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Deciphering the uncertainties in ecosystem service value: An innovative protocol focused on ecological traits
Yanzhong Yao1, Changgeng Jia2, Yiting Xue3
1College of Resources and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Journal of Environmental Management
|August 20, 2025
Summary
Ecological traits significantly impact ecosystem service value (ESV) assessments. Understanding these uncertainties is crucial for effective, long-term ecosystem management and conservation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Ecosystem services valuation
- Environmental economics
- Ecological modeling
Background:
- Assessing ecosystem service value (ESV) is growing, but uncertainties from ecological traits remain underexplored.
- Limited research has focused on quantifying the impact of ecological traits on ESV assessment uncertainties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish a novel protocol for capturing uncertainties in ESV assessments stemming from critical ecological traits in China (2000-2020).
- To integrate uncertainty analysis into the ESV assessment framework and analyze the influence of ecological traits.
Main Methods:
- Developed a new protocol to quantify ESV uncertainties linked to ecological traits.
- Applied uncertainty analysis within the ESV assessment framework.
- Analyzed data from China between 2000 and 2020.
Main Results:
- ESV assessments remained robust despite considering ecological traits, ranging from 3716.27 to 3772.00 billion CNY.
- ESV uncertainties decreased by 1.69% in the first decade but increased by 5.64% in the second decade.
- Higher ESV uncertainties were observed in western China compared to eastern regions.
Conclusions:
- Ecological traits, particularly net primary productivity, significantly drive uncertainties in ESV assessments.
- Core ecosystem services (material product, hydrological/climate regulation, soil retention) show high uncertainty levels due to ecological trait influence.
- Findings provide a foundation for integrating ecological traits into long-term ecosystem management practices.
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