Flood Regulating Ecosystem Services—Mapping and Assessment Tool Based on ArcSWAT Output Data

Abstract. Ecosystem accounting is an emerging field that aims to provide a consistent approach to analysing environment-economy interactions. In spite of the progress made in mapping and quantifying hydrological ecosystem services, several key issues must be addressed if ecohydrological modelling approaches are to be aligned with ecosystem accounting. They include modelling hydrological ecosystem services with adequate spatiotemporal detail and accuracy at aggregated scales to support ecosystem accounting, distinguishing between service capacity and service flow, and linking ecohydrological processes to the supply of dependent hydrological ecosystem services. We present a spatially explicit approach, which is consistent with ecosystem accounting, for mapping and quantifying service capacity and service flow of multiple hydrological ecosystem services. A grid-based setup of a modified Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT), SWAT Landscape, is first used to simulate the watershed ecohydrology. Model outputs are then post-processed to map and quantify hydrological ecosystem services and to set up biophysical ecosystem accounts. Trend analysis statistical tests are conducted on service capacity accounts to track changes in the potential to provide service flows. Ecohydrological modelling to support ecosystem accounting requires appropriate decisions regarding model process inclusion, physical and mathematical representation, spatial heterogeneity, temporal resolution, and model accuracy. We demonstrate this approach in the Upper Ouémé watershed in Benin. Our analyses show that integrating hydrological ecosystem services in an ecosystem accounting framework provides relevant information on ecosystems and hydrological ecosystem services at appropriate scales suitable for decision-making. Our analyses further identify priority areas important for maintaining hydrological ecosystem services as well as trends in hydrological ecosystem services supply over time.

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Ecosystem services' mapping in data-poor coastal areas: Which are the monitoring priorities?

Ocean & Coastal Management ◽

10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2017.11.021 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 153 ◽

pp. 168-175 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Silvia Rova ◽

Roberto Pastres ◽

Matteo Zucchetta ◽

Fabio Pranovi

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Coastal Areas ◽

Ecosystem Services Mapping

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Mapping Ecosystem Services for Marine Planning: A UK Case Study

Resources ◽

10.3390/resources9040040 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 40 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emmanouil Tyllianakis ◽

Lenka Fronkova ◽

Paulette Posen ◽

Tiziana Luisetti ◽

Stephen Mangi Chai

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Oxygen Depletion ◽

Fishing Effort ◽

Marine Management ◽

Mapping Tool ◽

Ecosystem Services Mapping ◽

The Uk ◽

Marine Planning

This study presents an ecosystem-services-mapping tool that calculates the monetary value of several ecosystem services (ES) provided from an area comprising both MPAs (Marine Protected Areas) and non-managed areas. Findings in the UK South West Marine Management Organisation (MMO) Plan Area show that different MPAs yield high value estimates and that activities are grouped in certain areas, with the Severn Estuary and surrounding Site(s) of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) attracting the most recreational anglers, despite having lower water quality. This can be explained by increased nutrient levels, which enhance biological activity and yet do not cause oxygen depletion. The yearly value of the ecosystem service of carbon sequestration and storage in the area is estimated between £16 and £62 thousand. Proximity to large urban areas and shallow waters appear to be the most appealing factors for anglers, while proximity with France can be associated with the high fishing effort in the southwest of the study area. We show that the use of a tool integrating a willingness-to-pay function with high spatial resolution layers and associated monetary values can be used for short-term marine spatial planning and management.

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The utilization of ecosystem services mapping in land use planning: the experience of LIFE SAM4CP project

Journal of Environmental Planning and Management ◽

10.1080/09640568.2019.1598341 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 523-545 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Stefano Salata ◽

Carolina Giaimo ◽

Carlo Alberto Barbieri ◽

Gabriele Garnero

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Land Use Planning ◽

Ecosystem Services Mapping

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Using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to Assess Material Transfer in the Layawan Watershed, Mindanao, Philippines and Its Implications on Payment for Ecosystem Services

Journal of Sustainable Development ◽

10.5539/jsd.v6n6p73 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 6 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Leo Kris M. Palao ◽

Moises M. Dorado ◽

Kharmina Paola A. Anit ◽

Rodel D. Lasco

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Payment For Ecosystem Services ◽

Material Transfer ◽

Water Assessment ◽

Soil And Water

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Minimum forest cover required for sustainable water flow regulation of a watershed: a case study in Jambi Province, Indonesia

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-22-581-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 581-594 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Suria Tarigan ◽

Kerstin Wiegand ◽

Bejo Slamet ◽

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Water Flow ◽

Oil Palm ◽

Forest Cover ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Elaeis Guineensis ◽

