Latest Articles from One Ecosystem Latest 13 Articles from One Ecosystem https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 15:23:22 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from One Ecosystem https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/ Integrating ecosystem services into decision support for management of agroecosystems: Viva Grass tool https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/53504/ One Ecosystem 5: e53504

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.5.e53504

Authors: Ivo Vinogradovs, Miguel Villoslada, Oļģerts Nikodemus, Anda Ruskule, Kristina Veidemane, Justas Gulbinas, Žymantas Morkvenas, Raimonds Kasparinskis, Kalev Sepp, Henri Järv, Jaak Klimask, Anita Zariņa, Guntis Brūmelis, Arvydas Dotas, Audrius Kryžanauskas

Abstract: The area covered by low-input agroecosystems (e.g. semi-natural and permanent grasslands) in Europe has considerably decreased throughout the last century. To support more sustainable management practices, and to promote biodiversity and ecosystem service values of such agroecosystems a decision support tool was developed. The tool aims to enhance the operationalization of ecosystem services and address the challenge of their integration into spatial planning. The Viva Grass tool aims to enhance the maintenance of ecosystem services delivered by low-input agroecosystems. It does so by providing spatially explicit decision support for land-use planning and sustainable management of agroecosystems. The Viva Grass tool is a multi-criteria decision analysis tool for integrated planning. It is designed for farmers, spatial planners and policy makers to support decisions of management of agroecosystems. The tool has been tested to assess spatial planning in eight case studies across the Baltic States.

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Software Description Tue, 1 Dec 2020 12:00:00 +0200
Mapping and assessment of ecosystem condition and ecosystem services across different scales and domains in Europe https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/29288/ One Ecosystem 3: e29288

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e29288

Authors: Stoyan Nedkov, Miglena Zhiyanski, Bilyana Borisova, Svetla Bratanova-Doncheva

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Editorial Wed, 3 Oct 2018 09:36:58 +0300
Mapping and assessing ecosystem services in the EU - Lessons learned from the ESMERALDA approach of integration https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/29153/ One Ecosystem 3: e29153

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e29153

Authors: Benjamin Burkhard, Joachim Maes, Marion Potschin-Young, Fernando Santos-Martín, Davide Geneletti, Pavel Stoev, Leena Kopperoinen, Cristian Adamescu, Blal Adem Esmail, Ildikó Arany, Andy Arnell, Mario Balzan, David N. Barton, Pieter van Beukering, Sabine Bicking, Paulo Borges, Bilyana Borisova, Leon Braat, Luke M Brander, Svetla Bratanova-Doncheva, Steven Broekx, Claire Brown, Constantin Cazacu, Neville Crossman, Bálint Czúcz, Jan Daněk, Rudolf de Groot, Daniel Depellegrin, Panayotis Dimopoulos, Nora Elvinger, Markus Erhard, Nora Fagerholm, Jana Frélichová, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey, Margarita Grudova, Roy Haines-Young, Ola Inghe, Tamas Kallay, Tamara Kirin, Hermann Klug, Ioannis Kokkoris, Iskra Konovska, Marion Kruse, Iliyana Kuzmova, Manfred Lange, Inge Liekens, Alon Lotan, Damian Lowicki, Sandra Luque, Cristina Marta-Pedroso, Andrzej Mizgajski, Laura Mononen, Sara Mulder, Felix Müller, Stoyan Nedkov, Mariana Nikolova, Hannah Östergård, Lyubomir Penev, Paulo Pereira, Kati Pitkänen, Tobias Plieninger, Sven-Erik Rabe, Steffen Reichel, Philip Roche, Graciela Rusch, Anda Ruskule, Anna Sapundzhieva, Kalev Sepp, Ina Sieber, Mateja Šmid Hribar, Simona Stašová, Bastian Steinhoff-Knopp, Małgorzata Stępniewska, Anne Teller, David Vackar, Martine van Weelden, Kristina Veidemane, Henrik Vejre, Petteri Vihervaara, Arto Viinikka, Miguel Villoslada, Bettina Weibel, Grazia Zulian

Abstract: The European Union (EU) Horizon 2020 Coordination and Support Action ESMERALDA aimed at developing guidance and a flexible methodology for Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) to support the EU member states in the implementation of the EU Biodiversity Strategy’s Target 2 Action 5. ESMERALDA’s key tasks included network creation, stakeholder engagement, enhancing ecosystem services mapping and assessment methods across various spatial scales and value domains, work in case studies and support of EU member states in MAES implementation. Thus ESMERALDA aimed at integrating various project outcomes around four major strands: i) Networking, ii) Policy, iii) Research and iv) Application. The objective was to provide guidance for integrated ecosystem service mapping and assessment that can be used for sustainable decision-making in policy, business, society, practice and science at EU, national and regional levels. This article presents the overall ESMERALDA approach of integrating the above-mentioned project components and outcomes and provides an overview of how the enhanced methods were applied and how they can be used to support MAES implementation in the EU member states. Experiences with implementing such a large pan-European Coordination and Support Action in the context of EU policy are discussed and recommendations for future actions are given.

