Mapping ecosystem services for planning and management

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 127; no. 1; pp. 135 - 140
• Main Authors: Egoh, Benis, Reyers, Belinda, Rouget, Mathieu, Richardson, David M., Le Maitre, David C., van Jaarsveld, Albert S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2008; Amsterdam; New York: Elsevier; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Carbon; carbon sequestration; cartography; Conservation biogeography; Conservation planning; decision making; ecosystem services; erosion control; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General agroecology; General agroecology. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development. Rural area planning. Landscaping; General agronomy. Plant production; General aspects; Generalities. Agricultural and farming systems. Agricultural development; geographical variation; land management; planning; Primary productivity; Soil; soil formation; soil organic carbon; spatial distribution; spatial variation; surface water; Synecology; Water; water flow; South Africa; Water; Soil; Primary productivity; Conservation biogeography; Carbon; Conservation planning; Conservation; Biogeography; Soils; Geographic distribution; Ecosystem; Ecosystem services; Planning
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2008.03.013

This study mapped the production of five ecosystem services in South Africa: surface water supply, water flow regulation, soil accumulation, soil retention, and carbon storage. The relationship and spatial congruence between services were assessed. The congruence between primary production and these five services was tested to evaluate its value as a surrogate or proxy ecosystem service measure. This study illustrates that (1) most of South Africa's land surface is important for supplying at least one service, (2) there are low levels of congruence between the service ranges and even lower levels between the hotspots for different ecosystem services, and (3) primary production appears to show some potential as a surrogate for ecosystem service distribution. The implications of a heterogeneous landscape for the provision of ecosystem services and their management are highlighted and the potential for managing such services in a country like South Africa is discussed.