Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and Framing

Biodiversity and ecosystem service models are frequently used to consider current conditions or recent changes in the availability of a service. The application of scenarios for biodiversity and ecosystem service assessment remains underdeveloped, particularly co-designed and fine-granular scenarios...

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Main Authors: John E. Quinn, Craig Fergus, Emilia Hyland, Caroline Vickery, Iara L. Lacher, Thomas S. Akre
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-08-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/9/1340
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author John E. Quinn
Craig Fergus
Emilia Hyland
Caroline Vickery
Iara L. Lacher
Thomas S. Akre
author_facet John E. Quinn
Craig Fergus
Emilia Hyland
Caroline Vickery
Iara L. Lacher
Thomas S. Akre
author_sort John E. Quinn
collection DOAJ
description Biodiversity and ecosystem service models are frequently used to consider current conditions or recent changes in the availability of a service. The application of scenarios for biodiversity and ecosystem service assessment remains underdeveloped, particularly co-designed and fine-granular scenarios across different decision-making boundaries. Consequently, the data created by these modeling efforts may not be as valuable to conservation partners and policy makers. In this project, we used land use and land cover change scenarios co-developed with local and regional decision-makers in northwestern Virginia USA as key inputs for 18 different biodiversity and ecosystem service models. Specifically, we used the InVEST suite of models to predict the change in biodiversity and ecosystem indicators and evaluated differences in that change between scenarios and decision-making boundaries. We found that the scenarios produced distinct results for the majority of biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially as a function of population growth. However, we also found that some services varied more as a function of subregions reflecting the existing diversity of ecosystems and governance structures in the area. The co-designed scenarios and summary of the data across units resulted in the production of varied results that can be used to support land use planning by implementing partners.
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spelling doaj-art-60c37c762cba4058a06d174bc55670f02025-08-20T01:55:37ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-08-01139134010.3390/land13091340Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and FramingJohn E. Quinn0Craig Fergus1Emilia Hyland2Caroline Vickery3Iara L. Lacher4Thomas S. Akre5Department of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USASmithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Conservation Ecology Center, Washington, DC 20008, USADepartment of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USADepartment of Biology, Furman University, Greenville, SC 29613, USASmithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Conservation Ecology Center, Washington, DC 20008, USASmithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute’s Conservation Ecology Center, Washington, DC 20008, USABiodiversity and ecosystem service models are frequently used to consider current conditions or recent changes in the availability of a service. The application of scenarios for biodiversity and ecosystem service assessment remains underdeveloped, particularly co-designed and fine-granular scenarios across different decision-making boundaries. Consequently, the data created by these modeling efforts may not be as valuable to conservation partners and policy makers. In this project, we used land use and land cover change scenarios co-developed with local and regional decision-makers in northwestern Virginia USA as key inputs for 18 different biodiversity and ecosystem service models. Specifically, we used the InVEST suite of models to predict the change in biodiversity and ecosystem indicators and evaluated differences in that change between scenarios and decision-making boundaries. We found that the scenarios produced distinct results for the majority of biodiversity and ecosystem services, especially as a function of population growth. However, we also found that some services varied more as a function of subregions reflecting the existing diversity of ecosystems and governance structures in the area. The co-designed scenarios and summary of the data across units resulted in the production of varied results that can be used to support land use planning by implementing partners.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/9/1340heterogeneitymultifunctionalnature’s contribution to peopleplanningwatershedworking lands
spellingShingle John E. Quinn
Craig Fergus
Emilia Hyland
Caroline Vickery
Iara L. Lacher
Thomas S. Akre
Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and Framing
Land
heterogeneity
multifunctional
nature’s contribution to people
planning
watershed
working lands
title Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and Framing
title_full Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and Framing
title_fullStr Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and Framing
title_full_unstemmed Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and Framing
title_short Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity Patterns Observed across Co-Developed Land Use Scenarios in the Piedmont: Lessons Learned for Scale and Framing
title_sort ecosystem service and biodiversity patterns observed across co developed land use scenarios in the piedmont lessons learned for scale and framing
topic heterogeneity
multifunctional
nature’s contribution to people
planning
watershed
working lands
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/9/1340
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