Improving the quality and extending the usability of an ecosystem services tool

Background/Question/Methods

Land managers are unlikely to enter into ecosystem service markets without quantitative estimates of the natural capital they process. However, it has been difficult for land managers to quantify ecosystem services or the degree to which management decisions influence them because ecosystem service values are complex to estimate, depend upon hard to satisfy data needs, and the available methodologies often exist at spatially or temporally inappropriate scales or report in inappropriate units for specific goals. To address this need we implemented an accessible quantification tool in the form of a web-based application that makes use of the growing availability of spatiotemporal bio-physical data and the increasing accessibility to these data using web services. Our initial approach targeted agricultural users with field-level needs. This research reports our experience adapting the tool as a restoration planning and prioritization tool for municipalities. Our case study explores the design changes needed to meet these different needs.  

Results/Conclusions

Our web-based tool estimates solar heat loading along user specified stream sections, and makes novel use of LIDAR and framework data to calculate a potential vegetation layer. This enables users to assess how adding or removing riparian trees creates heat loading credits or deficits. The tool has four components: 1) a map-based graphical user interface; 2) proprietary and framework geodatabases; 3) process models that calculate ecosystem service values; 4) a reporting interface that returns model outputs to the user. Field validation confirmed that the tool accurately predicts reach scale insolation (r²=0.89, n = 20). To meet the needs of the municipality, we modified the tool to perform a network level analysis, and built a stream width spatial layer using more site specific base layers. We used the tool to construct a solar loading map that the municipality is using to develop restoration priorities. We believe that this framework can produce robust and accurate quantification systems that are accessible to individual land managers, as well as detailed context specific information at low cost to municipalities. Our case study demonstrates that web-based tools can increase the accessibility of ecological data and decision support, but that designs need to accommodate specific user requirements.