Ecosystem Services Mapping
Definition
Ecosystem Services Mapping is the spatial identification and valuation of benefits provided by ecosystems to people, such as water purification, carbon storage, pollination, and recreation. GIS helps quantify, map, and analyze these services to inform sustainable development and policy.
Application
Policy makers use ecosystem services maps to evaluate trade-offs in land use. Planners assess where nature supports livelihoods. Tools like InVEST model services like water retention or nutrient flow. GIS combines biophysical models with socio-economic data to produce service provision maps at local to global scales.
FAQ
1. What are ecosystem services?
The benefits people receive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.
2. What are ecosystem services?
By modeling ecosystem functions spatially and linking them to population or land-use data.
3. What are ecosystem services?
InVEST, ARIES, Co$ting Nature, and GIS software for mapping and valuation.
4. What are ecosystem services?
Planners, environmental economists, conservation NGOs, and development agencies.