Ecosystem Service Value Coefficients Research Articles

Considering the land-cover elasticity of ecosystem service value coefficients improves assessments of large land-use changes

Economic development often impacts on ecosystem services. Previous studies have raised public and political awareness of the costs associated with such impacts and the benefits of ecosystem services. In cases where empirical information on the value of ecosystem services is lacking, benefit transfer (BT) approaches that use value estimates from a previously studied site to estimate the economic values of a new target area have been established. One of the most popular BT approaches is unit value transfer, where constant ecosystem service value coefficients are used to assess a given land-use/land-cover (LULC) change. In several case studies assessing LULC changes, such unit value transfers with constant value coefficients are biased when nonmarginal changes are involved. Theoretical considerations suggest that large changes in land allocation should alter the opportunity costs of gaining or losing natural capital because the marginal costs of additional losses increase as some LULC types become scarcer (e.g. natural ecosystems). In contrast, marginal benefits shrink as other LULC types become more abundant (e.g. agricultural replacement systems).Here, we propose an improved method for assessing larger scale (i.e., at national levels and beyond) LULC changes using endogenous value coefficients that account for the size of the land cover allocated to each LULC type and derive an equation for calculating these coefficients. The extent to which the value coefficient changes with variations in the land cover area depends on the land-cover elasticity of the value coefficient. Using a hypothetical numerical example of an area of tropical forest converted into grassland, we show that the bias caused by neglecting this land-cover elasticity can be considerable. We also demonstrate how the elasticity needed to correct the value coefficient can be estimated empirically. Finally, we suggest some modifications for future studies assessing large LULC changes.

Ecosystem Service Value Evaluation and Spatial Function Change under Town and Village Layout Planning: A Case of Jintan District

This study proposes a systematic classification of production–living–ecological function indicators based on ecosystem services, thereby clarifying the spatial functions of villages. Based on the land use change survey data of the Jintan District in 2012 and 2018, the ecological impact of town and village layout planning in Jintan District was analysed by using a quantitative measurement model of ecosystem services. The findings revealed that the ecosystem service value (ESV) decreased by 792 million CNY in the Jintan District, with the largest decrease in water ecosystem services valued at 700 million CNY and in hydrological regulation valued at 576 million CNY. A clear regional difference in ESV was observed, with villages on the east and west coasts of Changdang Lake being higher-value areas and most villages or communities in urban areas being lower-value areas. The areas of cultivated land, construction land, and unused land have increased, while land types with higher ecosystem service value coefficients, such as wetland, water area, and grassland, have declined. The spatial pattern of production and living functions was quite similar, while there was a significant spatial aggregation characteristic of ecological functions.

Thirty-year changes of the coastlines, wetlands, and ecosystem services in the Asia major deltas

Coastal zones are usually composed of coastlines and coastal wetlands and are among the most productive and dynamic ecosystems. However, the deltas are seldom detected and compared in detail at the continental scale to investigate the spatiotemporal evolution of coastline migration and coastal wetlands. Here we detected and compared the spatiotemporal changes in coastlines, wetlands, and ecosystem services in major deltas in Asia, including the Yellow River Delta (YRD), Yangtze River Delta (YAD), Pearl River Delta (PRD), Red River Delta (RRD), Mekong River Delta (MERD), Chao Phraya River Delta (CPRD), Mahanadi River Delta (MARD), Krishna River Delta (KRD), and Indus River Delta (IRD). We used time series remote sensing images from 1990 to 2019 to derive coastline and wetland information for the nine coastal zones. The ecosystem service value coefficients were applied to explore the ecosystem services characteristics of wetland changes in coastal areas. We found that the coastlines of the deltas in the study area changed less in the bedrock and sandy coasts, while the coastlines in the silty delta coasts changed more from 1990 to 2019. The interannual dynamics of coastal wetland areas in nine major deltas over the nearly 30 years can be divided into three periods: decreasing variability (1990–2005), increasing variability (2005–2015), and increasing volatility (2015–2019). Ecosystem services had an overall downward trend. These findings complement the official database of coastal planning and have substantial guiding implications for adjusting coastal management regulation policies.

Land use and land cover dynamics and ecosystem services values in Kewet district in the central dry lowlands of Ethiopia.

