Assessment Of Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Stakeholders, Institutional Challenges and the Valuation of Wetland Ecosystem Services in South Sudan: The Case of Machar Marshes and Sudd Wetlands.

A number of wetland ecosystem-services valuation studies around the world have been carried out, however, most of these studies have focused on wetlands in developed countries and few have been conducted in Africa, particularly in South Sudan. Thus, this study is conducted to value ecosystem services and identify the role and interests of stakeholders of the Machar Marshes and the Sudd wetlands for sustainable wetland management in the Nile basin. Market price and benefit transfer approaches have been applied to value the wetlands biodiversity and ecosystem services, by adjusting for income and price differences. In addition to environmental valuation methods, we conducted stakeholder analysis. Accordingly, Machar Marshes wetland provides an estimated per annum economic value of $200 million, of which the provisioning services contributed about $61 million, regulating services $132 million, and biodiversity services $7.35 million considering the 2015 price as a base year. Similarly, the Sudd wetland provides an estimated per annum economic value of 2.3 billion, of which regulating is about $1.2 billion, biodiversity $857 million, provisioning $209 million, and transportation service $293,400. The findings show that the ecosystem services from the wetlands have benefits beyond the local communities. Thus, to maintain and ensure sustainable wetlands ecosystem services, stakeholders should play a significant role to implement alternative wetland development options through managing the existing institutional challenges. Ecosystem-services assessment and wetland development options suffer from weak institutional capacity due to prolonged conflicts and instability and physical inaccessibility to critical natural resources in the wetlands.

Ecosystem services of the cryogenic environments: identification, evaluation and monetisation – A review

The article discusses the valuation of ecosystem services in connection with the economic activity of the Russian Federation in the Arctic zone. It also considers the categories of ecosystem services in general and the assessment of ecosystem services in the Arctic in particular. The article also considers types of negative impacts on the Arctic ecosystems, their assessment, and investment risks existing in ecosystem services. It is shown that the application of the methodology and ecosystem services contributes to the adequate assessment and creation of a hierarchical classification of “usefulness” and “benefits” for society derived from the existence, use, and non-use of ecosystems. The concept of Arctic ecosystem services consists of three components: identification, monetisation, and ecological risk assessment. Identification, classification, and initial assessment, mainly at the qualitative level, allow us to determine and classify services for further improvement of life quality and regulation of socio-economic effects of environmental changes. Quantitative assessment is related to the identification of the degree of ecosystem service amenability. The example of the Arctic ecosystems shows that the possibility to assess and the accuracy of the assessment can be quite different and largely depends on the type of service. The analysis of possible ecosystem services and their relationship with the quality of life in the Russian Arctic indicates significant investment risks.

Dynamic characteristics and synergistic effects of ecosystem services under climate change scenarios on the Qinghai\u2013Tibet Plateau

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) supplies many ecosystem services (ESs) that maintain local and global pan-Asian populations and ecosystems. The effects of climate change on ES provision in the QTP will have far-reaching impacts on the region and the many downstream ecosystems and countries that depend on ESs from the "Third Pole". This study undertook a systematic assessment of ES provision, trade-offs and synergies between four ESs (raw material provision, water yield, soil retention, and carbon storage) under future climate scenarios (representative concentration pathway). The results show that: (1) the total amount of the four ESs on the QTP is predicted to increase from 1980 to 2100 for three climate change scenarios. (2) The spatial pattern of ESs on the QTP will not change significantly in the future, and the grassland and forest ESs in the central and southern regions are predicted to increase significantly. (3) The synergistic interactions among ESs were generally consistent at three spatial scales (10 km (pixel), county and watershed scales), but with more significant synergistic effects at the watershed scale. This demonstrates the necessity for the examination of scale-dependent ES dynamics and interactions. This study will supply a reference for further research on long-term ES assessments, especially the dynamic ES changes and the spatial scale dependency of the ES interactions, and provide evidence-based strategies for formulating ecosystem management on the QTP under climate change.