Swat Model ◽

Rapid Expansion ◽

Control Surface ◽

Direct Runoff

Abstract. In many tropical regions, the rapid expansion of monoculture plantations has led to a sharp decline in forest cover, potentially degrading the ability of watersheds to regulate water flow. Therefore, regional planners need to determine the minimum proportion of forest cover that is required to support adequate ecosystem services in these watersheds. However, to date, there has been little research on this issue, particularly in tropical areas where monoculture plantations are expanding at an alarming rate. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the influence of forest cover and oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) plantations on the partitioning of rainfall into direct runoff and subsurface flow in a humid, tropical watershed in Jambi Province, Indonesia. To do this, we simulated streamflow with a calibrated Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model and observed several watersheds to derive the direct runoff coefficient (C) and baseflow index (BFI). The model had a strong performance, with Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values of 0.80–0.88 (calibration) and 0.80–0.85 (validation) and percent bias values of −2.9–1.2 (calibration) and 7.0–11.9 (validation). We found that the percentage of forest cover in a watershed was significantly negatively correlated with C and significantly positively correlated with BFI, whereas the rubber and oil palm plantation cover showed the opposite pattern. Our findings also suggested that at least 30 % of the forest cover was required in the study area for sustainable ecosystem services. This study provides new adjusted crop parameter values for monoculture plantations, particularly those that control surface runoff and baseflow processes, and it also describes the quantitative association between forest cover and flow indicators in a watershed, which will help regional planners in determining the minimum proportion of forest and the maximum proportion of plantation to ensure that a watershed can provide adequate ecosystem services.

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Towards ecosystem accounting: a comprehensive approach to modelling multiple hydrological ecosystem services

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-19-4377-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 19 (10) ◽

pp. 4377-4396 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

C. Duku ◽

H. Rathjens ◽

S. J. Zwart ◽

L. Hein

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Mathematical Representation ◽

Test Case ◽

Spatial Estimates ◽

Ecosystem Accounting ◽

Set Up ◽

Landscape Units

Abstract. Ecosystem accounting is an emerging field that aims to provide a consistent approach to analysing environment–economy interactions. One of the specific features of ecosystem accounting is the distinction between the capacity and the flow of ecosystem services. Ecohydrological modelling to support ecosystem accounting requires considering among others physical and mathematical representation of ecohydrological processes, spatial heterogeneity of the ecosystem, temporal resolution, and required model accuracy. This study examines how a spatially explicit ecohydrological model can be used to analyse multiple hydrological ecosystem services in line with the ecosystem accounting framework. We use the Upper Ouémé watershed in Benin as a test case to demonstrate our approach. The Soil Water and Assessment Tool (SWAT), which has been configured with a grid-based landscape discretization and further enhanced to simulate water flow across the discretized landscape units, is used to simulate the ecohydrology of the Upper Ouémé watershed. Indicators consistent with the ecosystem accounting framework are used to map and quantify the capacities and the flows of multiple hydrological ecosystem services based on the model outputs. Biophysical ecosystem accounts are subsequently set up based on the spatial estimates of hydrological ecosystem services. In addition, we conduct trend analysis statistical tests on biophysical ecosystem accounts to identify trends in changes in the capacity of the watershed ecosystems to provide service flows. We show that the integration of hydrological ecosystem services into an ecosystem accounting framework provides relevant information on ecosystems and hydrological ecosystem services at appropriate scales suitable for decision-making.

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ASSESSMENT OF THE VALUE OF PROTECTED AREAS IN SERBIA, ON THE EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION OF PA-BAT METHOD AND TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

5th International Thematic Monograph: Modern Management Tools and Economy of Tourism Sector in Present Era - International Thematic Monograph: Modern Management Tools and Economy of Tourism Sector in Present Era ◽

10.31410/tmt.2020.285 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 285-299

Author(s):

Milica Dobričić ◽

◽

Goran Sekulić ◽

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Special Reference ◽

Protected Areas ◽

National Parks ◽

Protected Area ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Tourism Development ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Methods Of Evaluation ◽

Range Of Values

This chapter discusses the importance of evaluating ecosystem services by showcasing the Protected Areas Benefit Assessment Tool (PA-BAT), which has been applied in seven Dinaric Arc countries, and has gathered information on a range of values and benefits that protected areas provide. The PA-BAT results presented here include data for protected areas in Serbia (national parks Tara, Djerdap, Fruška gora and Kopaonik, Landscape of exceptional features of Vlasina and Special Nature Reserve of the Upper Danube) and economic assessment of 22 protected area values with special reference to tourism and recreation. This chapter gives a brief overview of other analyzes and initiatives for assessing the value of ecosystem services related to protected areas in Serbia. This chapter aims to contribute to a better understanding and promotion of the concept of ecosystem services in tourism and other sectors using PA-BAT and other methods of evaluation of protected area services.

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Modelling Hydrological Ecosystem Services – A state of the art model comparison

10.5194/hess-2017-436 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Anna Lüke ◽

Jochen Hack

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Ecosystem Service ◽

Service Provision ◽

Input Data ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

Simulation Models ◽

Service Models ◽

Water Assessment ◽

Soil And Water

Abstract. Different simulation models are used in science and practice in order to incorporate hydrological ecosystem services in decision-making processes. This contribution compares three simulation models, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, a traditional hydrological model, and two ecosystem services models, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs model and the Resource Investment Optimization System model. The three models are compared on a theoretical and conceptual basis as well in a comparative case study application. The application of the models to a study area in Nicaragua reveals that a practical benefit to apply these models for different questions in decision-making generally exists. However, modelling of hydrological ecosystem services is associated with a high application effort and requires input data that may not always be available. The degree of detail in temporal and spatial variability in ecosystem service provision is higher when using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool compared to the two ecosystem service models. In contrast, the ecosystem service models have lower requirements on input data and process knowledge. A relationship between service provision and beneficiaries is readily produced and can be visualized as a model output. The latter is especially useful for a practical decision-making context.

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