A connectivity-based assessment framework for river basin ecosystem service management

Conflicts between increasing ecosystem services (ESs) demand and limited or even decreased natural capital hinders the sustainable development of river basins worldwide. The main reason for the conflicts is that human interventions have seriously decoupled the original harmonious relationship between humans and nature. In this review, we proposed a network connectivity-based assessment framework for river basin ES management which aims to quantify the connections among ecosystems, ESs, ES beneficiaries, ES management organizations and external drives. Construction of the network is based on how multiple ESs are provided and consumed among multiple beneficiaries, to cope with external drivers and inform management efforts. This framework can be used to identify if management intervention is needed for keeping river basin ESs and to address any changes in the interactive socio-ecological system for more sustainable river basin ES management.