A simultaneous assessment of multiple ecosystem services and disservices in vineyards and orchards on Terceira Island, Azores

Monitoring ecosystem processes resulting in ecosystem services (ESs) and disservices (EDs) is crucial in agricultural ecosystems. Traditionally, ESs/EDs provided by arthropods have been estimated indirectly by measuring arthropod abundance and diversity, overlooking the recognised limitations of such approach. Using a consistent methodology based on the sentinel approach, we quantified the intensity of five ecological processes leading to four ESs and two EDs in vineyards and citrus orchards on Terceira Island, Azores. We assessed herbivory rates on lettuce plants (ED), predation rates on green plasticine caterpillars by vertebrates and invertebrates (ES), the intensity of insect pollination on strawberry plants (ES), the rates of predation on wheat and dandelion seeds (ED and ES, respectively) by rodents and invertebrates, and decomposition rates using tea and rooibos leaves (ES). Herbivory rates after 2 weeks were significantly lower in vineyards (mean ± SD; 0.5 ± 0.6%) than in citrus orchards (3.6 ± 2.9%). Vertebrate predation rates in vineyards (4.0 ± 13.6% d-1) were significantly higher than in citrus orchards (2.4 ± 10.7% d-1), while no differences were observed for overall and invertebrate predation rates. Pollination efficiency in vineyards (214.5 ± 23.9 seeds/fruit) was significantly higher than in citrus orchards (162.0 ± 14.7 seeds/fruit). Seed predation rates were higher, although not significantly so, in citrus orchards (2.0 ± 5.8% d-1) than in vineyards (0.3 ± 0.8% d-1). Decomposition was significantly higher on tea than on rooibos leaves, both in vineyards (1.15 ± 0.11 g vs. 0.72 ± 0.16 g) and citrus orchards (1.34 ± 0.06 g vs. 0.78 ± 0.13 g); no differences between mass loss in the two habitats were observed. Our results demonstrated the suitability of simple, direct monitoring tools for a quantitative comparison of agricultural habitats, confirm that landscape complexity does not always support ESs, and that the same agro-ecosystem characteristics that support ESs could occasionally also favour EDs.

Assessment of ecosystem services and natural capital dynamics in agroecosystems

Increasing the levels of ecosystem services that contribute to agricultural production (ES) is a challenge for the sustainability of agricultural systems. Agricultural advisors lack low-data operational approaches for assessing ES and knowledge to support development of ES-based systems. To fill this gap, we developed an approach that assesses relations between characteristics of agroecosystems and the ES they offer: pollination, pest, weed and disease control, soil structuration, nitrogen and phosphorus supply to crops, water retention and control of erosion. We distinguished four dimensions of ES: potential capacities, real capacities, levels actually used by farmers and dynamics of the natural capital that supports ES provision. We assessed them with a low-data indicator-based method at the agroecosystem level. It provided a score for (i) the quality of the agroecosystem’s spatiotemporal configuration, (ii) positive or negative modulations in ES expression caused by agricultural practices, (iii) the farmer’s strategy for using ES and (iv) four components of natural capital dynamics (soil quantity, soil organic matter, phosphorus cycling and the biodiversity that supports ES). We demonstrate the interest of the approach by applying it to 34 contrasting agroecosystems in France and subsequently identifying five agriculture models. Analysis of this case study identified several ways to attain high-yield agroecosystems based on anthropogenic inputs, ES or both. We discuss strengths and possible improvements of our approach and highlight key knowledge gaps to examine in future studies.

