Potential Ecosystem Services Research Articles

Homeowner perceptions, knowledge, and decision making regarding residential trees and natural areas in a Midwestern U.S. suburb

Residential properties in the United States represent a considerable amount of land area and contain substantial tree cover. Homeowners are important decision makers in the management of city trees because they influence the structure of urban forests, and ultimately, ecosystem service potential. To better understand the perceptions, knowledge, and practices of homeowners regarding residential tree preservation, we surveyed owners of newer versus older homes in a midwestern suburb in the United States. We found that newer homeowners were younger, wealthier, and less knowledgeable about the natural aspects of their property. During the redevelopment process, they relied on professionals to make major decisions regarding tree preservation. In contrast, owners of older homes often identified as retirees and gardeners, had more knowledge of the natural aspects of their property, and were more likely to hire an arborist. Regardless of these differences, both homeowner groups expressed equal appreciation for nature, planted, pruned, and mulched their trees, experienced tree loss, hired landscaping and tree care professionals, and communicated with the City’s Forestry Section. The results of our study further clarify the role that homeowners play in decision-making during development and highlight the important relationships that exist between homeowners and urban forest professionals.

Exploring the effect of landscape composition and agroecological practices on wild bees in horticultural farms

How farms and the surrounding landscape are managed locally substantially affects biodiversity, with consequent impacts on the supply of certain ecosystem services, such as pollination. Wild bees provide pollination services for small-scale horticultural farming, and are key to determining and improving farm production, as well as maintaining ecosystem-level diversity. Here, we investigated how landscape composition and agroecological practices affect wild bee community in small-scale horticultural farms. The study was conducted at 16 horticultural farms in the northern part of Madrid. The pan-trapping method was used to collect wild bees during the flowering period of horticultural plants. We interviewed farmers to identify which agroecological practices were primarily adopted to attain a resilient ecosystem. The most common practices adopted were weed control methods, natural fertilizer usage, pest control, and crop diversification. In total, 109 wild bee species were identified, and included individuals from all six bee families present on the Iberian Peninsula. One genus (Lasioglossum) was highly abundant, accounting for 68% of individuals, and is a known ground nester. Areas of sparse vegetation and bare soil and forested areas primarily enhanced the richness of bee species. On the other hand, abundance of wild bees is enhanced by pasture and forest areas. The presence of these habitats in areas surrounding farms might represent the potential nesting sites with important resources for wild bees. Small-scale horticulture production promotes landscape diversity, which strongly promotes the potential of different ecosystem services, including pollination and wild bees. Thus, implementing agroecological practices could transcend farms, and individual fields, to the landscape level, providing long-term sustainability of ecosystems.

Ecosystem Services for Planning Post-Mining Landscapes Using the DPSIR Framework

Mining in general, and particularly mining for energy resources such as coal and lignite, results in massive impacts on the surrounding landscape and ecosystems. Post-mining reclamation that takes account of the disturbed ecosystem services requires a research approach that links the mining impact to ecosystem functions and ecosystem service potentials. The method used in this paper combines the Driving Forces–Pressures–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework and the ES cascade approach by complementing the limitations of each approach with the strengths of the other. The DPSIR framework is extended to a causal network to account for the multiple interconnected causal chains of coal and lignite mining impacts. The presented causal network supports the identification of ES indicators for the assessment, planning, and monitoring of post-mining reclamation in coal/lignite mining landscapes. The presented approach can also inform political and administrative decisions by identifying the ecosystem elements at risk of being degraded from mining.

A conceptual framework for understanding ecosystem trade-offs and synergies, in communal rangeland systems

Communal rangelands are a global resource of significant benefit to society through the provision of critical ecosystem goods and services such as carbon sequestration, water and livestock forage. The relative importance of the ecosystem goods and services provided by communal rangelands is driven by the social and environmental priorities of a range of different stakeholders at the local, regional and national level. Understanding the potential ecosystem service trade-offs (and synergies) is vital for making informed and inclusive decisions as part of the process of stakeholder engagement, both in goal setting as well as evaluating the appropriateness of outcomes in rangelands. However, application of trade-offs approaches to communal rangelands, has frequently been limited by a lack of adequate stakeholder engagement to help define important factors such as the diverse objectives of end users and the broader institutional and policy environments that frame them. To help address this, we propose a framework that conceptualises the links between different actors and trade-offs at three key levels, using communal rangelands in South Africa as a case study. Firstly, we explore environment trade-offs between key ecosystem services, largely determined through public sector engagement in the formulation of environmental policy. Secondly, we examine the potential for environmental policies to create community-environment trade-offs between the needs of local communities and those of society more broadly. Thirdly, we consider community trade-offs reflecting the many different social and economic priorities of people living in communal systems. We suggest that the framework will find greatest application in the initial process of determining potential ecosystem service trade-offs and associated land use scenarios with key stakeholders, and then subsequently in connecting the trade-offs back to these stakeholders, following analysis, as part of a ‘discussion support’ process. We also discuss the broader applicability of this approach to rangelands systems outside of South Africa.

