The influence of land cover data on farm-scale valuations of natural capital

Burke, Thomas; Whyatt, J. Duncan; Rowland, Clare ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0459-506X; Blackburn, G. Alan; Abbatt, Jon. 2020 The influence of land cover data on farm-scale valuations of natural capital. Ecosystem Services, 42, 101065. 11, pp. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065

Abstract/Summary

The valuation of natural capital within individual farms could inform environmentally beneficial land use change and form the basis of agricultural subsidy schemes based on the provision of ecosystem services. Land cover extents can be used in a benefit transfer approach to produce monetary valuations of natural capital rapidly and at low cost. However, the methodology has not before been used within individual farms, and the impact of land cover data characteristics on the accuracy of valuations is uncertain. Here, we apply the approach to five UK farms of contrasting size, configuration and farming style, using three widely available land cover products. Results show that the land cover product used has a substantial impact on valuations, with differences of up to 58%, and the magnitude of this effect varies considerably according to the landscape structure of the farm. At most sites, valuation differences are driven by the extent of woodland recorded in the landscape, with higher resolution land cover products incorporating larger amounts of woodland through inclusion of smaller patches, leading to higher overall valuations. Integrating more accurate land cover data and accounting for the condition, configuration and location of natural capital has potential to improve the accuracy of valuations.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)
ISSN:	2212-0416
Additional Keywords:	ecosystem service valuation, land cover, benefit transfer, agriculture, spatial resolution, thematic resolution
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	21 Feb 2020 14:07 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/527017

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Soils and Land Use (Science Area 2017-)

ISSN:

2212-0416

Additional Keywords:

ecosystem service valuation, land cover, benefit transfer, agriculture, spatial resolution, thematic resolution

NORA Subject Terms:

Ecology and Environment