Key landscape features in the provision of ecosystem services: Insights for management. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schmidt, Katja; Martín-López, Berta; Phillips, Peter M.; Julius, Eike; Makan, Neville; Walz, Ariane
• Is Part Of: Land use policy. Volume 82(2019)
• Page Start: 353
• Page End: 366
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Participatory mapping -- PPGIS -- Landscape features -- Content analysis -- Land use management -- Operationalisation; Land use -- Periodicals; Land use -- Government policy -- Periodicals; Sol, Utilisation du -- Périodiques; Sol, Utilisation du -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.7305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2018.12.022
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-8377

Abstract

Highlights: Practical approach to implement ecosystem knowledge into land use management. We identify ecosystem services hotspots through participatory mapping. We identify landscape features underpinning these ecosystem services hotspots. We compare these landscape features with current management priorities. We provide recommendations to better address ecosystem service in the revised management plan. Abstract: Whereas ecosystem service research is increasingly being promoted in science and policy, the utilisation of ecosystem services knowledge remains largely underexplored for regional ecosystem management. To overcome the mere generation of knowledge and contribute to decision-making, scientists are facing the challenge of articulating specific implications of the ecosystem service approach for practical land use management. In this contribution, we compare the results of participatory mapping of ecosystem services with the existing management plan for the Pentland Hills Regional Park (Scotland, UK) to inform its future management plan. By conducting participatory mapping in a workshop with key stakeholders (n = 20), we identify hotspots of ecosystem services and the landscape features underpinning such hotspots. We then analyse to what extent these landscape features are the focus of the current management plan. We found a clear mismatch between the key landscape features underpinning the provision of ecosystem services and the management strategy suggested. Our findings allow for a better understanding of the required focus of future land use management to account for ecosystem services.