A continental-scale validation of ecosystem service models

Willcock, Simon; Hooftman, Danny A.P.; Balbi, Stefano; Blanchard, Ryan; Dawson, Terence P.; O’Farrell, Patrick J.; Hickler, Thomas; Hudson, Malcolm D.; Lindeskog, Mats; Martinez-Lopez, Javier; Mulligan, Mark; Reyers, Belinda; Shackleton, Charlie; Sitas, Nadia; Villa, Ferdinando; Watts, Sophie M.; Eigenbrod, Felix; Bullock, James M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0529-4020. 2019 A continental-scale validation of ecosystem service models. Ecosystems, 22 (8). 1902-1917. 10.1007/s10021-019-00380-y

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-019-00380-y

Abstract/Summary

Faced with environmental degradation, governments worldwide are developing policies to safeguard ecosystem services (ES). Many ES models exist to support these policies, but they are generally poorly validated, especially at large scales, which undermines their credibility. To address this gap, we describe a study of multiple models of five ES, which we validate at an unprecedented scale against 1675 data points across sub-Saharan Africa. We find that potential ES (biophysical supply of carbon and water) are reasonably well predicted by the existing models. These potential ES models can also be used as inputs to new models for realised ES (use of charcoal, firewood, grazing resources and water), by adding information on human population density. We find that increasing model complexity can improve estimates of both potential and realised ES, suggesting that developing more detailed models of ES will be beneficial. Furthermore, in 85% of cases, human population density alone was as good or a better predictor of realised ES than ES models, suggesting that it is demand, rather than supply that is predominantly determining current patterns of ES use. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of ES model validation, even in data-deficient locations such as sub-Saharan Africa. Our work also shows the clear need for more work on the demand side of ES models, and the importance of model validation in providing a stronger base to support policies which seek to achieve sustainable development in support of human well-being.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1007/s10021-019-00380-y
UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:	Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-) UKCEH Fellows
ISSN:	1432-9840
Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:	Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.
Additional Keywords:	Africa, beneficiary, carbon, charcoal, complexity, firewood, grazing, natural capital, water
NORA Subject Terms:	Ecology and Environment
Date made live:	04 Jun 2019 10:40 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/523610

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1007/s10021-019-00380-y

UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas:

Biodiversity (Science Area 2017-)
UKCEH Fellows

ISSN:

1432-9840

Additional Information. Not used in RCUK Gateway to Research.:

Open Access paper - full text available via Official URL link.

Additional Keywords:

Africa, beneficiary, carbon, charcoal, complexity, firewood, grazing, natural capital, water