Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2026
12:44
Watershed Planning within a Quantitative Scenario Analysis Framework
Published on: July 24, 2016
Integrating ecosystem-service tradeoffs into land-use decisions
Joshua H Goldstein1, Giorgio Caldarone, Thomas Kaeo Duarte
1Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. joshua.goldstein@colostate.edu
Summary
Integrating ecosystem services into land-use planning can balance private and public interests. A Hawaii study shows diversified agriculture and forestry plans offer financial returns while improving carbon storage, despite water quality trade-offs.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Economics
- Land-Use Planning
Background:
- Integrating ecosystem service values into societal decisions is increasingly called for but rarely demonstrated.
- Private landowners face challenges balancing economic development with environmental stewardship.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify ecosystem service values for land-use planning on Hawaii's North Shore.
- To assist Kamehameha Schools in designing a land-use plan balancing private and public interests for ~10,600 ha.
- To evaluate environmental and financial implications of various land-use scenarios.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the InVEST software tool to model ecosystem services.
- Assessed seven contrasting land-use scenarios (biofuels, food crops, forestry, livestock, residential).
- Analyzed trade-offs between carbon storage, water quality, and financial return.
Main Results:
- All evaluated scenarios showed positive financial returns compared to the status quo.
- A diversified agriculture and forestry plan was selected, yielding $10.9 million and a 0.5% carbon storage increase.
- This plan indicated a 15.4% increase in potential nitrogen export, with buffers reducing it to 4.9%.
Conclusions:
- Land-use planning can integrate ecosystem service values to achieve financial and environmental goals.
- Diversified agriculture and forestry support climate mitigation, food security, and rural economic development.
- Demonstrated a practical approach for guiding land-use decisions involving private-public interest trade-offs.
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