Using the ecosystem services potential of Chernozem to restore war-damaged land

ABSTRACT Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has taken almost 2 million ha of land out of agricultural production. Every day of conflict increases the extent and severity of the damage. Here, we highlight the possibility of bringing soils back to life by growing energy crops. In our example – a heavy loam Podzolised chernozem – significant improvement of several agrochemical, physical, and biological parameters has been achieved, which promises an increase in the quality of ecosystem services that the soil can provide.

Contributions of Green Infrastructure-Oriented Planning and Designing in Residential Gardens to the City’s Ecosystem: Case of Trabzon City, Turkey

The ratio of green areas belonging to residential areas and their location in the city is too important to ignore. However, when we look at urban planning, it is seen that green areas belonging to common public areas are generally evaluated within the scope of ecosystem services, while residential gardens that are within the scope of private property are ignored. In this context, the main purpose of the study is to examine the contribution of the residential gardens, in which the landscape value is kept to the forefront, to the ecosystem services. Within the scope of this main purpose, this study analyzes how the green areas of the residential gardens in Trabzon can be designed through a focus on green infrastructure (GI) within the axis of landscape value and how these designs will serve the ecosystem services in this perspective. Following the study, it has been determined that both spatial needs and ecosystem benefits can be met with the same GI elements, while, on the other hand, it has been conferred that the landscape value, as a significant factor in the design of residential gardens, is supported by several GI elements of an edible garden, pollinator garden, rain garden, biological pond, and green roof. It has been determined that GI elements, where vegetation and water landscape elements are used together, have a higher potential for ecosystem services. In addition, it has been concluded that the green areas of the residential gardens should not be planned and designed solely within their own areas. Based on these analyses, it has been determined that the benefits are considerably increased when the green areas of the residential gardens are planned and designed through a holistic GI-oriented design approach based on the total building parcel. Thus, it is very important to consider GI systems with a holistic approach in residential gardens throughout the city. This holistic approach will allow the benefits of GI to be spread throughout the city and will ensure that the benefits are homogenized within the city.

Stress-resistant trees are more common in urban than rural forests: A case study of Cleveland, Ohio’s natural parks

Natural parks are comprised of preserved forested natural areas that are undergoing natural ecological processes. These areas can offer a refuge for local biodiversity and contribute substantially to ecosystem services in both rural areas with relatively low population densities, as well as high-density urban areas. Forested natural parks located in urban areas should experience more stressful environmental conditions than nearby rural areas, yet we know relatively little about how urbanization impacts tree communities within these important natural habitats. To better understand the impact of urbanization on forests, we investigated the species composition, abundance, and diversity of midstory and canopy trees as well as tree seedlings in urban and rural natural parks in and around Cleveland, Ohio. We found that both urban and rural natural parks have similar tree abundance, but midstory and canopy trees as well as tree seedling communities in the urban natural parks included higher abundances of stress-tolerant species compared to rural parks. In addition, this pattern was driven by changes in native tree species, as we observed low abundance of invasive species. More stress-resistant native species in urban areas include Quercus rubra and Prunus serotina, in contrast to rural natural parks which are dominated by Acer spp. and Fagus grandifolia. Lastly, we show that urban and rural natural parks have similar species diversity within plots, but we found higher variation in community composition among urban natural parks compared to among rural parks. Furthermore, Q. rubra and P. serotina were significantly larger in rural natural parks, indicating that both environmental stress and successional stage could drive compositional differences. Thus, we show that urbanization can have unexpected effects on plant community composition and diversity. Our study refutes the idea that these are degraded habitats, highlights the need to conserve them, and suggests that characterization of local variation in self-assembled urban tree communities will provide the most accurate picture of their management needs and potential ecosystem services.

