Joint Research Centre Activities on Ecosystem Services Mapping, Modelling and Valuation 2011 - 2012

A three steps assessment Biophysical mapping of ecosystem services to provide spatially explicit information on where ecosystem services are produced in Europe Scenario analyses (policy, land use, climate) to assess how and where ecosystem services are affected by changes Quantification of values and an estimation of economic impacts of changes under baseline and scenario conditions from TEEB (2008)

A multi-scale challenge A multi-scale testing of the three steps at European and country/regional scales Test models, evaluate associated uncertainties and provide best practices for mapping of ecosystem services Establish links with decision makers in country-regions to assess potential trade-offs and synergies and improve the  policy relevance of the maps PRESS PEER Research on EcoSystem Services http://www.peer.eu/projects/press/ Towards a digital Atlas of Ecosystem Services

Recreational ecosystem services Supply Degree of naturalness of ecosystems Presence of protected areas Presence of water/coastline Bathing water quality Accessibility Remoteness Availability of tourism facilities (e.g. biking/hiking trails, birdwatching towers) Demand Travel time/distance Visitors in protected areas Hunting./fishing licenses Recreational activities (i.e. bird watching, berry picking) Tourism fluxes in natural areas and fruition from resident population Recreational ecosystem services fruition ~ capacity x accessibility

Water purification services Mapping of spatial variation in nitrogen removal as a result of river retention in Europe per sub-catchment. Annually, the European river network is estimated to remove 1.5 million ton of nitrogen.

Pollination services The relative pollinator abundance is calculated in each cell (excluding densely urbanised areas), considering elements which have an impact on species, on nesting suitability and floral availability Europe split in 20 tiles for processing at 25 m of resolution

Provision of food Food is provided by modified ecosystems that receive external energy. The relationship between inputs received and benefits provided (3F: Food / Feed / Fuel) will be assessed through an analysis of the amount of energy which: is input in the agricultural system through labour, machinery, irrigation, fertilisation is collected through the yields would be naturally provided by ecosystems EU level analysis at a high spatial detail will provide a baseline against which valuating the service provided and analysing trade-offs with other ecosystem services

Coastal protection ecosystem services Coastal Protection: defence of the coastal zone against flooding and erosion from waves, storms or sea level rise Spatial indicators based on the combination of different factors affecting the provision of the service, e.g. coastal geomorphology, topography, bathymetry, habitats, population density, infrastructures