Assumptions in ecosystem service assessments

Increasing transparency for conservation

verfasst von

Matthias Schröter, Emilie Crouzat, Lisanne Hölting, Julian Massenberg, Julian Rode, Mario Hanisch, Nadja Kabisch, Julia Palliwoda, Jörg A. Priess, Ralf Seppelt, Michael Beckmann

Abstract

Conservation efforts are increasingly supported by ecosystem service assessments. These assessments depend on complex multi-disciplinary methods, and rely on a number of assumptions which reduce complexity. If assumptions are ambiguous or inadequate, misconceptions and misinterpretations may arise when interpreting results of assessments. An interdisciplinary understanding of assumptions in ecosystem service science is needed to provide consistent conservation recommendations. Here, we synthesise and elaborate on 12 prevalent types of assumptions in ecosystem service assessments. These comprise conceptual and ethical foundations of the ecosystem service concept, assumptions on data collection, indication, mapping, and modelling, on socio-economic valuation and value aggregation, as well as about using assessment results for decision-making. We recommend future assessments to increase transparency about assumptions, and to test and validate them and their potential consequences on assessment reliability. This will support the taking up of assessment results in conservation science, policy and practice.

Externe Organisation(en)

Helmholtz Zentrum München - Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt
Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA)
Deutsches Zentrum für integrative Biodiversitätsforschung (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg

Typ

Artikel

Journal

AMBIO

Band

50

Seiten

289-300

Anzahl der Seiten

12

ISSN

0044-7447

Publikationsdatum

02.2021

Publikationsstatus

Veröffentlicht

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Geografie, Planung und Entwicklung, Umweltchemie, Ökologie

Elektronische Version(en)

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01379-9 (Zugang: Offen)