A better comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the tempo-spatial dynamics of land use and cover (LULC) in the dry lowlands areas of Ethiopia is crucial for restoring degraded landscapes. This study aimed at analyzing the trends of LULC changes and determine their ecosystem service values in Kewet district central dry lowlands of Ethiopia using multi-temporal satellite imagery for three periods: 1995, 2008, and 2017. Supervised classification, using the maximum likelihood classifier, was applied to quantify LULC changes. Ecosystem Service values were estimated using the modified ecosystem service value coefficients. LULC analysis showed that cultivated land was the most predominant which covered over 41% of the study area in all three periods. Forests showed a net increase of 18.2%. Shrubland occupied the second largest portion in all LULC analysis next to cultivated land, and it showed a net decrease of 29.2%. Open grassland showed a periodic increase. Over the past 20years, built-up area and bared land grew continuously by 1.80 and 1.01 km2yr-1, respectively. However, some degraded land was converted into woody vegetation land through area exclosure, which improved the vegetation coverage of the study area. Ecosystem Service values ranged from US$ 2.37 million for shrubland in 1995 to US$ 22.49 million for forest land in 2008. The total ESVs of the district also continuously decreased over the past two decades. Generally, the LULC in the Kewet district has been dynamic in that some of the LULC classes were expanding, while the others were shrinking through time.

Assessing the impacts of land use/cover changes on ecosystem service values in Rib watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

This study aims to assess the impacts of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on ecosystem service values (ESVs) in the Rib watershed of the Upper Blue Nile Basin between 2000 and 2020 periods. Image classifications were carried out using Landsat 5 TM for 2000 and 2010, and Landsat 8 OLI_TIRS for 2020 periods following the supervised classification technique with a Maximum Likelihood Algorithm (MLA) in ERDAS Imagine 2014. The study estimated the effects of LULC changes on ESVs using the modified ecosystem service value coefficients. The result indicated that a reduction of forest (46%), shrubland (44%), grassland (42%), and an increase of cultivated land (23%), settlement (137%), and waterbody (80%) during 2000 and 2020 periods. The total ESVs of the watershed were estimated about US$ 68.6 million in 2000, US$ 59.4 million in 2010, and US$ 59.3 million in 2020. The ESVs lost between 2000 and 2020 periods was about US$ 9.3 million (13.5%). The observed LULC changes during this period have also affected the individual ecosystem services. The reduction of ESVs through 2000 to 2020 periods indicates the effects of LULC changes on ecological degradation. Hence, the authors suggested the use of LULC change and ESVs together during land management decision-making processes.

Assessing Changes in Ecosystem Service Values over 1985–2050 in Response to Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics in Abaya-Chamo Basin, Southern Ethiopia

This study evaluated the effect of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) dynamics on the value of ecosystem services in Abaya-Chamo basin over 1985–2050. The main objectives of the study were to estimate the value of ecosystem services of Abaya-Chamo basin using local and global ecosystem service value coefficients, assess how it changes over time, and develop tools to inform policy and public decision-making to protect lands and waters in the region. The study utilized observed (1985 and 2010) and predicted (2030 and 2050) LULC datasets and ecosystem service value coefficients obtained from publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. The results indicated that the total ecosystem service value of Abaya-Chamo basin was 12.13 billion USD in 1985 and 12.45 billion USD in 2010. The value is predicted to increase to 12.47 billion USD by the year 2050, which is 2.84% (344.5 million USD) higher than the total value of ecosystem services of the basin in 1985. Although the total ecosystem service value of the basin showed a slight increase over the study period, it was observed that the total value of services obtained from natural ecosystems is expected to decline by 36.24% between 1985 and 2050. The losses of services obtained from natural ecosystems, such as water regulation and erosion control, are major concern as the consequence has already been reported in the basin in the form of reduced water quality and productivity of the lakes due to an increased soil erosion and sediment transport in the basin. Therefore, special attention should be given to the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems and the protection of remaining natural vegetation and water bodies to enhance natural capital and ecosystem services in the basin. A large-scale dissemination of eco-agricultural land use practices, which provide multiple ecosystem services (such as agroforestry and heterogeneous agricultural areas) in the basin, needs to be considered in the future.

