March 16, 2010 | C. Raudsepp-Hearne, G. D. Peterson, and E. M. Bennett
This study presents a framework for analyzing tradeoffs among multiple ecosystem services across landscapes, using empirical evidence of ecosystem service bundles. The research focuses on a mixed-use landscape in Quebec, Canada, consisting of 137 municipalities, and identifies six types of ecosystem service bundles that are spatially clustered and linked to distinct social-ecological dynamics. These bundles represent combinations of ecosystem services that frequently occur together in specific areas of the landscape. The study finds that there are significant tradeoffs between provisioning ecosystem services (e.g., food and timber) and regulating and cultural services (e.g., nutrient cycling, flood protection, and tourism). Additionally, it shows that a greater diversity of ecosystem services is positively correlated with the provision of regulating services.
The analysis used spatial data to examine the interactions among ecosystem services, revealing that many services are spatially clustered and that their distributions are influenced by social, ecological, and geographic factors. The study also identified thresholds for three ecosystem services—soil phosphorus retention, soil organic matter, and drinking water quality—below which ecosystem services are considered to be of unacceptable quality. It found that 50 municipalities have crossed one or more of these thresholds, with the Feedlot Agriculture bundle type being the most affected.
The study highlights the importance of considering the interactions among ecosystem services in landscape management and suggests that future research should focus on understanding how these interactions vary across different landscapes and scales. The findings indicate that managing ecosystem services requires a holistic approach that considers both social and ecological factors, as well as the tradeoffs and synergies between different types of ecosystem services. The results suggest that more multifunctional landscapes are better at producing regulating ecosystem services, which are essential for the sustainable production of provisioning and cultural services. The study also emphasizes the need for policies and management approaches that can improve the provision of multiple ecosystem services across landscapes.This study presents a framework for analyzing tradeoffs among multiple ecosystem services across landscapes, using empirical evidence of ecosystem service bundles. The research focuses on a mixed-use landscape in Quebec, Canada, consisting of 137 municipalities, and identifies six types of ecosystem service bundles that are spatially clustered and linked to distinct social-ecological dynamics. These bundles represent combinations of ecosystem services that frequently occur together in specific areas of the landscape. The study finds that there are significant tradeoffs between provisioning ecosystem services (e.g., food and timber) and regulating and cultural services (e.g., nutrient cycling, flood protection, and tourism). Additionally, it shows that a greater diversity of ecosystem services is positively correlated with the provision of regulating services.
The analysis used spatial data to examine the interactions among ecosystem services, revealing that many services are spatially clustered and that their distributions are influenced by social, ecological, and geographic factors. The study also identified thresholds for three ecosystem services—soil phosphorus retention, soil organic matter, and drinking water quality—below which ecosystem services are considered to be of unacceptable quality. It found that 50 municipalities have crossed one or more of these thresholds, with the Feedlot Agriculture bundle type being the most affected.
The study highlights the importance of considering the interactions among ecosystem services in landscape management and suggests that future research should focus on understanding how these interactions vary across different landscapes and scales. The findings indicate that managing ecosystem services requires a holistic approach that considers both social and ecological factors, as well as the tradeoffs and synergies between different types of ecosystem services. The results suggest that more multifunctional landscapes are better at producing regulating ecosystem services, which are essential for the sustainable production of provisioning and cultural services. The study also emphasizes the need for policies and management approaches that can improve the provision of multiple ecosystem services across landscapes.