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Barton DN. Recognising institutional context in simulating and generalising exchange values for monetary ecosystem accounts. ONE ECOSYSTEM 2022. [DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.7.e85283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The paper argues that monetary valuation of ecosystem services for ecosystem accounting needs to be sensitive to institutional context, when simulating markets to generate exchange values where none was available previously and when conducting value generalisation that extrapolates exchange values from specific sites to the whole acounting area. The same ecosystem type can contain different governance regimes or, conversely, a single governance regime may be present in many ecosystem types. Governance regimes are, in part, determined by ecosystem type and condition, but also by ecosystem access characteristics which vary over urban-rural gradients. An ecosystem service will not have a single price if costs of supply and transaction vary in space. This is generally true for all accounting compatible valuation methods if they are extrapolated across different market contexts, but require particular attention if markets are simulated for specific locations and then assumed to be generally valid for the accounting area. The paper exemplifies this for different institutional settings for exchange values of recreation services exploring the general recommendation in SEEA EA for making valuation methods sensitive to institutional context. Stated preference methods simulate markets for ecosystem services. The paper then reviews non-market stated preference valuation studies that have been sensitive to institutional design. Findings on institutional design are, therefore, specifically relevant for simulation of market exchange values for the purpose of compiling monetary ecosystem accounts. The paper finds that disregard for the institutional context in valuation for ecosystem accounting can lead to: (i) errors of generalisation/aggregation and (ii) downward ‘bias’ in simulated accounting prices (relative to the status quo of the institutional context).
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Rusch GM, Bartlett J, Kyrkjeeide MO, Lein U, Nordén J, Sandvik H, Stokland H. A joint climate and nature cure: A transformative change perspective. AMBIO 2022; 51:1459-1473. [PMID: 35076881 PMCID: PMC9005584 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01679-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Climate change has considerably dominated science-policy dialogue, public debate, and subsequently environmental policies since the three "Rio Conventions" were born. This has led to practically independent courses of action of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation actions, neglecting potential conflicts among outcomes and with missed opportunities for synergistic measures. Transformative governance principles have been proposed to overcome these limitations. Using a transformative governance lens, we use the case of the Norwegian "Climate Cure 2030" for the Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector to, first, illustrate the mechanisms that have led to the choice of climate mitigation measures; second, to analyze the potential consequences of these measures on biodiversity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; and, third, to evaluate alternative measures with potential positive outcomes for biodiversity and GHG emissions/removals. We point to some mechanisms that could support the implementation of these positive actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graciela M. Rusch
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Torgarden, P.O. 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jesamine Bartlett
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Torgarden, P.O. 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | | | - Ulrika Lein
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Torgarden, P.O. 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jenni Nordén
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Sognsveien 68, 0855 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hanno Sandvik
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Torgarden, P.O. 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Håkon Stokland
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Torgarden, P.O. 5685, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
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Observational Scale Matters for Ecosystem Services Interactions and Spatial Distributions: A Case Study of the Ussuri Watershed, China. SUSTAINABILITY 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/su131910649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how observational scale affects the interactions and spatial distributions of ecosystem services is important for effective ecosystem assessment and management. We conducted a case study in the Ussuri watershed, Northeast China, to explore how observational scale (1 km to 15 km grid resolution) influences the correlations and spatial distributions of ecosystem services. Four ecosystem services of particular importance for the sustainable development of the study area were examined: carbon sequestration, habitat provision, soil retention, and water retention. Across the observational scales examined, trade-offs and synergies of extensively distributed ecosystem services were more likely to be robust compared with those of sparsely distributed ecosystem services, and hot/cold-spots of ecosystem services were more likely to persist when associated with large rather than small land-cover patches. Our analysis suggests that a dual-purpose strategy is the most appropriate for the management of carbon sequestration and habitat provision, and cross-scale management strategies are the most appropriate for the management of soil retention and water retention in the study area. Further studies to deepen our understanding of local landscape patterns will help determine the most appropriate observational scale for analyzing the spatial distributions of these ecosystem services.
