| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4373700 | Ecological Indicators | 2012 | 13 Pages |
Land management is an important factor that affects ecosystem services provision. However, interactions between land management, ecological processes and ecosystem service provision are still not fully understood. Indicators can help to better understand these interactions and provide information for policy-makers to prioritise land management interventions. In this paper, we develop a framework for the systematic selection of indicators, to assess the link between land management and ecosystem services provision in a spatially explicit manner. Our framework distinguishes between ecosystem properties, ecosystem functions, and ecosystem services. We tested the framework in a case study in The Netherlands. For the case study, we identified 12 property indicators, 9 function indicators and 9 service indicators. The indicators were used to examine the effect of land management on food provision, air quality regulation and recreation opportunities. Land management was found to not only affect ecosystem properties, but also ecosystem functions and services directly. Several criteria were used to evaluate the usefulness of the selected indicators, including scalability, sensitivity to land management change, spatial explicitness, and portability. The results show that the proposed framework can be used to determine quantitative links between indicators, so that land management effects on ecosystem services provision can be modelled in a spatially explicit manner.
Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We developed a framework for the systematic and stepwise selection of indicators for ecosystem services. ► Our framework distinguishes between land management, ecosystem properties, functions, and services. ► Indicators were evaluated through eight criteria, such as scalability, consistency, and sensitivity to management change. ► Land use management also affects the provision of other ecosystem services, mainly regulating and cultural services. ► Future ecosystem service assessments should select at least one state and performance indicator per ecosystem service