Ecosystem Service Value Evaluation of Saline—Alkali Land Development in the Yellow River Delta—The Example of the Huanghe Island

Saline–alkali land is an important land resource with high development potential and an important ecological product with high potential ecosystem service value (ESV). It is of great significance for rational development and protection of saline–alkali land resources to carry out research on the evaluation methods of the ESV of saline–alkali land and to scientifically quantify the ESV of saline–alkali land development. Taking typical saline–alkali land in the Yellow River Delta on the Huanghe Island of China as an example, this research constructed an ESV evaluation index system from the perspective of functional value containing three first-level indicators such as economic value, four second-level indicators such as supply service, and eight lowest-level indicators such as food production. It also considered production and operation costs and evaluated the ESV of the Huanghe Island using the ecological economics method. The results showed that the ESV of the Huanghe Island is CNY 133.586 million, and the unit area value is 50,200 CNY/hm2, which is a relatively high value. Among them, the supply service value was the highest, accounting for more than half. In recent years, the development of the Huanghe Island has produced high supply and service value, but due to weak background conditions and low vegetation coverage, regulation and support service values are relatively low, the cultural service value is still to be explored, and there is great potential for ecological and social value. This research can provide references for scientific evaluation of the ESV of saline–alkali land and provide a basis for rational development and utilization of the Huanghe Island.

Characterizing and assessing key ecosystem services in a representative forest ecosystem in Turkey

Characterizing and managing multiple ecosystem services is vital for decision-making in sustainable forest management. This study focuses on characterizing and assessing the biophysical and spatial distribution of ecosystem services such as wood production, biodiversity and carbon sequestration in the Kumluca state forest (Turkey). The key ecosystem services were thematically characterized, economically valued, spatially mapped and mobilized as a knowledge-base for ecosystem based planning. Average wood production is higher (135.06 m3/ha) than the overall average (72 m3/ha) in Turkey. The average carbon stock is 119 tC/ha, indicating a medium capacity. The habitat potential for biodiversity is low to medium, based on the 15 target species. Total economic value of the key ecosystem services is estimated at US$624,748,191 (US$6132/ha). The composition and spatial distribution of vegetation determines the extent and potential of ecosystem services. This study emphasizes that comprehensive quantification as well as valuation of ecosystem services can facilitate underpinnings for efficient communication and good decision making in sustainable resource management for multiple values. The orchestrated vision of conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem services based on a comprehensive characterization, modeling, valuing and participatory approach is a strategy for sustainable forest management.

Detection of Geocryological Conditions in Boreal Landscapes of the Southern Cryolithozone Using Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Data: A Case Study of the Northern Part of the Yenisei Ridge

This paper discusses the potential of using infrared remote sensing data to determine geocryological conditions in the northern part of the Yenisei Ridge in Russia. Landsat-8 thermal infrared images and land surface data were used for our analysis. The obtained thermal characteristics were compared with vegetation indices calculated for the period of active vegetation growth along several surface transects. Surface observations included geobotanical descriptions, phytomass estimations, measurements of thickness of the seasonally thawed layer, and visual identification of different effects of permafrost on the components of the taiga landscape. The obtained surface temperatures differed depending of forest type due to their bio-productivity characteristics on sporadic permafrost as the most important factor of forest growth conditions within the southern part of the cryolithozone. The differences in the thermal characteristics are due to varying degree of permafrost influence on boreal vegetation growth. The surface temperature was used as indicator to quantify the relationship between the latent heat and the sensible heat fluxes for the corresponding landscape. The areas with higher surface temperatures were usually characterized by higher sensible heat flux due to lower evapotranspiration of the plant canopy. The forest types with the highest evapotranspiration had usually the lowest surface temperatures. Such forest types are also the most fire-resistant systems, and have the highest water-discharge potential. This is characteristic of the forests under the lowest impact of permafrost (thawed soils or the presence of the permafrost layer at lower depths). Such types of forests have higher ecosystem service potential (e.g., fire-resistance and stock formation).