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Martinez‐Harms MJ, Wilson KA, Costa MDP, Possingham HP, Gelcich S, Chauvenet A, Pliscoff P, Marquet PA, Bryan BA. Conservation planning for people and nature in a Chilean biodiversity hotspot. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.10200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Jose Martinez‐Harms
- Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Instituto Milenio en Socio Ecología Costera (SECOS)Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Instituto de Ecología y Biodiversidad (IEB) Santiago Chile
| | - Kerrie A. Wilson
- Institute for Future Environments Queensland University of Technology Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Micheli D. P. Costa
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Burwood Vic. Australia
| | - Hugh P. Possingham
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Queensland Brisbane Qld Australia
- The Nature Conservancy South Brisbane Qld Australia
| | - Stefan Gelcich
- Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Instituto Milenio en Socio Ecología Costera (SECOS)Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Center for the Study of Multiple‐Drivers on Marine Socio‐Ecological Systems (Musels) Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Millennium Nucleus Center for the Socioeconomic Impact of Environmental Policies (CESIEP) Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Bren School of Environmental Science and Management University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
| | - Alienor Chauvenet
- Environmental Futures Research Institute School of Environment and Science Griffith University Southport Qld Australia
| | - Patricio Pliscoff
- Center for Applied Ecology and Sustainability (CAPES) Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Department of Ecology Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
- Institute of Geography Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile Santiago Chile
| | - Pablo A. Marquet
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Burwood Vic. Australia
| | - Brett A. Bryan
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Burwood Vic. Australia
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Yang R, Cao Y, Hou S, Peng Q, Wang X, Wang F, Tseng TH, Yu L, Carver S, Convery I, Zhao Z, Shen X, Li S, Zheng Y, Liu H, Gong P, Ma K. Cost-effective priorities for the expansion of global terrestrial protected areas: Setting post-2020 global and national targets. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/37/eabc3436. [PMID: 32917690 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc3436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Biodiversity loss is a social and ecological emergency, and calls have been made for the global expansion of protected areas (PAs) to tackle this crisis. It is unclear, however, where best to locate new PAs to protect biodiversity cost-effectively. To answer this question, we conducted a spatial meta-analysis by overlaying seven global biodiversity templates to identify conservation priority zones. These are then combined with low human impact areas to identify cost-effective zones (CEZs) for PA designation. CEZs cover around 38% of global terrestrial area, of which only 24% is currently covered by existing PAs. To protect more CEZs, we propose three scenarios with conservative, moderate, and ambitious targets, which aim to protect 19, 26, and 43% of global terrestrial area, respectively. These three targets are set for each Convention on Biological Diversity party with spatially explicit CEZs identified, providing valuable decision support for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yang
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Cao
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyu Hou
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Qinyi Peng
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoshan Wang
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyi Wang
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Tz-Hsuan Tseng
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Le Yu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Education Ecological Field Station for East Asian Migratory Birds, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Steve Carver
- Wildland Research Institute, School of Geography, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Ian Convery
- Centre for National Parks and Protected Areas, University of Cumbria, Cumbria, UK
| | - Zhicong Zhao
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Shen
- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaomin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing Science, Aerospace Information Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Han Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Education Ecological Field Station for East Asian Migratory Birds, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Peng Gong
- Institute for National Parks, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Earth System Modeling, Department of Earth System Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Education Ecological Field Station for East Asian Migratory Birds, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Keping Ma
- Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Jönsson M, Snäll T. Ecosystem service multifunctionality of low‐productivity forests and implications for conservation and management. J Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mari Jönsson
- The Swedish Species Information Centre The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
| | - Tord Snäll
- The Swedish Species Information Centre The Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Uppsala Sweden
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Zhao W, Han Z, Yan X, Zhong J. Land use management based on multi-scenario allocation and trade-offs of ecosystem services in Wafangdian County, Liaoning Province, China. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7673. [PMID: 31576239 PMCID: PMC6752191 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Developing effective methods to coordinate the trade-offs among ecosystem services (ES) is important for achieving inclusive growth and sustainable development, and has been the focus of scholars and ecosystem managers globally. Using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) data, our study examined Wafangdian County of Liaoning Province as a case study to reveal the spatiotemporal evolution of four ES (food supply [FS], net primary productivity [NPP], water yield [WY], and soil conservation [SC]) and changes among their interactions. Then, an ordered weighted averaging model was introduced to simulate the optimal scenario of ES allocation. Results showed that: (1) the spatial and temporal changes in ES were significant over 14 years. All ES presented an inverted U-shaped growth curve from 2000–2014. (2) Synergies were observed within provisioning services, and there were trade-offs between provisioning services and regulating services, as well as provisioning services and supporting services. (3) The optimal scenario for Wafangdian was scenario 5 (trade-off coefficient, 0.68). The allocation of FS, NPP, WY, and SC in scenario 5 were 0.187, 0.427, 0.131, and 0.063, respectively. Implementing each ES weight of optimal scenario in land use management contributed to achieving intercoordination of ES. We propose to coordinate land and sea management to restore natural habitats that were expanded into in the high ES area. It is our anticipation that this study could provide a scientific basis for optimizing the allocation of ES and improving land use structure of coastal zones in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhen Zhao
- Liaoning Normal University, Urban and Environmental college, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Zenglin Han
- Liaoning Normal University, Urban and Environmental college, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.,Liaoning Normal University, Center for Studies of Marine Economy and Sustainable Development, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xiaolu Yan
- Liaoning Normal University, Center for Studies of Marine Economy and Sustainable Development, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.,Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Applied Ecology, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jingqiu Zhong
- Liaoning Normal University, Center for Studies of Marine Economy and Sustainable Development, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China
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Meng Y, Liu M, Guan X, Liu W. Comprehensive evaluation of ecological compensation effect in the Xiaohong River Basin, China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:7793-7803. [PMID: 30680682 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04208-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Due to the complexity of ecological compensation standards and methods, some problems cannot be expected before compensation, but the evaluation of eco-compensation effect can feedback the implementation effect of eco-compensation policies and provide reference for the improvement of eco-compensation policies. This paper constructed a comprehensive evaluation index system of eco-compensation, which covered social and economic development, pollution discharge and monitoring, and pollution treatment aspects. An eco-compensation comprehensive evaluation model was established, which consisted of the projection pursuit model (PP model) and the chaotic particle swarm optimization algorithm (CPSO algorithm). The Xiaohong River Basin in China was selected as a case study. Before and after the implementation of eco-compensation policy, the compensation effects in the four counties in the basin from 2008 to 2015 were evaluated. The results showed that through the implementation of the basin eco-compensation policies, the comprehensive indicators in the four counties showed an upward trend, which indicated that the eco-compensation of the basin had achieved certain effects. Among them, Xincai was the best, and could provide reference for other counties. The research results can provide new ideas and new methods for the evaluation of eco-compensation effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Meng
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China
| | - Meng Liu
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China
| | - Xinjian Guan
- School of Water Conservancy and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, China.