How to make regenerative practices work on the farm: A modelling framework

CONTEXTWell-managed agricultural land can provide ecosystem services and contribute positively to the environment. Many of these services are mediated through the soil and are referred to as soil functions. Regenerative agriculture is a mode of agriculture that uses soil conservation as the entry point to regenerate and contribute to these ecosystem services, with the aspiration that this will enhance not only environmental, but also social and economic dimensions of food production. OBJECTIVEThe main objective of this paper is to create a modelling framework which allows the ex-ante redesign of diverse farming systems and assessment of ecosystem services associated with regenerative agriculture in diverse pedo-climatic conditions. METHODSWithin this modelling framework we combined two models (Soil Navigator (SN) and FarmDESIGN (FD)) to consider soil attributes at the field-scale and environmental and socio-economic outcomes at farm-scale. We used a Dutch dairy-farm as case-study to demonstrate how this framework can be used to assess associated ecosystem services and explore alternative farm configurations. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSCombining SN with FD indicated what ecosystem services could be improved in a local context. Together these models help to evaluate the impact of soil management practices as the basis for exploring the overall socio-economic and environmental sustainability of our dairy case-study farm. For our dairy case-study farm, we found a set of management practices that delivered four out of the five functions at a high capacity, at the expense of primary productivity (from high to medium) and farm profitability (from 55,620 to 40,720 € yr−1). The decline in primary productivity, however, causes an improvement in other ecosystem services such as, climate regulation (increased from medium to high) and the soil organic matter surplus (increased with 7%). While this study successfully demonstrated an initial combination of SN and FD models for the ex-ante redesign and assessment of farming systems towards regenerative agriculture, further model development is essential to widen the applicability of this study to include emerging farming practices and new indicators of sustainability that are measured over a longer period. SIGNIFICANCEFor regenerative agriculture to be meaningful for diverse farming systems, we need methods that give insight into the efficacy of regenerative management to meet multiple ecosystem services within local contexts. As such, our modelling framework can be used by researchers as a tool to help various stakeholders to assess and redesign farms based on the objectives of regenerative agriculture.

Ecosystem Service Assessments within the EU Water Framework Directive: Marine Mussel Cultivation as a Controversial Measure

To combat the persistent eutrophication in coastal waters, sustainable sea-based measures are recommended. Yet, they are the subject of controversial stakeholder discussion, which hampers the implementation and planning process. The aim of this study is to evaluate if a participatory mapping (PM) approach and ecosystem service assessments (ESA) can be suitable tools within Water Framework Directive (WFD) implementation to support the communication with different target groups to improve and accelerate the planning and realization of new sea-based mitigation measures. We conducted three stakeholder-based PMs to visualize the perception of sea-based mitigation measures in coastal waters and seven different ESAs to investigate the perceptions of different mussel cultivation scenarios as mitigation measures. The PMs showed that ecological measures were preferred. The ESA approach showed that, while experts rated mussel cultivation scenarios positively overall, non-expert stakeholders still seemed skeptical and preferred alternative measures like floating wetlands. The methodological results indicate that PM can be a cost-effective tool to visualize stakeholders’ perceptions, but it needs to be applied with an ESA to be beneficial for the WFD implementation process. A web-based ESA improves the discussion with stakeholders and can reveal potential misperceptions and concerns faster and lead to a more focused discussion.

Understanding the contribution of ecosystem services to urban metabolism assessments: An integrated framework

The growing evidence-base demonstrating that cities are responsible for accelerated natural-resource erosion and the exacerbated impacts of atmospheric emissions on climate change suggest the need for more systemic resource-use mitigation strategies at the urban scale. Nowadays, ecosystem service analysis provides an extensive reservoir of techniques and strategies to optimize the metabolism of cities through enhanced resource cycling and emission abatement. However, this reservoir is largely untapped in urban metabolism research despite substantial progress in ecosystem service knowledge and classification. In response to this knowledge gap, in this article we propose an integrated urban metabolism and ecosystem service framework to extend Economy-Wide Material Flow Analysis (EW-MFA). The framework utilizes “Pressures”, “Drivers” and “State” indicators to describe the relationships between anthropogenic and natural systems. A set of indicators was compiled from previous urban metabolism and ecosystem service studies to provide a shared and adaptable set of assessment categories across the two areas to jointly measure ecosystem services and resource flows. Through the proposed framework, interdependencies and causal relationships between ecosystem service assessment and EW-MFA flow categories can be identified. The focus of the paper is on elaborating the conceptual foundations of the framework and its analytical characteristics.

