Mapping ecosystem services in protected areas. A systematic review

Mapping agricultural ecosystem services. A systematic review

Agriculture is one of the major drivers of land degradation and climate change. It is known that it can have positive impacts on provisioning ecosystem services (ES) (e.g., food production); however, it has as well detrimental effects on regulation and maintenance (e.g., carbon sequestration) and cultural ES (e.g., landscape aesthetics). Mapping helps us to understand the spatio-temporal impacts on agriculture ES. Nevertheless, no global assessment on mapping agriculture ES was conducted. To fill this gap, this work aims to review the studies systematically focused on mapping agriculture ES, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement protocol. Overall, 52 studies were considered in this analysis. The results showed an increase in research from 2013 to 2024, mainly developed in Europe and Asia, with a special focus on the rural regions of the countries. Most studies did not follow a specific ES classification, focused on ES supply and assessed one ES dimension. Cultivated terrestrial plants for nutrition, materials or energy was the most mapped provisioning ES group. Regulation of baseline flows and extreme events and Intellectual and representative interactions with the natural environment were the most analysed regulation & maintenance and cultural ES groups, respectively. Regarding the methodology, the majority of studies applied mixed approaches. Finally, a large proportion of works did not consider any tradeoffs, drivers of change, and future predictions and did not validate the obtained ES model results. This work is key to understanding the areas where agricultural ES were mapped and supporting policymaking to identify informed decisions.

Perceptions of cultural and provisioning ecosystem services and human wellbeing indicators amongst indigenous communities neighbouring the greater limpopo transfrontier conservation area

Nature plays a crucial role in providing ecosystem services (ESs) essential for human wellbeing and biodiversity conservation in rural areas. However, existing paradigms often lack an integrative approach towards rural livelihoods and wellbeing, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between human wellbeing (HWB) and ESs. The area around the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTFCA) offers such ESs to indigenous people who rely heavily on these natural resources. Thus, this study aimed to quantify indigenous people's perceptions of cultural and provisioning ESs and their link to human wellbeing in villages adjacent to the GLTFCA. Key informant interviews were initially conducted to identify ESs as perceived by the participants. Subsequently, face-to-face surveys were carried out in 9 wards across South Africa and Zimbabwe, involving 350 participants. Respondents were asked about the availability of ESs, their levels of degradation, drivers of change, and the impact on their wellbeing. Responses were captured using Likert scales, and multiple regression models analysed the relationships between socio-demographic characteristics and ESs. Results indicated that indigenous people perceived both cultural and provisioning ESs to be available but degrading, with provisioning services degrading more rapidly. Climate change, legislation/policies, and poverty were identified as key drivers of this change. Socio-demographic factors such as gender, nativeness, and employment level influenced perceptions of both ESs. Overall, participants reported that both ESs contribute to their human wellbeing and livelihoods through life satisfaction, happiness, living standards, safety, security, and good health. Finally, this study's findings uniquely offer a baseline for these ESs accounting, demonstrating their direct and indirect benefits to indigenous communities' livelihoods and well-being.