Assessing, valuing, and mapping ecosystem services in Alpine forests

Häyhä, Tiina; Franzese, Pier Paolo; Paletto, Alessandro; Fath, Brian D.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.03.001

Cited by 140 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…An assessment of recreational services provided by forests in North Zealand, Denmark, varied from 5200 to 14,850 EUR/ha/year for forests with the highest per hectare value, and from 200 to 320 EUR/ha/year for forests with the lowest per hectare value (Zandersen and Termansen 2012). In northern Italy, tourism contributed almost 10% of the total economic value of ecosystem services for the forests of the Fiemma and Fassa Valleys (Häyhä et al 2015). While recreation and tourism values are critical for many local economies, rising human populations in some countries are increasingly placing pressure on forest resources and the quality of other non-monetary cultural services (Wear and Greis 2002).…”

Section: Cultural Ecosystem Services In Forest Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

et al. 2017

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Forests are critical habitats for biodiversity and they are also essential for the provision of a wide range of ecosystem services that are important to human well-being. There is increasing evidence that biodiversity contributes to forest ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services. Here we provide a review of forest ecosystem services including biomass production, habitat provisioning services, pollination, seed dispersal, resistance to wind storms, fire regulation and mitigation, pest regulation of native and invading insects, carbon sequestration, and cultural ecosystem services, in relation to forest type, structure and diversity. We also consider relationships between forest biodiversity and multifunctionality, and trade-offs among ecosystem services. We compare the concepts of ecosystem processes, functions and services to clarify their definitions. Our review of published studies indicates a lack of empirical studies that establish quantitative and causal relationships between forest biodiversity and many important ecosystem services. The literature is highly skewed; studies on provisioning of nutrition and energy, and on cultural services, delivered by mixed-species forests are under-represented. Planted forests offer ample opportunity for optimising their composition and diversity because replanting after harvesting is a recurring process. Planting mixed-species forests should be given more consideration as they are likely to provide a wider range of ecosystem services within the forest and for adjacent land uses. This review also serves as the introduction to this special issue of Biodiversity and Conservation on various aspects of forest biodiversity and ecosystem services.

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Section: Cultural Ecosystem Services In Forest Ecosystemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

et al. 2017

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“…Calculations are based on the annual increment, taking into account carbon accumulated in biomass above and below ground. The annual contribution of other carbon pools such as litter, deadwood and organic soil is considered negligible, because variations in carbon content are detected in the very long term (Häyhä et al 2015). The variables used for quantification of stored carbon are the volume of growing stock, the Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF), Wood Basic Density (WBD) and the root/shoot ratio (R -Federici et al 2008).…”

Section: Model Approach and Data Inputmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A number of studies have focused on the dynamic analysis of forest ES and on determining their economic value. Häyhä et al (2015) used a Geographic Information System (GIS) to evaluate trade-offs among different ES, whereas Rose & Chapman (2003) provided additional insights into ES estimation. The latter have implemented a method to define the optimal stand age for maximizing the Net Present Value (NPV) of multiple ES.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Decision Support System for trade-off analysis and dynamic evaluation of forest ecosystem services

Sacchelli¹

2018

iForest

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This paper presents an open-source Decision Support System (DSS) able to quantify the economic value of forest ecosystem services and their dynamic trade-offs. Provisioning, regulation and support services, as well as cultural services, can be evaluated by the model. Best management forestry practices can be identified by optimizing specific objective functions, e.g., maximizing the economic value or identifying the ideal rotation period. The model was applied to a silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) stand in central Italy as a case study. Results show the importance of economic parameters (e.g., discount rate) and management practices (e.g., presence/absence of silvicultural thinning) in defining forest values. The main strengths and weaknesses of the DSS are discussed in light of its potential for application in the sector of Payment for Ecosystem Services.

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“…To assess the services in a comprehensive way, different means may be profitably combined: (a) deriving ESs from the analysis of landscape structures and processes; (b) seeking the advice of experts; (c) involving stakeholders and the public at large (Figure 3). Among the drawbacks imputed to economic valuation of ESs, we can find limitations due to the fact that it neglects social issues such as fairness and equity in the use of resources; elements of subjectiveness implicit in the choice of the method of valuation; special difficulties when trying to estimate in monetary terms regulating and maintaining services [93,99,100]. Monetary valuation is definitely not applicable when dealing with non-instrumental subjective values (such as spiritual values, identity, cultural heritage) or non-substitutable natural objects with inherent value [101].…”

Section: Ecosystem Services Assessment and Valuationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Goulder and Kennedy [91] and de Groot and colleagues [62] distinguish between an economic (anthropocentric) and a non-economic (biocentric) approach. A great deal of research has been done for economic valuation, with interesting results for the Alpine Region, too [85,[92][93][94][95]. The attempt to monetise ESs (Figure 2) is based on the assumption that this is the best way to communicate with the decision makers and ease political choices [96].…”

Section: Ecosystem Services Assessment and Valuationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Balancing Economic Development and Environmental Conservation for a New Governance of Alpine Areas

Cantiani

Geitner

Haida³

et al. 2016

Sustainability

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Abstract:In the Alpine environment, Man has always been directly dependent on mountain ecosystems. Social mechanisms have created specific models of governance, capable of assuring the persistence of ecosystems and their capacity to provide essential goods and services. In recent decades, however, dramatic changes have occurred, such as climate change and changes in land use. The complexity common to all linked human-natural environment systems is extremely marked in the Alpine areas and this makes it difficult to understand how resilient these systems may be. Many research questions arise, in particular as to the comprehension and quantification of the impact of changes on the capacity of ecosystems to produce goods and services in a sustainable way, and the possibility of local mechanisms of governance to adapt to both current and future changes. Reasons and effects of change are analysed from the perspective of the specific issues of governance. The importance of the Ecosystems Services (ESs) concept is acknowledged and the necessity for a dynamic assessment of ESs, taking into account people's values and expectations, is particularly stressed. Through a careful analysis of selected papers and case studies, the main gaps in current knowledge are identified and directions for further research are provided.

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Assessing, valuing, and mapping ecosystem services in Alpine forests

Cited by 140 publications

References 76 publications

Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

Forest biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services

A Decision Support System for trade-off analysis and dynamic evaluation of forest ecosystem services

Balancing Economic Development and Environmental Conservation for a New Governance of Alpine Areas

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