Role of traditional ecological knowledge on field margin vegetation in sustainable development: A study in a rural-urban interface of Bengaluru

Field Margin Vegetation (FMV) is an important part of agrobiodiversity which provides a range of ecological and economic benefits. Those services are mostly unaccounted in spite of having potential contribution to biodiversity conservation, well-being of farming households, climate change mitigation etc. The structure and composition of FMV and socioeconomic transformation are closely linked to each other. Transformation which influences FMV negatively leads to erosion of traditional ecological knowledge of the community that is associated with the use, management and conservation of native vegetations in the agroecosystems. There has been research on the function and composition of field margin vegetations, more specifically in the West but the documentation of traditional ecological knowledge on field margin vegetation from the viewpoint of socio-ecological sustainability is not readily available. Through this research an attempt is made to understand and document the uses of FMV by farmers and related traditional knowledge in rural-urban interface of Bengaluru, India. The agricultural landscape under study was found to be rich in FMV species belonging to 43 families. These species are used for a variety of purposes by the people l living in the rural-urban fringe of the northern transect of Bengaluru. This is a preliminary, yet substantial attempt that provides insights into the socioecological significance of the FMV component of agroecosystem. The findings would help in strategising actions to enhance its stake in initiatives to achieve sustainable development goals through health and nutrition, sustainable farming, environmental conservation and economic well-being. The study suggests that the scientific assessment of ecosystem services from FMV along with integration of traditional ecological knowledge in contemporary science would certainly contribute towards enhancement of its values.

Reassessing the multiple values of lowland British floodplains

Ecosystem services provided by lowland British floodplains respectively under semi-natural conditions and converted for intensive maize production were assessed. Floodplains across lowland Britain have been extensively disconnected from river channels, depleting habitat for wildlife and other beneficial ecosystem services. Conservation measures are often regarded as costly constraints on economic and development freedoms whilst, conversely, conversion for intensive agricultural production is rewarded by markets despite many often-overlooked externalities. Maize growing has increased in Britain since the 1970s, initially for feedlot production of livestock and now increasingly for grant-aided biofuel production for anaerobic digestion. Comparative literature-based ecosystem service assessments using the RAWES (Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services) approach reveal that lowland British floodplains in semi-natural condition provide a wider range of provisioning services than those converted for monocultural intensive production of maize, in addition to a diversity of regulating, cultural and supporting service benefits that are lost or transformed into disservices when floodplains are converted for intensive maize growth. Benefits and disbenefits of floodplains managed under the two scenarios (semi-natural versus monocultural maize) are presented graphically as an intuitive means to support decision-makers. Monetisation of benefits would be risky, not merely due to uncertainties but as this may skew conclusions and subsequent decision-making towards maximisation of marketed or near-market services, consequently misrepresenting the diversity of values of whole socioecological floodplain systems. Management solutions protective of the societal values provided by floodplain ecosystem may include buffer zoning as a mitigation measure, but a more strategic solution may be zonation of land use based on suitability not only for crop production but recognising the full spectrum of societally beneficial ecosystem services demonstrated by RAWES assessment. A variety of drivers for a changing approach to floodplain farming – statutory, fiscal and self-beneficial – are highlighted, and are generically applicable beyond Britain with context-specific modification.

Analyzing ecosystem services as part of ecological networks in three salt marsh ecosystems.

Biodiversity plays important roles in nature's contributions to people (i.e., ecosystem services), but the critical details of how biodiversity contributes are challenging to determine. Efforts to identify the components of an ecosystem that provide services have improved our understanding of which species, functional groups, population, or habitats directly provide services. However, species do not exist in isolation and considerably less is known about how species indirectly influence ecosystem services through interacting with those species directly providing services. This uncertainty is even greater when considering that species interact in complex networks. As such, detailed analyses of species interdependencies are rarely included in ecosystem services assessments or conservation decisions. To date, most studies on food webs and on ecosystem services have developed largely in parallel for many services, but these fields and data are ripe for empirical integration. To further this integration, we compiled data sets that linked three existing ecological networks to seven ecosystem functions and services: wave attenuation, shoreline stabilization, carbon sequestration, water filtration, fisheries, birdwatching, and waterfowl hunting. We leveraged high-resolution ecological interaction network data sets from three coastal salt marsh ecosystems including detailed species information (e.g., consumer strategy, body size, biomass) on several hundred species from Carpinteria Salt Marsh in California, USA, and for Estero de Punta Banda and Bahia Falsa in Baja, Mexico from Hechinger et al. (2011). Through an extensive literature synthesis and use of citizen science data, we identified which species in the Hechinger et al. (2011) data provided each ecosystem services directly. We augmented the Hechinger et al. (2011) data published in Ecology, particularly the link (or edge) list to include species-service links to indicate a species providing a service, in which species are listed as "Resources" and services are listed as "Consumers." Connecting these data to the previously published ecological networks with species interactions (i.e., trophic, parasitism) formed a topological network with species and service nodes. We also provided a protocol for assigning services to ecological networks that can be used in other ecosystems. This data set provides a step toward advancing the knowledge of important supporting species for ecosystem services and to developing new ecological network methods for ecosystem services. There are no copyright restrictions; please cite this data paper when the data are used in publications.

