indicator data set for cadmium from the literature. The EcoSD identified nitrogen cycling as the critical process disrupted by cadmium. A key advantage of EcoSD is that it identified key ecological and chemical indicators of an ecosystem services effect. In so doing, it links chemical monitoring results to sensitive ecological functions. The estimated EcoPVSoil for Cadmium was slightly more protective of the soil ecosystem than most regional soil values derived from this study's data set and soil guideline values from the literature. Hence, EcoSD has proved to be a practical and valuable ES concept with the potential to serve as an initial step of the tiered ERA approach.

An Ecosystem Valuation for Enhanced Transboundary Water Cooperation in the Kabul River Basin

The ongoing water conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan in the transboundary Kabul River Basin are narrowly focused on quantitative water distributions, which lead to winlose situations. This study proposes a novel idea of using the biodiversity and ecosystem services (BESS) concept to bring together multiple stakeholders across the KRB and transform the water-sharing conflicts. The study redefines the water management problem in the context of a green water economy and evidence of shared environmental benefits. The study found that the BESS provided by the Kabul River are vital for the livelihood of the residents and the natural flow of water is a win-win situation for both Afghanistan and Pakistan. The study recommends designing PES schemes for the sustainability and shared prosperity of the region. A new perspective on transboundary water conflicts in the KRB is needed, one that focuses on shared environmental benefits and the BESS of the river basin. This new perspective could lead to more cooperative and sustainable water management solutions.
 1. INTRODUCTION
 Biodiversity and the ESS is a complex but significant area, which influences the well-being of humans in diverse ways. The ESS can provide provisioning services as well as regulate services. The literature shows different approaches to the of provisioning ESS (Häyhä, Tiina, & Franzese, 2014). Placing an economic value on nature can be a powerful tool as it makes the invisible benefits identifiable. ESS represent outcomes of a natural system which benefits the people. The significance of water as a natural resource and ecosystem provides a wide range of services and various functions as the use of water for drinking, irrigation, or livestock (Radoslav, 2018).
 River water services provide numerous benefits in terms of social and ecological facilities, which benefit the people and contribute to the well-being of the area. Globally, in 150 countries, there are a total of approximately 310 transboundary rivers. Water-related conflicts are not only frequent but are increasing due to the current worsening situation of water globally. Several water treaties are in place between various countries, yet the conflicts emerge frequently (Wang, et al., 2021). The water politics of transboundary rivers are emerging as a compelling research field in social hydrology. Many international basins are governed by multi-level institutions. Besides, the valuation of the benefits of river systems can positively contribute to efficient river-water management and reduce water-related conflicts and problems (Khan & Zhao, 2019). However, this is not the case with managing the Kabul River Basin (KRB).
 The KRB between Afghanistan and Pakistan is not governed by an international agreement and boundary problems, that is, the contested Durand Line, affect the relationship (Yousaf, 2017). Water conflicts in the KRB between Afghanistan and Pakistan have intensified since 2000, coupled with security issues due to the ongoing insurgencies in the region. Growing industrialisation, urbanisation, and climate change which affect the continuity of snow-fed rivers, environmental hazards, and the geostrategic importance of the area further exacerbate these disputes. The existing transboundary water mechanisms are state-centric and bilateral, exclude other relevant actors, and emphasise water quantity as the basis for water sharing (Yousaf, 2017). These agreements disregard the broader biodiversity and ecosystem services (BESS) of the river basin and what these services could imply in terms of enhancing human well-being. The BESS of water includes biodiversity, provisioning (e.g., food production), regulating (e.g., climate & water regulation), supporting (e.g., nutrient cycling), and cultural services (recreational, spiritual) (Pavan, Wittmer, & Miller, 2014). The value of global BESS was estimated at $145 trillion in 2011 at a time when global GDP was $73.3 trillion 1 (Robert, et al. 2014). Extrapolating to the river basin between the two countries, one can argue that understanding the value of the BESS in the region could lead to a different problem framing and enable integrative multi-level bargaining leading to winwin solutions. While the BESS values the interdependence of humans and nature, it also offers conceptual and empirical tools to communicate with a wide-ranging audience (Robert, et al. 2014) and reveals the cost of damage, it may lead to the commoditisation or privatisation of such resources (Sullivan, 2013). Therefore, an analysis is required for a better understanding of the water BESS (it may still avoid such commoditisation) to evaluate if a change in the behaviour of relevant and powerful actors can be pursued while addressing socio-relational (dispute resolution, capacity building, and intergenerational equity) and ecological (pollution prevention, and the protection of BESS) goals and, thereby, contribute towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By embracing economic, ecological, and social-relational mechanisms, the BESS concept connects the environmental system with politics and decision-making as well as fosters interdisciplinary science (Schröter, et al). It enables integrated trans-disciplinary approaches to solve such complex issues by building bridges between science and practice (Robert, 2011). The water conflict arising due to transboundary river basins can be analysed using an ecological valuation. Hence, the focus of this study is on estimating the provisioning ecosystem services on Pakistan’s side of the KRB. An objective of the study is to develop an understanding of transforming a win-lose situation into a win-win situation for both parties.