Estimating the impacts of land use/land cover changes on Ecosystem Service Values: The case of the Andassa watershed in the Upper Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia

Estimating the impacts of land use/land cover (LULC) changes in Ecosystem Service Values (ESV) is indispensable to provide public awareness about the status of ESV, and to help in policy-making processes. This study was intended to estimate the impacts of LULC changes on ESV in the Andassa watershed of the Upper Blue Nile basin over the last three decades (1985–2015), and to predict the ESV changes in 2045. The hybrid land use classification technique for classifying Landsat images, the Cellular-Automata Markov (CA-Markov) model for LULC prediction, and the modified ecosystem service value coefficients for estimating ESV were employed. Our findings revealed that there was a continues expansions of cultivated land and built-up area, and withdrawing of forest, shrubland and grassland during the 1985–2015 periods, which are expected to continue for the next three decades. Consequently, the total ESV of the watershed has declined from US$26.83 × 106 in 1985 to US$22.58 × 106 in 2000 and to US$21.00 × 106 in 2015 and is expected to further reduce to US$17.94 × 106 in 2030 and to US$15.25 × 106 in 2045. The impacts of LULC changes on the specific ecosystem services are also tremendous.

Evaluation of ecosystem service value of riparian zone using land use data from 1986 to 2012

Riparian zones play a significant role in ecological and biological sciences, as well as in environmental management and engineering perspectives because of their multiple functions in coupled natural and human systems. Quantitative evaluation of ecosystem service value (ESV) is essential to maintain the ecological functions that riparian areas provide. This manuscript addressed the overlap and connections among anthropogenic impacts (land use) with evaluations of societal benefits through ESV to an environmentally sensitive riparian zone in Northeast China using remote sensing observations and socio-economic data. The reported study evaluated the trend of ESV change in the riparian zone from 1986 to 2012. The procedures included (1) assignment of equivalent weight factors per unit hectare of terrestrial ecosystem services in the riparian zone; (2) calculation of ESV coefficients per unit area; (3) estimation of the total ESV in the riparian zone and exploration of the trend of the riparian ESVs from 1986 to 2012. The results were that the total ESV in the study area increased from $42.30 million (USD) in 1986 to $119.17 million (USD) in 2012. An average ESV of individual basic evaluation units increased from $0.08 million (USD) in 1986 to $0.3 million (USD) in 2012.

The influences of land use changes on the value of ecosystem services in Chaohu Lake Basin, China

The loss of ecosystem services is mainly caused by the land use changes around the world. This study examined the influence of land use changes on the value of ecosystem services in Chaohu Lake Basin, China. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of land use changes on ecosystem services. An analysis of the land use changes was conducted based on Landsat images from 1985, 1995, 2000 and 2007. The method used to estimate the ecosystem service values (ESV) in this study extracted the equivalent weight factors of ecosystem services per hectare of terrestrial ecosystems and modified the value coefficients, and then the ESV were estimated by multiplying the area of a given land use type by the corresponding value coefficient. With the help of a sensitivity analysis, the effect of manipulating these coefficients on the estimated values was detected. This study analyzed the spatial and temporal changes in Chaohu Lake Basin’s ESV using GIS-RS technology during the study period. The results indicated that: (1) the total ESV of the Chaohu Lake Basin was 10.16 billion Yuan in 1985, 10.13 billion Yuan in 1995, 10.03 billion Yuan in 2000 and 11.44 billion Yuan in 2007. There was an increase of approximately 12.61 % over the period between 1985 and 2007, primarily because of increases in woodland and water body, (2) the area with increase in the ESV in study periods declined sharply. Where the areas were 44.24 % of total area from 1985 to 1995, 27.52 % from 1995 to 2000, 18.94 % from 2000 to 2007 and 17.34 % from 1985 to 2007, (3) the change rate of ESV in Chaohu Lake Basin was positive from 1985 to 2007. Generally, it should be emphasized on protecting woodland, water body and farmland as they have high ecosystem service value coefficients and large areas. In this way, a balance between economic development and ecosystem health will be maintained in the future. It is hoped that the results will be helpful for the management of Chaohu Lake Basin’s terrestrial ecosystems.

Evaluation of ecosystem services: A case study in the middle reach of the Heihe River Basin, Northwest China

Ecosystem services evaluation aims at understanding the status of ecosystem services on different spatial and temporal scale. In this paper, we selected the middle reach of the Heihe River Basin (HRB), which is the second largest inland river basin in China, as one of the typical area to estimate the ecosystem services values (ESVs) corresponding to the land use changes. Based on the land use data and ecosystem service value coefficients, the total ecosystem services values (TESVs) of the middle reach of the HBR are quantitatively calculated, which were 9.244×108, 9.099×108, 9.131×108 and 9.146×108 USD in 1988, 2000, 2005 and 2008 respectively. During 1988–2008, the decrease of grassland, forest land, water area and unused land contributed 148.94%, 57.85%, 87.87% and 16.42% respectively to the net loss of TESVs, while the dramatic increase of cultivated land improved the TESVs with contribution of −211.08% to the net loss of TESVs. Expansion of cultivated land, which especially caused the loss of grassland and forest land, directly exerted negative impacts on the provision of ecosystem services in the study area. The findings of this research indicated that land use change was an important form of human activities, which had a strong impact on ecosystem services.

