Track 3-02: Benefits from Ecosystem Services Derived from Grasslands
Description
Studies have highlighted the importance of managing ecosystem services to stop further degradation and transformation, yet very few studies have endeavored to identify priorities. The identification of priority areas for ecosystem services remains the least of objective for all studies that have mapped ecosystem services. Steps for identifying priority areas for management of ecosystem services include identifying features that supply ecosystem services, threats to service provision, potential actions to ensure future supply of service and cost of these actions as well as the availability of alternative means of providing benefits supplied by the service, the capacity to meet human demands and scale and site dependency of service. We present examples of the inclusion of ecosystem services in spatial planning in South Africa including quantifying conservation features and threats, as well as implementation issues. The prioritization of areas for ecosystem services management is still in its infancy. At present, spatial planning for ecosystem services is mostly coupled with biodiversity, but ecosystem services deserve to be conserved on their own right through conservation actions specifically designed for ecosystem services. The identification of priorities for such conservation action faces many challenges.
Citation
Egoh, Benis; Reyers, Belinda; Rouget, Mathieu; O’Farrel, Patrick; Le Maitre, David; and Cowling, Richard, "Identifying Priority Areas for Ecosystem Services Management in South Africa" (2020). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 2.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/22/3-2/2
Included in
Identifying Priority Areas for Ecosystem Services Management in South Africa
Studies have highlighted the importance of managing ecosystem services to stop further degradation and transformation, yet very few studies have endeavored to identify priorities. The identification of priority areas for ecosystem services remains the least of objective for all studies that have mapped ecosystem services. Steps for identifying priority areas for management of ecosystem services include identifying features that supply ecosystem services, threats to service provision, potential actions to ensure future supply of service and cost of these actions as well as the availability of alternative means of providing benefits supplied by the service, the capacity to meet human demands and scale and site dependency of service. We present examples of the inclusion of ecosystem services in spatial planning in South Africa including quantifying conservation features and threats, as well as implementation issues. The prioritization of areas for ecosystem services management is still in its infancy. At present, spatial planning for ecosystem services is mostly coupled with biodiversity, but ecosystem services deserve to be conserved on their own right through conservation actions specifically designed for ecosystem services. The identification of priorities for such conservation action faces many challenges.