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Short Communication Wed, 5 Sep 2018 14:14:02 +0300
Towards integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystems and their services in Bulgaria: The Central Balkan case study https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/25428/ One Ecosystem 3: e25428

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e25428

Authors: Stoyan Nedkov, Bilyana Borisova, Boian Koulov, Miglena Zhiyanski, Svetla Bratanova-Doncheva, Mariyana Nikolova, Julia Kroumova

Abstract: The aim of the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020 isto maintain and enhance ecosystem services (ES) in Europe and requires all Member States to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in the respective national territories. The EU-funded project ESMERALDA analyses ES mapping and assessment methods and approaches in their biophysical, social and economical perspectives, as well as their application in different case studies. The project also aims at the development of an integrated and consistent assessment framework. In Bulgaria, methodological guides for evaluation and mapping of the services provided by the nine main types of ecosystems have been prepared together with the respective proposals for their implementation in the national assessment. The Bulgarian research team analyses and tests various aspects of ecosystem services mapping and assessment, such as alternative economic assessments, multi-criteria analyses and biophysical assessment approaches, mapping challenges and local population surveys. In this paper paper, we review the ES activities in Bulgaria and present selected mapping and assessment methods tested in the Central Balkan case study area. It provides relevant examples for the implementation of integrated mapping and assessment of ecosystem services at local and regional level, where different mapping approaches and techniques are embedded within diverse policy contexts. The main goal of the study is to investigate how the assessment results can support the integration of the ecological functions of the Central Balkan National Park with the economic opportunities that it creates for the local and regional communities. A tiered approach has been used to organise the mapping and assessment exercises in the study area, in order to meet the needs for integrated ecosystem assessment and overcome the limitations of data availability. At tier 1, the study performs identification and initial ES mapping of the whole area. At tier 2, it applies economic valuation for the Municipality of Karlovo by using statistical data and the contingent valuation method. At tier 3, the investigation applies modelling methods to assess carbon storage and flood regulation on a larger scale. The results are presented in the form of maps at all levels, which use a uniform 0 to 5 assessment scale. The integrated approach presented here ensures a clear communication of the end results to the respective decision-makers.

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Case Study Mon, 11 Jun 2018 09:39:32 +0300
Assessing urban recreation ecosystem services through the use of geocache visitation and preference data: a case-study from an urbanised island environment https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/24490/ One Ecosystem 3: e24490

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e24490

Authors: Mario V Balzan, Iain Debono

Abstract: Recreation is an important cultural ecosystem service and is one way in which communities experience the direct and indirect benefits arising from the experiential use of their environment. The recent rise in popularity of Global Positioning System (GPS) game applications, which combine information technology with an activity that increases mobility and encourages outdoor enjoyment, provides ecosystem service practitioners with an opportunity to make use of this georeferenced data to assess recreational ecosystem services. Geocaching is one such worldwide outdoor game. It has fixed points of incursion where people can hide and look for caches. This study explores the possibility of using geocaching data as a proxy for recreational ecosystems services in the Maltese Islands. A quantitative analysis of the georeferenced caches was used together with their visit rates and number of favourite points. This was supplemented by two questionnaires that investigated the preferences and experiences of both geocache placers (n=39) and hunters (n=21). Results show that the highest number of caches were placed and searched for in urban areas and that geocaching is strongly associated with the presence and accessibility of urban green infrastructure. The number of geocachers who stated preference for experiences in nature did not translate into high visit rates to sites of high conservation value (protected areas) but landscape value was significantly associated with recreational ecosystem services flow. The results presented here provide evidence that geocaching spatial data can act as an indicator for assessing and mapping recreational ecosystem services in urban environments and in cultural landscapes.