Assessing the changes in land use and ecosystem services in an oasis agricultural region of Yanqi Basin, Northwest China.

The Yanqi Basin, one of the most productive agricultural areas, has a high population density in Xinjiang, Northwest China. Land use changes, mainly driven by oasis expansion, significantly impact ecosystem services and functions, but these effects are difficult to quantify. The valuation of ecosystem services is important to clarify the ecological and environmental changes caused by agriculturalization of oasis. This study aimed to investigate variations in ecosystem services in response to land use changes during oasis agricultural expansion activities in the Yanqi Basin from 1964 to 2009. The methods used were based on formula of ecosystem service value (ESV) and ESV coefficients. Satellite data were combined with the ESV coefficients to quantify land use changes and ecosystem service changes in the study area. Sensitivity analysis determined the effect of manipulating the coefficients on the estimated values. The results show that the total ESVs in the Yanqi Basin were $1,674, $1,692, $1,471, $1,732, and $1,603 million in 1964, 1973, 1989, 1999, and 2009, respectively. The net deline in ESV was $71 million in the past 46years, but the ESVs of each types of landscape changed significantly. The aggregated ESVs of water areas and wetlands were approximately 80% of the total ESV. Water supply and waste treatment were the two largest service functions and contributed approximately 65% of the total ESV. The estimated ESVs in this study were elastic with respect to the value coefficients. Therefore, the estimations were robust in spite of uncertainties on the value coefficients. These significant changes in land use occur within the entire basin over the study period. These changes cause environmental problems, such as land degradation, vegetation degeneracy, and changes in aquatic environment.

The effects of land-use change on ecosystem service value of desert oasis: a case study in Ugan-Kuqa River Delta Oasis, China

Sawut, M., Eziz, M. and Tiyip, T. 2013. The effects of land-use change on ecosystem service value of desert oasis: a case study in Ugan-Kuqa River Delta Oasis, China. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 99-108. Ecosystem service valuation has been a hot topic in ecological economic research. The objective of this study was to analyze the changes in ecosystem services in response to oasis land-use change. Landsat images of September 2000 and ALOS images of September 2008 were combined with the published ecosystem service value coefficients about the world and China ecosystem to quantify land-use and ecosystem service changes. A sensitivity analysis was employed to determine the effect of manipulating these coefficients on the estimated values. The results indicate that: (1) the total value of ecosystem services in the Ugan-Kuqa River Delta Oasis increased from 8012 million Yuan in 2000 to 8323 million Yuan in 2008, mainly caused by the increasing areas of wetland and high-cover grassland. Forestland produced most of the...

The effects of land-use change on ecosystem service value of desert oasis: a case study in Ugan-Kuqa River Delta Oasis, China

Sawut, M., Eziz, M. and Tiyip, T. 2013. The effects of land-use change on ecosystem service value of desert oasis: a case study in Ugan-Kuqa River Delta Oasis, China. Can. J. Soil Sci. 93: 99–108. Ecosystem service valuation has been a hot topic in ecological economic research. The objective of this study was to analyze the changes in ecosystem services in response to oasis land-use change. Landsat images of September 2000 and ALOS images of September 2008 were combined with the published ecosystem service value coefficients about the world and China ecosystem to quantify land-use and ecosystem service changes. A sensitivity analysis was employed to determine the effect of manipulating these coefficients on the estimated values. The results indicate that: (1) the total value of ecosystem services in the Ugan-Kuqa River Delta Oasis increased from 8012 million Yuan in 2000 to 8323 million Yuan in 2008, mainly caused by the increasing areas of wetland and high-cover grassland. Forestland produced most of the...