Ecosystem services assessment and sensitivity analysis based on ANN model and spatial data: A case study in Miaodao Archipelago

Ecosystem services (ESs) assessment is an important basis for the island protection and utilization plan development. The application of artificial neural network (ANN) to ESs assessment is a new attempt. Herein, an ANN model for the assessment of 5 ESs including carbon sequestration (CS), habitat quality (HQ), nutrient retention (NR), sediment retention (SR), and water yield (WY) of Miaodao Archipelago is established by taking the advantages of InVEST model and the powerful spatial analysis function of the geographic information system (GIS), as well as the self-learning and self-adaptive characteristics, and prediction function of ANN. The independent sample test shows that the correlation coefficient between the model prediction value and InVEST model simulation value is 0.88 (P < 0.001), and the average absolute error of the simulation is 10.33%. The 5 ESs of the Miaodao Archipelago in 2019 was then simulated using the trained model. The comparison with the corresponding data in 2010 suggests that CS, SR and HQ are in decline, while WY is in upward. The impacts of land use on ESs are then analyzed with the ecosystem service change index (ESCI) in different land use scenarios. An ANN model based quantitative method for evaluating the sensitivities of ecosystem service (ES) to typical environmental factors is proposed. The modeling results suggest that the ANN based model can accurately quantify the importance of different environmental factors to the island ESs, and give the comprehensive impact of multiple factors on the ESs. Therefore, the ANN model combined spatial data analysis provides an important means for ESs assessment and sensitivity analysis.

Urban Planning Insights from Tree Inventories and Their Regulating Ecosystem Services Assessment

With the uncertainties that our societies are living with (the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change), it becomes essential to provide urban planners and decision-makers with state-of-the-art and user-friendly methodologies to incorporate ecosystem service considerations into their designs for resilient cities. In this regard, urban forests play a crucial role. The quantification of the ecosystem services is geo-specific and needs studies in different urban contexts. At this scope, we evaluated the urban forest of a neighborhood of a densely built-up Italian city (Perugia) with a low level of urban greenery management and with a tree inventory still in progress. Furthermore, we defined a tool helpful in tree-planting decisions and management. This paper involves citizens in field research for trees inventory. Then, it uses i-Tree Eco to evaluate four ecosystem services (carbon storage and sequestration, pollution removal, and runoff avoided) provided by 373 inventoried urban trees belonging to 57 species. Our results show that Italian Municipal tree inventories do not adequately represent their urban forest and that citizens’ participation provides a cost-effective method for integrating field data. Finally, the paper develops an easy tool helping local administrations enhance the ecosystem services provisions in urban green design.

Classifying the content of social media images to support cultural ecosystem service assessments using deep learning models

Crowdsourced social media data has become popular for assessing cultural ecosystem services (CES). Nevertheless, social media data analyses in the context of CES can be time consuming and costly, particularly when based on the manual classification of images or texts shared by people. The potential of deep learning for automating the analysis of crowdsourced social media content is still being explored in CES research. Here, we use freely available deep learning models, i.e., Convolutional Neural Networks, for automating the classification of natural and human (e.g., species and human structures) elements relevant to CES from Flickr and Wikiloc images. Our approach is developed for Peneda-Gerês (Portugal) and then applied to Sierra Nevada (Spain). For Peneda-Gerês, image classification showed promising results (F1-score ca. 80%), highlighting a preference for aesthetics appreciation by social media users. In Sierra Nevada, even though model performance decreased, it was still satisfactory (F1-score ca. 60%), indicating a predominance of people’s pursuit for cultural heritage and spiritual enrichment. Our study shows great potential from deep learning to assist in the automated classification of human-nature interactions and elements from social media content and, by extension, for supporting researchers and stakeholders to decode CES distributions, benefits, and values.

