Loss of ecosystem services and the decapitalization of nature in El Salvador

Crespín, Silvio J.; Simonetti, Javier A.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoser.2015.10.020

Cited by 74 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Ecosystem services (ES), defined as “the benefits that people obtain from ecosystems” ([ 1 ]: p.630, [ 2 ]: p.40), are fundamental for society [ 3 , 4 ]. ES improve human well-being and environmental quality in several ways, for example, by capturing air pollutants and/or providing fresh water (regulating ES), as well as through economic benefits such as those obtained from access to goods for subsistence or for the generation of wealth (provisioning ES).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring the effects of land cover change on the supply of ecosystem services in an urban region: A study of Santiago-Valparaíso, Chile

et al. 2017

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Mankind’s quest for well-being results in continuous pressure to transform landscapes, with said transformation driven by land use changes, urbanization, production activity, and protective measures in addition to climate variability and other environmental drivers. The relationship between anthropogenic landscape changes and the provision of ecosystem services (ES) is a topic of increasing interest in Latin America. In Chile, land cover changes due to increased urbanization and forestry, and expansion of agricultural land, in addition to conservation initiatives as a part of land planning, have been intensive in the last few decades. In this study, the effects of anthropogenic landscape changes on the supply of ES were analyzed for the urban region of Santiago-Valparaiso (Chile) using a method based on expert consultation and land cover change assessment. A pool of experts scored the potential of specific land covers to provide certain ES. The results enabled calculation and mapping of changes in the potential of the landscape to supply ES. The aforementioned changes over a period of 15 years were evaluated. The results indicate a tenuous balance between positive and negative changes to the supply of ES derived from land cover changes. Understanding and reporting how these processes occur in urban regions contributes to the conservation of valuable landscapes through spatial planning tools, especially in areas close to housing developments and sensitive ecosystems.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring the effects of land cover change on the supply of ecosystem services in an urban region: A study of Santiago-Valparaíso, Chile

et al. 2017

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“…In El Salvador, the loss of species follows the global trend but at an exacerbated level. Only 1% of its territory remains as a primary ecosystem and the vast majority can be categorized as collapsed, endangered, or critically endangered (Crespin & Simonetti, 2015), mainly as the result of change in land use, caused by the increase in agroproductive systems and urban areas (Crespin & Simonetti, 2016). These factors stand as the main source of freshwater ichthyofauna extinction (Sala et al, 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Your place, my place…, distribution of Agonostomus monticola and Sicydium multipunctatum in the Acahuapa Watershed

González-Murcia¹,

Álvarez²

2018

Rev.Mex.Biodiv.

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Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 89 (2018): 854 -864 Ecology Your place, my place…, distribution of Agonostomus monticola and Sicydium multipunctatum in the Acahuapa Watershed Tu lugar, mi lugar…, distribución de Agonostomus monticola y Sicydium multipunctatum en la cuenca del AcahuapaAbstract Diadromous fish undergo habitat shifts over their life cycles, dwelling between different environments. In the Acahuapa River watershed, the distribution, abundance, and length structure of A. monticola and S. multipunctatum were assessed in its tributary rivers and main channel for 1 year. Fishes were captured using electrofishing devices and nets. Environmental variables, habitat traits, and land use around the sampling points were taken into consideration. A total of 222 A. monticola and 183 S. multipunctatum were recorded during the sampled year. Their distribution was restricted to 8 of the 17 sampling points. Both species co-occurred at 7 of 8 sites, all at elevations between 19 and 325 m asl. Both species were more abundant in lower parts of the watershed and in the tributary rivers than in the main channel. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, river width and depth, current speed, substrata dominated by rocks and logs, and surroundings of forest and small-scale agriculture favor the presence of these fishes. The smaller individuals of A. monticola occurred at lower elevations of the watershed but fish length differences were not present at the main channel or at the tributaries. For S. multipunctatum, the larger fish were captured also at low elevations and at the main channel of the Acahuapa River watershed. ResumenLos peces diádromos cambian de hábitat durante su ciclo de vida ocupando ambientes diferentes. En la cuenca del río Acahuapa, la distribución, abundancia y estructura de tallas de A. monticola y S. multipunctatum fueron evaluadas en sus ríos tributarios y en el canal principal durante 1 año. Los peces fueron capturados utilizando dispositivos de electropesca y trasmallos. Las variables ambientales, características del hábitat y el uso de suelo en los puntos de muestreo fueron cuantificados. Un total de 222 ejemplares de A. monticola y 183 de S. multipunctatum fueron registrados durante el año de muestreo. Su distribución estuvo restringida a 8 de los 17 sitios de muestreo coincidiendo en 7 de ellos, en alturas entre 19 y 325 m snm. Ambas especies fueron más abundantes en las partes bajas de la cuenca y en los ríos tributarios. La temperatura del agua, oxígeno disuelto, ancho y profundidad del río, velocidad de la corriente y sustrato dominado por rocas, troncos y rodeado por bosque o agricultura a pequeña escala favorecen la presencia de estos peces. Los peces de menor tamaño de A. monticola se encontraron en la parte baja de la cuenca sin importar si este es un río tributario o el canal principal. Peces de S. multipunctatum de mayor tamaño se capturaron S. González-Murcia, F.S. Álvarez / Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad 89 (2018): 854 -864 855 https://doi.