Ecological effects analysis of land use change in coal mining area based on ecosystem service valuing: a case study in Jiawang

Land use change is one of the uppermost driving forces of regional ecosystem change, and has a huge impact on the environmental balance. Mining areas with intensive resources exploitation and utilization have undergone different kinds of environmental influences, such as water pollution and land use cover change. The extensive coal mining in China has led to significant regional land use change resulting in major ecological damage. The objective of this study was to form a clearer picture of the regional ecological environmental situation for promoting ecological protection and improvement by ecosystem service valuing. The case study area was selected at Jiawang town, which has undergone extensive coal mine exploitation for many decades. The study investigated the relationship between land use change and ecological environment, and described the ecosystem service value variations in Jiawang, based on remote sensing and GIS technology. After modification of regional ecosystem service value coefficients, the method was used to evaluate the conditions in the study area from 1990 to 2005 based on the land use/cover information interpreted from TM/ETM+ images. The characters and changes of ecosystem service values were then analyzed both quantitatively and spatially.

VARIATIONS IN ECOSYSTEM SERVICE VALUES AND LOCAL ECONOMY IN RESPONSE TO LAND USE: A CASE STUDY OF WU'AN, CHINA

ABSTRACTIn an industrial/mining city, land use, ecosystem service values (ESVs) and local economy have a close relation. The study reported in this paper is conducive to optimising land use and to balancing ecosystem services and local economy. The aim is to provide useful information and advice for industrial/mining cities concerned with sustainable development. Wu'an, which is rich in mineral resources and an important energy supplier in Hebei Province, is selected as the study area. The ecosystem service value coefficients of industrial ecosystem and urban ecosystem are estimated adopting the cost method and applied to the city from 1996 to 2005. The temporal and spatial changes of the ESVs estimated within the entire ecosystem, sub‐ecosystems and individual ecosystem services are analysed and discussed based on land use. The results show that land use in Wu'an had a great influence on the ESVs and especially the project of converting farmland into forests determined the entire ecosystem structure and functions. Additionally, the study shows the comparing relationships between ecosystem service values and local economy through various mathematical expressions. One significant relationship can be abstracted into an inverse curve (zone) under restrained conditions. The conclusions suggest that the rapid local economy development should build on a reasonable land use with emphasis on the high ecosystem services. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mapping ecosystem services: Practical challenges and opportunities in linking GIS and value transfer

In this paper, a decision framework designed for spatially explicit value transfer was used to estimate ecosystem service flow values and to map results for three case studies representing a diversity of spatial scales and locations: 1) Massachusetts; 2) Maury Island, Washington; and 3) three counties in California. In each case, a unique typology of land cover and aquatic resources was developed and relevant economic valuation studies were queried in order to assign estimates of ecosystem service values to each category in the typology. The result was a set of unique standardized ecosystem service value coefficients broken down by land cover class and service type for each case study. GIS analysis was then used to map the spatial distribution of each cover class at each study site. Economic values were summarized and mapped by tributary basin for Massachusetts and California and by property parcel for Maury Island. For Maury Island, changes in ecosystem service value flows were estimated under two alternative development scenarios. Drawing on lessons learned during the implementation of the case studies, the authors present some of the practical challenges that accompany spatially explicit ecosystem service value transfer. They also discuss how variability in the site characteristics and data availability for each project limits the ability to generalize a single comprehensive methodology.

Estimates of loss in ecosystem service values of Songnen plain from 1980 to 2000

Ecosystem services are premises for human beings to exist and develop in the world, and it is of importance to study effects of land use change on ecosystem functions. Songnen plain, located in Northeast China, is one of the national key bases for agricultural production. Because there were remarkable variations in land use in recent years, it can supply specific foundation for protection and restoration of regional eco-environment to explore changes in its values of ecosystem services. This study aims to qualify long-term changes in land use of Songnen plain from 1980 to 2000, and to explore the impact of land use change on ecosystem services. With 2-period land use data using RS and GIS, this paper analyzed changes in land use and in ecosystem service values using the ecosystem service value coefficients (VC) put forward by Costanzaet al. Results showed that from 1980 to 2000, area of rangeland, water area and wetlands and area of cropland decreased, but urban area and unused land increased. Due to cropland’s comparatively low VC and comparatively high VC of wetlands and water area, increment in cultivated land could not offset the total decrement in regional ecosystem service values because of the decrease in area of wetlands and water area. Meanwhile, city sprawl has also led to loss of ecological values. Total ecosystem service values of the study area reduced dramatically, from 34,926.10 × 106$ to 31,744.54 × 106$ in the period 1980-2000. This represents a 9.11% net decline in annual value of ecosystem services in the study area.