Assessing ecosystem services of abandoned agricultural lands: a case study in the forested zone of European Russia

The massive abandonment of arable land in Russia in the 1990s had a heavy impact on the country’s land-use structure. The cessation of cultivation leads to a decrease of provisioning ecosystem services within the landscape, while creating an opportunity to enhance the supply of diverse regulation services. Consideration of this opportunity is increasingly important for environmental management and landscape planning. In this article, we present an approach for assessing the environmental benefits of ecosystems developing on abandoned arable lands in the forested zone of European Russia. The proposed methodology is established on a land-cover based framework – ecosystem services assessment matrix. For assessment purposes, abandoned arable lands at different stages of vegetation recovery succession (ruderal, grassland and small-leaved forest) are considered as different land-cover types. Four classes of regulating ecosystem services are subject to qualitative analysis: regulation of the chemical composition of the atmosphere, control of erosion rates, regulation of soil quality and pollination. An exemplary application of the proposed methodology for the case study area located in the Moscow Region of Russia is presented in the article. The results of the qualitative assessment revealed an association between the stage of vegetation recovery succession which corresponds with the time since land abandonment and the supply of regulating ecosystem services. The recovery of natural vegetation leads to higher levels of carbon sequestration, more effective erosion mitigation, soil recovery and increased pollinator abundance. Cropland was proven to be a recipient of the services provided by natural ecosystems. Thus, the return of all uncultivated fields to agricultural use will cause a substantial decrease in the ecological value of the study area.

Mapping and assessment of ecosystem services at Troodos National Forest Park in Cyprus

Troodos National Forest Park is located in the centre of Troodos mountain range and it is one of the most important natural environments of Cyprus. It has been included to the Natura 2000 network of the Island due to its important natural ecosystems and its great biodiversity. Based on the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES 5.1), 36 ecosystem services have been identified in the area. The majority of ecosystem services are concentrated at the Troodos peak and the nearby areas. The same pattern applies for the Cultural Services. Provisioning and Regulation-Maintenance services are concentrated at the centre and western part of the site. The site’s habitat types were mapped and their distribution in the area is presented in respective maps. Carbon stored in plants was 622,705 tonnes in total (73.18 t C per ha), calculated as per habitat type (according to Directive 92/43/EEC - Habitats Directive) and as per TESSA habitat classification. Seven TESSA and 10 Annex I habitat types were identified. The largest part of the site is dominated by Evergreen Broadleaf Forests (7799 ha), followed by Mixed Forests (624 ha) and Deciduous Broadleaf Forests (60 ha). The carbon stock included in AGB (Above Ground Biomass), BGB (Below Ground Biomass), Dead Wood &amp;amp; Litter and SOM (Soil Organic Matter) was evaluated for each habitat type. The annual carbon biomass removal (roundwood and fuelwood) is 80.82 t C y-1 (0.009 t C y-1 per ha), while the carbon sequestered in Troodos National Forest Park is 11,880.33 t CO2 eq y-1 (0.38 t C y-1 per ha). The information produced serves as a useful tool to competent authorities for raising awareness on the importance of ecosystem services and increase the public’s support in the area’s conservation.

Guidance for stakeholder consultation to support national ecosystem services assessment: A case study from French marine assessment

In line with international frameworks and following the example of other countries, France conducted a national ecosystem services (ES) assessment in 2012. National assessments are intended to be both comprehensive and useful. In practice, these objectives are conflicting and difficult to reach, leading the experts in charge of the assessment to allocate effort according to their own priorities. In the case of the marine part of the French ES assessment, we consulted stakeholders at the national scale to better connect the assessment to the interest of the end-users. We implemented a participatory approach based on a combination of workshops and online questionnaires. We collected stakeholder’s perception of (i) ES bundle; (ii) hierarchization of issues; (iii) specific issues of concern; and (iv) research needs for different types of marine ecosystems and groups of species. The results of the consultation assisted the assessment process in selecting key issues that necessitate in-depth analysis, and identifying discrepancies between stakeholders’ perceptions and the scientific knowledge that need to be addressed. Stakeholders’ perceptions were also mobilized as an additional source of data to inform decision-makers regarding the state of ecosystems and their ES. In the end, this work underlines the importance of stakeholder’s consultation to support ES assessment and provides guidance for its implementation in the future. Our results can also inform research needs to support the conservation of marine ecosystems.

