Practical solutions for bottlenecks in ecosystem services mapping

By

Palomo, Ignacio
Willemen, Louise
Drakou, Evangelia
Burkhard, Benjamin
Crossman, Neville
Bellamy, Chloe
Burkhard, Kremena
Campagne, C. Sylvie
Dangol, Anuja
Franke, Jonas
Kulczyk, Sylwia
Le Clec'H, Solen
Abdul Malak, Dania
Muñoz, Lorena
Narusevicius, Vytautas
Ottoy, Sam
Roelens, Jennifer
Sing, Louise
Thomas, Amy
Van Meerbeek, Koenraad
Verweij, Peter

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018-1-3

Original Publication

One ecosystem : ecology and sustainability data journal

Volume

3

Pages

1--17

Subjects

ecosystem services , mapping , solutions , spatial analysis , sustainability.

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/oneeco.3.e20713

 

Abstract

Ecosystem services (ES) mapping is becoming mainstream in many sustainability assessments, but its impact on real world decision-making is still limited. Robustness, end-user relevance and transparency have been identified as key attributes needed for effective ES mapping. However, these requirements are not always met due to multiple challenges, referred to here as bottlenecks, that scientists, practitioners, policy makers and users from other public and private sectors encounter along the mapping process.<br> A selection of commonly encountered ES mapping bottlenecks that relate to seven themes: i) map-maker map-user interaction; ii) nomenclature and ontologies; iii) skills and background; iv) data and maps availability; v) methods-selection; vi) technical difficulties; and vii) over-simplification of mapping process/output. The authors synthesise the variety of solutions already applied by map-makers and map-users to mitigate or cope with these bottlenecks and discuss the emerging trade-offs amongst different solutions. Tackling the bottlenecks described here is a crucial first step towards more effective ES mapping, which can in turn ensure the adequate impact of ES mapping in decision-making.