Towards nationally harmonized mapping and quantification of ecosystem services.

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Spatial Planning

Background:

• EU 2020 Biodiversity Strategy mandates mapping and valuing ecosystem services for policy integration.
• Existing ecosystem service assessments often lack the spatial and thematic detail needed for effective decision-making.
• National harmonization of ecosystem service models is crucial for meeting policy targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the Natural Capital Model (NC-Model), a spatially-explicit framework for quantifying and mapping ecosystem services in the Netherlands.
• To support the integration of ecosystem services into national spatial planning and policy-making.
• To provide high-resolution data for decision-makers to optimize natural resource allocation and support citizen needs.

Main Methods:

• Development of a spatially-explicit model (NC-Model) using novel combinations of explanatory variables and high-resolution spatial data.
• Inclusion of urban-specific ecosystem service models to address urban-rural heterogeneity.
• Application and demonstration of six urban ecosystem service models for the Municipality of Amsterdam.

Main Results:

• Quantification and mapping of ecosystem services at high resolution for the Municipality of Amsterdam.
• Generation of detailed spatial maps illustrating ecosystem supply and use.
• Demonstration of the interlinkages between natural elements, ecological functions, and socioeconomic well-being.

Conclusions:

• The NC-Model provides detailed spatial information crucial for spatial planners and policymakers.
• The model's open-access nature facilitates customization and knowledge sharing for broader ecosystem service modeling efforts.
• The NC-Model contributes to fulfilling national and international environmental policy targets by integrating ecosystem service values into decision-making.