Assessing the potential of a surface water body for multiple uses. Case study: the Anambra River Basin, south-eastern Nigeria

Anthropogenic activities causing deterioration in water quality and a decrease in meeting the ecosystem service potentials of surface water are considered one of the major basic environmental challenges. Water samples were collected from three sampling stations (Ogurugu, Otuocha, and Otu- Nsugbe) in the Anambra River Basin and analyzed following standard protocols and procedures for nine months. The cosystem services potentials of the Anambra River Basin were evaluated using physico-chemical parameters and some indices: Comprehensive pollution index (CPI), nutrient pollution index (NPI), salinity potential, and soluble sodium percentage (SSP). All the water quality parameters were within the standard level for drinking water, aquaculture practice, recreation (swimming/bathing) and agricultural purposes, with the exception of pH and phosphate, whereas dissolved oxygen met aquaculture criteria only in station II. Comprehensive pollution index (0.150 – 0.449), nutrient pollution index (0.07 – 0.46), and soluble sodium percentage (6.0% -26.92%) were within the category of non-polluted or excellent to sub-clean. Potential salinity (39.39 - 97.19) was high, indicating water from the Anambra River Basin contained crystallized solutes. Conclusion: the Anambra River Basin is not at risk of eutrophication but may not support irrigation program due to the high potential salinity. However, the river needs to be monitored, and anthropogenic activities need to be regulated.

Evaluation of Ecosystem Services and Mangrove Management Based on the Blue Economy Approach of Untung Jawa Island

Mangrove forests have a very important role for people's lives, especially for people who live in coastal areas, both from environmental, economic and social aspects. However, the economic potential of the ecosystem services provided by mangrove forests has not been comprehensively calculated. As a result, the economic potential of mangrove forests in an area is often calculated to be lower than the actual economic potential. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the total economic potential of mangrove forest ecosystem services. The economic valuation method of ecosystem services used in this study is the Total Economic Value method, including the economic value of providing services, regulatory services, cultural services, and supporting services. The location of this research is on Untung Jawa Island, Seribu Islands, DKI Jakarta Province, while the research time is from July to September 2022. The data used in determining the economic value in this study are primary data and secondary data. The results of the analysis show that the total economic value of the provision of services is around IDR 607 million per year, support services around IDR 15 million per year, cultural services around IDR 1.3 billion per year, and regulatory services around IDR 34 billion per year. The findings of this study have implications that the government and related stakeholders are required to provide more intensive education to the public about the importance of sustainable management of mangrove forests for the development of a blue economy on the island.

Fall-sown small grain cover crops for weed suppression and soil moisture management in an irrigated organic agroecosystem

Abstract Adoption of cover crops in arid agroecosystems has been slow due to concerns regarding limited water resources and possible soil moisture depletion. In irrigated organic systems, potential ecosystem services from cover crops also must be considered in light of the concerns for water conservation. A constructive balance could be achieved with fall-sown small grain cover crops; however, their impacts on irrigated organic systems are poorly understood. Our first objective was to determine the ability of fall-sown small grains [cereal rye (Secale cereale L), winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and oat (Avena sativa L.)] to suppress winter weeds in an irrigated, organic transition field in the southwestern USA. Small grains were planted following the legume sesbania (Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rydb. ex A.W. Hill) during Fall 2012 and Fall 2013. In Spring 2013 and 2014, weed densities and biomass were determined within each cover crop treatment and compared against unplanted controls. Results indicated that both barley and oat were effective in suppressing winter weeds. Our second objective was to compare weed suppression and soil moisture levels among seven barley varieties developed in the western United States. Barley varieties (‘Arivat’, ‘Hayes Beardless’, ‘P919’, ‘Robust’, ‘UC603’, ‘UC937’, ‘Washford Beardless’) were fall-sown in replicated strip plots in Fall 2016. Weed densities were measured in Spring 2017 and volumetric soil moisture near the soil surface (5.1 cm depth) was measured at time intervals beginning in December 2016 and ending in March 2017. With the exception of ‘UC937’, barley varieties caused marked reductions in weed density in comparison with the unplanted control. Soil moisture content for the unplanted control was consistently lower than soil moisture contents for barley plots. Barley variety did not influence volumetric soil moisture. During the 2017–2018 growing season, we re-examined three barley varieties considered most amenable to the cropping system requirements (‘Robust’, ‘UC603’, ‘P919’), and these varieties were again found to support few weeds (≤ 5.0 weeds m−2). We conclude that several organically certified barley varieties could fill the need for a ‘non-thirsty’ cover crop that suppresses winter weeds in irrigated organic systems in the southwestern United States.