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“…Additionally, using data from Latin America only would limit both the number of 'biomes' and the ecosystem services that could be assessed. When data from equivalent sites are not available (as it is the case here), using generalised values are more likely to reduce biases (Richardson and others 2015;Crespin and Simonetti 2016).…”

Section: Caveats Of the Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, sensitivity analyses were conducted to determine whether variations in the coefficient values would result in unacceptable uncertainties associated with the unit value transfer. The coefficient values used to estimate the ESV of the four LULC classes (water, grassland, shrublands and arboreal vegetation) were adjusted by 50%, and the coefficient sensitivity (CS) was calculated using equation (2) following the standard economic concept of elasticity (Mansfield 1985), as proposed by Kreuter and others (2001) and applied by many (for example, Li and others 2007;Hu and others 2008;Crespin and Simonetti 2016;Kindu and others 2016).…”

Section: Estimating the Ecosystem Services Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increasing population and urbanisation causes pressure on natural resources and high demand for ecosystem services, which combined can lead to critical environmental degradation, such as water crisis, air pollution, microclimatic alteration and collapse of natural resources (Seto and others 2011;Solecki and others 2013). Loss of ecosystem services due to humandriven conversion of vegetated areas into urban land (for example, Tianhong and others 2010; Mendoza-Gonzá lez and others 2012; Estoque and Murayama 2013;Crespin and Simonetti 2016;Yi and others 2017) has been widely reported in developing countries, where urban centres are largely (and increasingly) dependent on the ecological integrity of surrounding rural areas (Hails and Ormerod 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Impact of the Urbanisation Process in the Availability of Ecosystem Services in a Tropical Ecotone Area

et al. 2018

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Urbanisation has been a main cause of land use land cover (LULC) change worldwide, often with irreparable consequences to the provision of ecosystem services. Despite an increase in quantitative assessments of ecosystem service values (ESV) related to LULC changes, data are scarce for ecotones, such as the agreste in northeast Brazil (a transitional area between the Atlantic Forest and the Caatinga biomes). The benefit transfer method was used to quantify changes in ESV between 1989, 2007 and 2014 due to urbanisation in the microwatershed Riacho das Piabas (3660 ha) in the agreste of Paraíba. Remote sensing techniques and a geographic information system were used to quantify LULC changes. Loss of arboreal vegetation (covering 46% of the study area in 1989 and 5% in 2014) was the key factor driving the 73.2% decline in the total ESV (from US$ 13.7 million to US$ 3.7 million in 2017 values). LULC changes resulted in losses of 89% in the estimated value of eight ecosystem services, including climate regulation, water flow regulation, moderation of disturbance, nutrient cycling and biological control, which are critical locally when considering the regional trend towards aridification and the existing pressures on water resources. Ecosystem functions loss and climate change impacts may lead to a shift in ecotone boundaries favouring the semiarid Caatinga vegetation. These results urge the implementation of ecosystem-based spatial planning, focusing on urban green infrastructure and restoration of natural habitats and their connectivity, to prevent further ecosystem service losses. Local estimates of ESV required to inform the suggested policy actions are identified.

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Loss of ecosystem services and the decapitalization of nature in El Salvador

Cited by 74 publications

References 34 publications

Monitoring the effects of land cover change on the supply of ecosystem services in an urban region: A study of Santiago-Valparaíso, Chile

Monitoring the effects of land cover change on the supply of ecosystem services in an urban region: A study of Santiago-Valparaíso, Chile

Your place, my place…, distribution of Agonostomus monticola and Sicydium multipunctatum in the Acahuapa Watershed

Impact of the Urbanisation Process in the Availability of Ecosystem Services in a Tropical Ecotone Area

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