| | - Wenkang Liu
- China Water Resources Beifang Investigation, Design and Research Co. Ltd, Tianjin, 300222, China
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Schröter M, Kraemer R, Ceauşu S, Rusch GM. Incorporating threat in hotspots and coldspots of biodiversity and ecosystem services. AMBIO 2017; 46:756-768. [PMID: 28503701 PMCID: PMC5622886 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-017-0922-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Spatial prioritization could help target conservation actions directed to maintain both biodiversity and ecosystem services. We delineate hotspots and coldspots of two biodiversity conservation features and five regulating and cultural services by incorporating an indicator of 'threat', i.e. timber harvest profitability for forest areas in Telemark (Norway). We found hotspots, where high values of biodiversity, ecosystem services and threat coincide, ranging from 0.1 to 7.1% of the area, depending on varying threshold levels. Targeting of these areas for conservation follows reactive conservation approaches. In coldspots, high biodiversity and ecosystem service values coincide with low levels of threat, and cover 0.1-3.4% of the forest area. These areas might serve proactive conservation approaches at lower opportunity cost (foregone timber harvest profits). We conclude that a combination of indicators of biodiversity, ecosystem services and potential threat is an appropriate approach for spatial prioritization of proactive and reactive conservation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schröter
- Department of Ecosystem Services, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roland Kraemer
- Department of Ecosystem Services, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Silvia Ceauşu
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Am Kirchtor 1, 06108 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Graciela M. Rusch
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), PO Box 5685, Sluppen, 7485 Trondheim, Norway
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Abstract
Clearing wild forests to grow food, fibre, and fuel products can deliver large financial gains. However, the benefits that people obtain from forests—known as ecosystem services—are rarely considered in economic calculations, partly because there are few markets onto which they can be traded. In some regions, the benefits delivered by nature might be more economically valuable. A new study maps where it is profitable to replace tropical forests with cropland and how this might change under future agricultural production and carbon prices. The findings address a major applied challenge by helping to identify sites where forest conservation can be economically viable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J. Tanentzap
- Ecosystems and Global Change Group, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Rodríguez A, Kouki J. Disturbance-mediated heterogeneity drives pollinator diversity in boreal managed forest ecosystems. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:589-602. [PMID: 27862547 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Intensive forest management, together with fire suppression, have decreased structural complexity and altered dynamics of boreal forests profoundly. Such management threatens forest biodiversity and can reduce the provision of ecosystem services. Although the importance of ecosystem services is widely acknowledged, conservation strategies are hindered by poor knowledge about diversity patterns of service provider species as well as on mechanisms affecting these assemblages at different spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we assessed the effect of disturbance management on forest pollinator communities. To do so, we used a large-scale ecological experiment conducted in the year 2000, where forest complexity was manipulated with different harvest regimes and prescribed fire. Results were consistent with a positive response of pollinators to increasing habitat heterogeneity driven by past disturbances. Harvested sites harbored a diverse pollinator community, and showed higher spatial and temporal turnover in species richness. Conversely, old-growth forest communities were a nested subset of harvested sites and contained half of their total diversity. Variation in community composition (β diversity) was primarily affected by species temporal turnover. Throughout the season, β diversity was controlled by fire and harvesting legacies, which provide environmental heterogeneity in the form of flowering and nesting resources over space and time. Conservation strategies may undervalue ecosystem services in dynamic, naturally disturbance-driven, landscapes when relying solely on undisturbed forests areas. However, maintaining natural dynamics in early successional forests, by emulating natural disturbances at harvesting, hold promise for the conservation of both biodiversity and ecosystem services in boreal forests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Rodríguez
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, Joensuu, FI-80101, Finland
| | - Jari Kouki
- School of Forest Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistokatu 7, P.O. Box 111, Joensuu, FI-80101, Finland