A national scale web mapping platform for mainstreaming ecosystem services in Greece

This study outlines the conceptualisation and development of a public participation geographic information system (ppGIS) and web GIS (webGIS) platform for hosting, visualizing, and updating ecosystem services (ES) related data at national scale through participatory mapping. The ppGIS/webGIS is developed within the framework of the LIFE-IP 4 Natura, a project has received the most substantial nature-focused funding scheme for Greece approved by the European Commission. One of the project's central goals is the mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services (MAES) in Greece. This initiative contributes to the implementation of Action 5 of Target 2 of the European Union (EU) Biodiversity Strategy to 2020, following the standard EU MAES guidelines. The LIFE-IP 4 Natura online mapping infrastructure hosts and visualizes spatially explicit maps and information produced earlier in the project at a national level. It also provides a mechanism for updating this baseline information via public participation, thereby fostering increased public awareness of the necessity for ecosystem protection, conservation, and management. Following a multi-stakeholder user requirement analysis, the herein presented ppGIS/webGIS platform is designed and developed. The platform incorporates various geospatial data explorers (GDE), ppGIS services for local and national public participation, geotools and data, visual content representation, and an introductory-level knowledge repository for ES (ES-pedia). An, overview of the platform's preliminary usage is presented, and its potential in promoting the uptake and mainstreaming of the ES concept is discussed.

Stakeholders’ perceptions of wetland conservation and restoration in Wakiso District, Uganda

AbstractNatural wetlands are critically important to the lives and livelihoods of many people. Human activities result in the degradation of wetlands globally, and more so in developing countries prioritizing fast economic growth and development. With an increasing population in their immediate surroundings, wetlands in Wakiso District, Uganda, have become over-exploited to meet human needs. Policies, plans and projects have been put in place aiming at wetland conservation and restoration, but with limited stakeholder participation, have achieved limited success. Our research objective was to identify stakeholders, their perceptions, and understand the role these perceptions play in wetland conservation and restoration activities. To achieve these objectives, we used the ecosystem services concept within a qualitative, multi-site case study research approach. Findings show that stakeholders hold divergent perceptions on wetland ecosystem services, perceiving them as source of materials, fertile places for farming, cheap to buy and own, as well as being “God-given”. Furthermore, wetlands as habitats are perceived as not prioritized by central government. Implications for conservation and restoration vary with stakeholders advocating for (1) over-use, wise-use or  not-use of wetlands and their resources, (2) educating and sensitization as well as (3) the implementation of the available laws and policies. This paper explores the findings and important implications for the conservation and restoration of wetlands in Wakiso District, Uganda.

Assessment of urban ecosystem condition and ecosystem services in Shenzhen based on the MAES analysis framework

Rapid urbanization has led to a reduction in the capacity of urban ecosystems to provide essential services. Understanding the interplay between urban ecosystem condition (EC), ecosystem service (ES) capacity and environmental stress is important for achieving sustainable economic and social development. Taking Shenzhen, a representative region of rapid urbanization in China, as an example, this study analyzed the evolution of urban EC and spatial and temporal patterns of key ESs from 2000 to 2020. With reference to the Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) framework and its indicators, the analysis process used the InVEST model and empirical statistical methods. The spatial and temporal geographically weighted regression (GTWR) model was used to determine how the ESs responded to EC. The results demonstrated a tendency of increased environmental stress and degraded EC in the urban ecosystem during the study period. The supply of ESs was on the decline, with runoff retention and microclimate regulation showing significant declines, while noise reduction showed an upward tendency. ESs had an overall “east-high-west-low” spatial pattern. In terms of response relationships, the regulating and cultural services were mainly negatively correlated with PM10 concentration, temperature, and the percentage of construction land and positively correlated with vegetation cover. There was spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the mechanism of EC influence on specific services. The percentage of construction land was the key negative influencing factor, indicating that urban expansion exacerbates the decrease in the supply of ESs. The results of the study also provided evidence that the MAES analysis framework can accurately analyze environmental problems in urban ecosystems and offer a practical solution for urban ecosystem assessments. For the sustainable development of urban ecosystems, it is advised that the ES concept be included as a key decision factor in the development of urban planning policies.