Evaluating the role of spatial landscape literacy in public participation processes and opinions on environmental issues and ecosystem services.

Little is known about how spatial literacy influences mapping and decision-making related to environmental management and ecosystem services. We assessed the role of spatial landscape literacy in participatory environmental management and ecosystem service assessments in peri-urban Bogota, Colombia. Spatial landscape literacy (SL) was evaluated by testing stakeholder's ability to locate specific landscapes and landmarks. We then assessed if opinions on environmental decisions and ecosystem services were significantly related to SL. We used an online instrument to capture 2,397 respondent's socioeconomic characteristics, SL, ecosystem service perceptions, and opinions concerning relevant environmental issues. We evaluated and measured respondents' self-perceived SL and ability to locate four landscapes in an integrated online map. Positional accuracy was calculated using a Spatial Landscape Literacy Index (SLI). We then tested for effects of socio-demographics on SLI, modeled the relationship between socio-demographics and SL, and tested the relationship between respondents' SL and their opinions on relevant environmental issues and ecosystem services. We found that about 75% of the respondents correctly located 2 of the 4 landscapes. The SLI model was also poorly predicted by socio-demographic variables. However, we found significant relationships between SLI and opinions concerning the environment. No relationship was found between respondents' levels of active participation in local governance and SLI. Overall, SL was little affected by education levels. Participatory processes using maps should ideally measure SL and not assume a priori that participants are spatially literate. Further research is needed to evaluate how spatial technologies and understanding stakeholder's values towards the environment can democratize participatory-based decision-making.

Assessment of ecosystem services for urban regions in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals exemplified by the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg region

Abstract The implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the conservation and protection of nature are among the greatest challenges facing urban regions. There are few approaches so far that link the SDGs to natural diversity and related ecosystem services at the local level and track them in terms of increasing sustainable development at the local level. We want to close this gap by developing a set of indicators that capture ecosystem services in the sense of the SDGs and which are based on data that are freely available throughout Germany and Europe. Based on 10 SDGs and 35 SDG indicators, we are developing an ecosystem service and biodiversity-related indicator set for the evaluation of sustainable development in urban areas. We further show that it is possible to close many of the data gaps between SDGs and locally collected data mentioned in the literature and to translate the universal SDGs to the local level. Our example develops this set of indicators for the Bonn/Rhein-Sieg metropolitan area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, which comprises both rural and densely populated settlements. This set of indicators can also help improve communication and plan sustainable development by increasing transparency in local sustainability, implementing a visible sustainability monitoring system, and strengthening the collaboration between local stakeholders.

Application of UAV remote sensing and machine learning to model and map land use in urban gardens

Abstract Urban gardens are an integral part of urban agricultural systems, contributing to ecosystem services, biodiversity and human wellbeing. These systems occur at fine scales, can be highly complex and therefore offer the opportunity to test mechanisms of ecological patterns and processes. The capacity to confidently characterize urban gardens and their land uses is still lacking, while it could provide the basis for assessing ecosystem service provision. Land classifications from remote sensing platforms are common at the landscape scale, but imagery often lacks the resolution required to map differences in land use of fine-scale systems such as urban gardens. Here, we present a workflow to model and map land use in urban gardens using imagery from an unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) and machine learning. Due to high resolutions (&amp;lt;5 cm) from image acquisition at low altitudes, UAV remote sensing is better suited to characterize urban land use. We mapped six common land uses in 10 urban community gardens, exhibiting distinct spatial arrangements. Our models had good predictive performance, reaching 80% overall prediction accuracy in independent validation and up to 95% when assessing model performance per cover class. Extracting spatial metrics from these land use classifications, we found that at the garden and plot scale, plant species richness can be estimated by the total area and patchiness of crops. Land use classifications like these can offer an accessible tool to assess complex urban habitats and justify the importance of urban agriculture as a service-providing system, contributing to the sustainability and livability of cities.