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Cheok J, Pressey RL, Weeks R, Andréfouët S, Moloney J. Sympathy for the Devil: Detailing the Effects of Planning-Unit Size, Thematic Resolution of Reef Classes, and Socioeconomic Costs on Spatial Priorities for Marine Conservation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164869. [PMID: 27829042 PMCID: PMC5102401 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial data characteristics have the potential to influence various aspects of prioritising biodiversity areas for systematic conservation planning. There has been some exploration of the combined effects of size of planning units and level of classification of physical environments on the pattern and extent of priority areas. However, these data characteristics have yet to be explicitly investigated in terms of their interaction with different socioeconomic cost data during the spatial prioritisation process. We quantify the individual and interacting effects of three factors—planning-unit size, thematic resolution of reef classes, and spatial variability of socioeconomic costs—on spatial priorities for marine conservation, in typical marine planning exercises that use reef classification maps as a proxy for biodiversity. We assess these factors by creating 20 unique prioritisation scenarios involving combinations of different levels of each factor. Because output data from these scenarios are analogous to ecological data, we applied ecological statistics to determine spatial similarities between reserve designs. All three factors influenced prioritisations to different extents, with cost variability having the largest influence, followed by planning-unit size and thematic resolution of reef classes. The effect of thematic resolution on spatial design depended on the variability of cost data used. In terms of incidental representation of conservation objectives derived from finer-resolution data, scenarios prioritised with uniform cost outperformed those prioritised with variable cost. Following our analyses, we make recommendations to help maximise the spatial and cost efficiency and potential effectiveness of future marine conservation plans in similar planning scenarios. We recommend that planners: employ the smallest planning-unit size practical; invest in data at the highest possible resolution; and, when planning across regional extents with the intention of incidentally representing fine-resolution features, prioritise the whole region with uniform costs rather than using coarse-resolution data on variable costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Cheok
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4811
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4811
- * E-mail:
| | - Robert L. Pressey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4811
| | - Rebecca Weeks
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4811
| | - Serge Andréfouët
- UMR-9220 ENTROPIE, (Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Université de la Réunion, CNRS), Laboratoire d’Excellence CORAIL, Noumea, New Caledonia
| | - James Moloney
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 4811
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Bernasconi P, Blumentrath S, Barton DN, Rusch GM, Romeiro AR. Constraining Forest Certificate's Market to Improve Cost-Effectiveness of Biodiversity Conservation in São Paulo State, Brazil. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164850. [PMID: 27780220 PMCID: PMC5079756 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The recently launched Brazilian “forest certificates” market is expected to reduce environmental compliance costs for landowners through an offset mechanism, after a long history of conservation laws based in command-and-control and strict rules. In this paper we assessed potential costs and evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the instrument when introducing to this market constraints that aim to address conservation objectives more specifically. Using the conservation planning software Marxan with Zones we simulated different scopes for the “forest certificates” market, and compared their cost-effectiveness with that of existing command-and-control (C&C), i.e. compliance to the Legal Reserve on own property, in the state of São Paulo. The simulations showed a clear potential of the constrained “forest certificates” market to improve conservation effectiveness and increase cost-effectiveness on allocation of Legal Reserves. Although the inclusion of an additional constraint of targeting the BIOTA Conservation Priority Areas doubled the cost (+95%) compared with a “free trade” scenario constrained only by biome, this option was still 50% less costly than the baseline scenario of compliance with Legal Reserve at the property.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Bernasconi
- Institute of Economics—University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV), Cuiabá, Brazil
- * E-mail:
| | | | - David N. Barton
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Ademar R. Romeiro
- Institute of Economics—University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Fellow of the Brazilian National Council of Scientific Research—CNPq, Brasília, Brazil
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Kukkala AS, Moilanen A. Ecosystem services and connectivity in spatial conservation prioritization. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2016; 32:5-14. [PMID: 32336879 PMCID: PMC7154789 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-016-0446-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Spatial conservation prioritization (SCP) concerns, for example, identification of spatial priorities for biodiversity conservation or for impact avoidance in economic development. Software useable for SCP include Marxan, C-Plan and Zonation. SCP is often based on data about the distributions of biodiversity features (e.g., species, habitats), costs, threats, and/or ecosystem services (ES). OBJECTIVES AND METHODS At simplest ES can be entered into a SCP analysis as independent supply maps, but this is not very satisfactory because connectivity requirements and consequent ideal spatial priority patterns may vary between ES. Therefore, we examine different ES and their connectivity requirements at the conceptual level. RESULTS We find that the ideal spatial priority pattern for ES may differ in terms of: local supply area size and regional network requirements for the maintenance of ES provision, for flow between provision and demand, and with respect to the degree of dispersion that is needed for ES provision and access across different administrative regions. We then identify existing technical options in the Zonation software for dealing with such connectivity requirements of ES in SCP. CONCLUSIONS This work helps users of SCP to improve how ES are accounted for in analysis together with biodiversity and other considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aija S. Kukkala