Innovative agricultural management in organic orchards and perception of their potential ecosystem services

ISHS III International Organic Fruit Symposium and I International Organic Vegetable Symposium Innovative agricultural management in organic orchards and perception of their potential ecosystem services

Building with Nature—Ecosystem Service Assessment of Coastal-Protection Scenarios

The aim of this study is to assess existing conventional and hypothetical nature-based coastal-protection schemes using a comparative ecosystem service assessment, based on quantitative data and literature as well as on stakeholder views. We assessed three conventional groin systems and three building-with-nature scenarios including an expanded beach area, a mussel farm and seagrass beds. Stakeholders perceived the nature-based scenarios as positive and assumed an overall increase in the ecosystem service provision. The quantitative data-based approach showed similar results. Building-with-nature approaches were considered to provide economical and/or environmental benefits to human beings, beyond coastal protection and safety. Especially for the combination of coastal-protection measures with submerged vegetation in shallow waters, a strong increase in ecosystem service potential is assumed, e.g., on nature restoration as well as on touristic and landscape attractiveness. Our approach turned out to be suitable for assessing different coastal-protection scenarios with reasonable effort. Our methodology can help to catch the views of people, raise awareness on the multiple consequences of these measures and enable an improved and structured participatory dialogue with locals and stakeholders. Our approach may support coastal-protection planning and help to reduce local resistance against measures and their implementation.

Terrestrial protected areas: Understanding the spatial variation of potential and realized ecosystem services

Terrestrial protected areas (TPAs) have become a keystone in nature conservation and environmental policy-making because they provide a potpourri of ecosystem services—benefits that are foundational for human existence and well-being. The intensity of ecosystem services production (i.e., potential) and use (i.e., realized) from a TPA depends on several variables such as ecosystem type, TPA size, population in the region, and development infrastructure. However, little is known about how ecosystem services intensity varies in relation to these variables. The TPAs provide a rich setting to investigate these relationships in support of better management for both TPAs and ecosystem services. Here, using the Co$ting Nature model, I map the potential and realized ecosystem services intensity from 140 of Pakistan's TPAs. To ascertain the direct impacts on realized ecosystem services, I use ArcGIS and InVEST tools to infer three spatial variables: TPA size (area), TPA distance from the nearest urban center, and visitation rates to the TPA. Results from the statistical analyses show that potential and realized ecosystem services are positively and significantly correlated, meaning increased supply results in more use. Yet, both are negatively correlated with TPA size and distance from the urban centers. Finally, a multivariate regression analysis is conducted considering potential ecosystem services and the selected three spatial variables as predictors for realized ecosystem services. The analysis indicates that potential ecosystem services and the size of a TPA are both significant for realized ecosystem services, with the potential services positively and TPA size negatively correlated with realized ecosystem services. The data generated and the results obtained in the study can inform the protection, stewardship, and expansion of TPAs at national and global scales.

Identifying priority areas for tidal wetland restoration by integrating ecosystem services supply and demand mismatches

Governments and non-governmental organizations have widely recognized tidal wetland restoration as a sustainable instrument to lessen the threat of climate change, which is reflected by the expansion of the spatial scale of coastal restoration projects. However, approaches to large-scale spatial planning of tidal wetland restoration remain sparse. Previous studies on site selection for restoration planning have focused on the potential supply of ecosystem services (ES) or restoration feasibility with less emphasis on the mitigation of the status of regional ES supply and demand mismatches. We developed a five-step workflow based on systematic conservation planning to identify priority areas for tidal wetland restoration and applied it to the coastal reclaimed areas of Shanghai, China. With this workflow, we analyzed the changes in spatial distribution and the potential ecosystem services supply and restoration costs of priority areas between the two different scenarios of ES demand ignored and ES demand considered. Results showed that the potential restorable areas only accounted for 31.4% (425.2 km²) of the original reclaimed area because of other land use demands (e.g., permanent basic farmland conservation). We extracted 50% of the potential restorable areas as priority areas based on Aichi Target 15. Compared with the ES demand-ignored scenario, the ES demand scenario resulted in a substantial increase in the priority areas of Baoshan District (~177%) and Pudong New Area (~15%) and a small decrease in Chongming District (~4%). No significant change in the potential ES supply for all priority areas was observed between the two scenarios. However, the total restoration cost of the ES demand scenario is 10% higher than that of the ES demand-ignored scenario. Our study highlights the importance of considering the status of regional ES supply and demand (mis)matches in large-scale spatial planning for tidal wetland restoration.