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Research Article Tue, 5 Jun 2018 15:31:50 +0300
On the importance of a broad stakeholder network for developing a credible, salient and legitimate tiered approach for assessing ecosystem services https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/25470/ One Ecosystem 3: e25470

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e25470

Authors: Bettina Weibel, Sven-Erik Rabe, Benjamin Burkhard, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey

Abstract: As the concept of ecosystem services is being operationalised and implemented in policies, a better guidance on the selection of suitable methods for ecosystem services mapping and assessment is needed to allow more sound, transparent and comparable processes. A vast range of assessments focusing on different sets of ecosystem services at various scales is existing and the applied methods cover different disciplines from ecology to economy and social sciences. This complicates the assessment of single or bundles of ecosystem services across spatio-temporal scales and requires a broad expertise. A tiered approach for ecosystem services assessment allows selecting the appropriate application of a certain method for tackling a specific question at a given scale. In this publication, we illustrate how the EU H2020 project ESMERALDA supported the development of such a tiered approach for assessing ecosystem services. The iterative exchanges between experienced researchers and practitioners in mapping and assessing ecosystem services in various contexts allowed the co-production of an approach to guide the choice of methods. Ultimately, the proposed tiered approach will not only support communication of the ecosystem services concept, but will also reduce the tendency for selecting an unsuitable approach for solving complex problems linked to ecosystem services-based resource management.

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Short Communication Thu, 24 May 2018 13:42:17 +0300
Data on and methodology for measurements of microclimate and matter dynamics in transition zones between forest and adjacent arable land https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/24295/ One Ecosystem 3: e24295

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e24295

Authors: Martin Schmidt, Gunnar Lischeid, Claas Nendel

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Data Paper (Generic) Wed, 9 May 2018 14:24:36 +0300
Characterising the rural-urban gradient through the participatory mapping of ecosystem services: insights for landscape planning https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/24487/ One Ecosystem 3: e24487

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e24487

Authors: Sara Palomo-Campesino, Ignacio Palomo, Javier Moreno, José González

Abstract: The application of the ecosystem services (ES) framework in landscape planning has become particularly relevant in rural-urban gradients since it allows for the integration of the complex interactions between ES supply and demand. This framework might be a powerful tool to inform landscape planning and decision-making intended to maintain the current and future flow of ES. In this study, we developed a process of participatory mapping of ES in a rural-urban gradient in southern Spain, which comprises the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Granada valley and the city of Granada. First, we interviewed 21 key stakeholders from different professional sectors and gradient zones. These stakeholders prioritised nine ES in terms of their importance for local human well-being and their vulnerability to current drivers of change. Then, a workshop was organised in which 23 local actors shared their experience and knowledge regarding ES in the studied landscape. Sorted into five groups (composed of stakeholders with different profiles), the participants spatially mapped the most important supply and demand areas for the nine ES previously prioritised. The results show that the city of Granada has a very high demand for ES and a very low supply, while the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the valley of Granada appear to be very important ES supply areas. According to 95% of the stakeholders that attended the workshop, participatory mapping of ES is a very important (69%) or an important (26%) methodology to elicit the views and perceptions of the population, to identify the main conflicts and potential solutions for the territory and to visualise the high dependence of urban areas on the ES provided by adjacent rural areas. Our results also highlight the importance of incorporating the analysis of ES flows to inform landscape planning at the regional scale. Participatory mapping of ES can enhance decision-making regarding the maintenance of human well-being and the sustainability of social-ecological systems.

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Methods Wed, 2 May 2018 11:37:16 +0300
An operational framework for integrated Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/22831/ One Ecosystem 3: e22831

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e22831

Authors: Benjamin Burkhard, Fernando Santos-Martin, Stoyan Nedkov, Joachim Maes

Abstract: Mapping and Assessment of Ecosystems and their Services (MAES) are central to the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020. Action 5 of the Strategy’s second target asks all EU member states to map and assess the state of ecosystems and their services in their national territories. Such comprehensive mapping and assessment builds on several individual tasks and their systematic integration. Therefore, an integrated and operational framework is needed, supporting and coordinating these activities. The presented framework builds on existing work done by the European Commission’s MAES Working Group and provides a clear nine-step approach including the identification of relevant questions or themes to be addressed, identification and mapping of ecosystem types, ecosystem condition and ecosystem services, their integration and dissemination of results. This framework can be used to set-up related research and development initiatives and to guide involved scientists, decision-makers and practitioners through the different steps and related tasks of the process.