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, PO Box 68, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Atte Moilanen
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, PO Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland
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15
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Ager AA, Day MA, Vogler K. Production possibility frontiers and socioecological tradeoffs for restoration of fire adapted forests. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2016; 176:157-168. [PMID: 27033166 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2015] [Revised: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We used spatial optimization to analyze alternative restoration scenarios and quantify tradeoffs for a large, multifaceted restoration program to restore resiliency to forest landscapes in the western US. We specifically examined tradeoffs between provisional ecosystem services, fire protection, and the amelioration of key ecological stressors. The results revealed that attainment of multiple restoration objectives was constrained due to the joint spatial patterns of ecological conditions and socioeconomic values. We also found that current restoration projects are substantially suboptimal, perhaps the result of compromises in the collaborative planning process used by federal planners, or operational constraints on forest management activities. The juxtaposition of ecological settings with human values generated sharp tradeoffs, especially with respect to community wildfire protection versus generating revenue to support restoration and fire protection activities. The analysis and methods can be leveraged by ongoing restoration programs in many ways including: 1) integrated prioritization of restoration activities at multiple scales on public and adjoining private lands, 2) identification and mapping of conflicts between ecological restoration and socioeconomic objectives, 3) measuring the efficiency of ongoing restoration projects compared to the optimal production possibility frontier, 4) consideration of fire transmission among public and private land parcels as a prioritization metric, and 5) finding socially optimal regions along the production frontier as part of collaborative restoration planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan A Ager
- USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, 5775 US Highway 10W, Missoula, MT 59808, USA.
| | - Michelle A Day
- Oregon State University, College of Forestry, Forest Ecosystems & Society, 321 Richardson Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Kevin Vogler
- Oregon State University, College of Forestry, Forest Engineering, Resources & Management, 043 Peavy Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
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16
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Remme RP, Schröter M. Effects of budget constraints on conservation network design for biodiversity and ecosystem services. ECOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecocom.2016.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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17
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Schröter M, Remme RP. Spatial prioritisation for conserving ecosystem services: comparing hotspots with heuristic optimisation. LANDSCAPE ECOLOGY 2016; 31:431-450. [PMID: 26843784 PMCID: PMC4722056 DOI: 10.1007/s10980-015-0258-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT The variation in spatial distribution between ecosystem services can be high. Hence, there is a need to spatially identify important sites for conservation planning. The term 'ecosystem service hotspot' has often been used for this purpose, but definitions of this term are ambiguous. OBJECTIVES We review and classify methods to spatially delineate hotspots. We test how spatial configuration of hotspots for a set of ecosystem services differs depending on the applied method. We compare the outcomes to a heuristic site prioritisation approach (Marxan). METHODS The four tested hotspot methods are top richest cells, spatial clustering, intensity, and richness. In a conservation scenario we set a target of conserving 10 % of the quantity of five regulating and cultural services for the forest area of Telemark county, Norway. RESULTS Spatial configuration of selected areas as retrieved by the four hotspots and Marxan differed considerably. Pairwise comparisons were at the lower end of the scale of the Kappa statistic (0.11-0.27). The outcomes also differed considerably in mean target achievement, cost-effectiveness in terms of land-area needed per unit target achievement and compactness in terms of edge-to-area ratio. CONCLUSIONS An ecosystem service hotspot can refer to either areas containing high values of one service or areas with multiple services. Differences in spatial configuration among hotspot methods can lead to uncertainties for decision-making. This also has consequences for analysing the spatial co-occurrence of hotspots of multiple services and of services and biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Schröter
- />Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
- />Department of Ecosystem Services, UFZ – Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- />German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Platz 5e, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Roy P. Remme
- />Environmental Systems Analysis Group, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
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18
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Prioritization of Forest Restoration Projects: Tradeoffs between Wildfire Protection, Ecological Restoration and Economic Objectives. FORESTS 2015. [DOI: 10.3390/f6124375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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