Estimating societal benefits from Nordic catchments: An integrative approach using a final ecosystem services...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Economics
• Ecosystem Services Valuation
• Hydrology and Land Management

Background:

• Nordic catchments offer diverse ecosystem services crucial for climate mitigation and recreation.
• Ecosystem service provision is influenced by climate, hydrology, land management, and human population density.

Purpose of the Study:

• Quantify the total economic value (TEV) of consumed ecosystem services in Nordic catchments.
• Identify socio-geographic and natural factors driving variations in ecosystem service value.
• Determine societal groups benefiting from these ecosystem services.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a spatially explicit, integrative framework for ecosystem services quantification.
• Compiled data on final ecosystem services (FES) from six catchments across Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden.
• Employed Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis with spatial data on land use, forest productivity, and population density.

Main Results:

• TEV varied significantly across catchments, from €7,199 ± 4,561 ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in Norway to €183 ± 517 ha⁻¹ y⁻¹ in Finland.
• Material service value correlated with geographic factors and land management; immaterial service value depended on population density and water availability.
• GIS analysis identified hotspots of ecosystem service supply and key beneficiary stakeholder groups.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework is robust across diverse data sources and countries, enabling international comparative analyses.
• Understanding the drivers of ecosystem service value is essential for effective land and water management in Nordic regions.
• The study provides a quantitative basis for policy decisions regarding ecosystem service distribution and societal benefits.