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Short Communication Wed, 14 Mar 2018 09:45:49 +0200
Assessment and mapping the dynamics of soil properties in selected forest stands from the region of Central Balkan National Park in the context of ecosystem services https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/23156/ One Ecosystem 3: e23156

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e23156

Authors: Rositsa Yaneva, Miglena Zhiyanski, Ivailo Markoff, Maria Sokolovska, Stoyan Nedkov

Abstract: Forests set natural conditions and embody a repository of biological diversity that represents a myriad of ecosystem services for human well-being. The spatial patterns and the forest ecosystems’ dynamics over time make the forests of particular environmental significance for the provision of ecosystem services. The terrestrial biodiversity and the sustainable management strategies' demand for mapping and assessment of the dynamics for the condition of forest ecosystems by drawing attention to the soil properties. In order to take on that task, the data series obtained by the International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests (ICP Forests) for the period 1986–2016 were found as appropriate quantitative indicators that convey information about the ecosystem’s capacity to provide certain regulating ecosystem services. The ICP Forests Level I sites, located in the Central Balkan region, provide consistent information, which is collected on a regular basis about observed forest stands. The primary focus of the present research is to conduct a biophysical assessment of the forest ecosystems and to define their overall condition regarding two time series – the periods 1992/1993 and 2015. This study attempts to introduce an innovative approach and aims at linking the existing ICP Forests network dataset with the ecosystem services concept and the identified spatial units from the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) polygons for the territory of Central Balkan National Park. On this basis and through the implementation of GIS techniques, the dynamics of soil properties in selected forest ecosystems was analysed with regard to their capacity to supply relevant ecosystems services, which were assessed and mapped. The biophysical data provides robust information on the ecosystem services and the results show the variations in the capacity of different forest sub-types to provide ecosystem services within a well-defined land cover unit. Additionally, the research work intended to review the generated outcomes with reference to the DPSIR (driver-pressure-state-impact-response) method by giving feedback on the changes in the terrestrial ecosystems in the last 25 years. Further application of the mapping approach in assisting the communication in the decision- making process is also discussed.

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Research Article Wed, 21 Feb 2018 14:36:34 +0200
Ecosystem services mapping for municipal policy: ESTIMAP and zoning for urban beekeeping https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/14014/ One Ecosystem 2: e14014

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.2.e14014

Authors: Erik Stange, Grazia Zulian, Graciela Rusch, David Barton, Megan Nowell

Abstract: Pollinating insects are an integral part of cities’ natural capital and perform an important ecosystem function with a high degree of relevance to many cultural ecosystem services. Consequently, pollinators serve as a useful proxy for assessing urban biodiversity. Beekeeping has recently emerged as a popular activity in many urban areas and a good deal of the motivation for urban beekeeping for many stems from the cultural and non-consumptive aspects of beekeeping. Yet the recent increases in domestic honeybee densities in urban landscapes has raised concern regarding the potential threat that honeybees might pose to local populations of threatened bumblebee and solitary bee species. This issue constitutes a trade-off between the cultural ecosystem services associated with urban beekeeping and the regulation and maintenance ecosystem services of maintaining nursery populations of rare and threatened species. Municipal authorities in Oslo, Norway have proposed establishing eight “precautionary zones”, within which placement of honeybee hives could be more strictly regulated. We propose a mapping and assessment approach for informing zoning decisions regarding urban honeybees, utilising a model of an urban landscape’s biophysical capacity to support pollinating insects (ESTIMAP). Together with an additional model describing the approximate distrubtion of honeybees in Oslo, we identify areas in the city where domestic honeybees may be more likely to exhaust floral resources. This case also tests the policy relevance of ecosystem service mapping tools beyond awareness raising, with broader general lessons for ecosystem mapping and assessment .

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Research Article Thu, 23 Nov 2017 09:46:57 +0200
Mapping the dependency of crops on pollinators in Belgium https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/13738/ One Ecosystem 2: e13738

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.2.e13738

Authors: Floriane Jacquemin, Cyrille Violle, Pierre Rasmont, Marc Dufrêne

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Ecosystem Service Mapping Wed, 26 Jul 2017 11:05:07 +0300
Priority areas in municipality planning: ecosystem services, environmental impact assessments and research areas https://oneecosystem.pensoft.net/article/9869/ One Ecosystem 1: e9869

DOI: 10.3897/oneeco.1.e9869

Authors: Thomas Palo, Karen Lagercrantz, Torleif Bramryd, Michael Johansson, Thomas Beery, K Jönsson, Christine Wamsler, Ebba Brink, Per Schubert, Nils Ekelund

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Research Article Tue, 29 Nov 2016 09:56:11 +0200