Ecosystem functions of fruit woody species in an urban environment

The objective of this work was to investigate the potential ecosystem services of 16 fruit trees to plan and manage more efficiently “Urban Forest,” increasing also the resilience of cities to climate change. We evaluated the potential capacity of PM10 absorption, the storage of CO2 from the atmosphere, and the cooling of the environment through shading by the crown and through evapotranspiration. We observed that some species, such as Morus nigra, Juglans regia, Pyrus communis, and Cydonia oblonga, are able to store a higher quantity of CO2 than others over a period of 50 years, respectively, of 2.40 tons, 2.33 tons, 1.51 tons, and 0.96 tons. Ficus carica, Juglans regia, and Morus nigra were relevant for PM10 absorption, since they were able to absorb, referring to the year 2019, 146.4 gr/tree, 195.6 gr/tree, and 143.1 gr/tree, respectively. Results showed that these ecosystem functions depend principally on the morphological characteristics of the individuals: their height, DBH, expansion of their crowns, and characteristics of the foliage system.

Interconnectedness of Ecosystem Services Potential with Land Use/Land Cover Change Dynamics in Western Uganda

Understanding the evolution of land use/land cover change (LULCC) and how it shapes current and future ecosystem services (ES) supply potential remains critical in sustainable natural resource management. Community perception of historic LULCC was reconciled with previous study via remote sensing/geographical information systems using recall data in the Budongo–Bugoma landscape in Uganda. Then, a CA-Markovian prediction model of a LULC situation in 2040 under business as usual (BAU) and forest restoration scenarios was constructed. Additionally, we assessed the perceived proximate and underlying drivers of LULCC, and how LULCC shapes ecosystem services potential using household surveys. The perceived LULCC trend for the past three decades (1990–2020) corresponded with previous studies showing grassland, bushland, tropical high forest, and wetland cover declined greatly, while subsistence farmland, commercial farmland, and built-up areas had a great increment. The predicted LULC under (i) the business as usual scenario showed a continued decline of natural LULC while anthropogenic LULC increased greatly, tending to cover half of the landscape area; (ii) forest restoration under different levels showed an improvement of forest cover and other native LULC classes with a decline in mostly subsistence farmland. The proximate drivers were in three principal components (soil infertility, subsistence farming, drought; infrastructural development, commercial farming, overstocking of livestock, pest and disease challenges; tree planting), while underlying drivers were in two principal components (technology adoption, corruption of environment stewards, policy implementation gaps; cultural gaps). Food and cash crops were perceived to be the most important ecosystem services in the landscape. Generally, the landscape ES supply potential was dwindling and predicted to continue with a similar trend under BAU, despite the increment in ES contribution of subsistence and commercial farmland. Forest restoration would slightly improve the landscape ES potential but would cause a decline in subsistence farmland, which would result in either a threat to food/livelihood security or a livelihood shift. We recommend combined interventions that seek to achieve a progressive frontier that achieves development needs and priorities based on national need such as food security through local level production with recognition for sustainable availability of ecosystem services.

Mapping services for an ecosystem based management along the Andalusian coastal zone (Spain)

The coastal zone is an area where a multitude of physical-natural, social and economic issues converge. The interactions among these elements are accentuated by the demographic concentration that characterises coastal areas all over the world. Coastal areas have the unique characteristic of being located in the connecting space between land and marine areas. The economic activities that take place on the coast require the services provided by terrestrial, intertidal and marine ecosystems for their proper functioning. In consequence, the main objective of this research is to identify and map ecosystem services provided by coastal ecosystems in the region of Andalusia (Spain) in order to move towards an Ecosystem-Based Management of this area.Ecosystem services are obtained from a literature review supported by a participatory process through expert consultation. The results obtained from the participatory process, together with the analysis and mapping of the ecosystems, make it possible to obtain those areas where the diversity of potential ecosystem services is greatest. The results of the research highlight certain ecosystems, such as the intertidal ecosystems, which, although they occupy the smallest surface area, are the ones that offer the greatest services to the population. Therefore, studying ecosystem services in coastal areas in order to move towards an Ecosystem-Based Management must be done from a broad perspective, considering the coastal zone as a complete socio-ecological system.