TY - CHAP

T1 - Quantifying, modelling and mapping ecosystem services in watersheds

AU - Nedkov, Stoyan

AU - Boyanova, Kremena

AU - Burkhard, Benjamin

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015. Copyright: Copyright 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/1/1

Y1 - 2015/1/1

N2 - Quantifying, modelling and mapping ecosystem services is an important step to the application of ecosystem services in practice and decision making. Watersheds are functional entities that provide an appropriate spatial scale for water fl ow analysis and integrate all the processes that occur within their boundaries. Multiple ecosystem functions occur within watersheds, providing water-related ecosystem services such as freshwater provision, groundwater recharge, water purifi cation and fl ood regulation. A matrix approach was applied, linking different land cover types within watersheds to different ecosystem functions and services. Supply capacities of different land cover types and respective changes over time were assessed. By applying the watershed-based hydrologic model KINEROS and the GIS based AGWA tool, water retention functions of different land cover classes in the Bulgarian case study areas Malki Iskar, Vidima and Yantra were assessed. Based on the modelling results, fl ood regulating ecosystem service supply capacities were quantifi ed and mapped in the three watersheds. A digital elevation model, land cover information and accessibility data were used to compile maps of demands for fl ood regulating ecosystem services. Supply-demand budgets were calculated and mapped for the study areas using the fl ood regulation supply and demand maps. The results quantify and illustrate complex ecosystem function–service–benefi t relations in watersheds. Comparable procedures and calculation algorithms can be applied for other ecosystem functions and services relevant on the watershed scale. The approach is transferable to other regions and can provide important information for integrated watershed management.

AB - Quantifying, modelling and mapping ecosystem services is an important step to the application of ecosystem services in practice and decision making. Watersheds are functional entities that provide an appropriate spatial scale for water fl ow analysis and integrate all the processes that occur within their boundaries. Multiple ecosystem functions occur within watersheds, providing water-related ecosystem services such as freshwater provision, groundwater recharge, water purifi cation and fl ood regulation. A matrix approach was applied, linking different land cover types within watersheds to different ecosystem functions and services. Supply capacities of different land cover types and respective changes over time were assessed. By applying the watershed-based hydrologic model KINEROS and the GIS based AGWA tool, water retention functions of different land cover classes in the Bulgarian case study areas Malki Iskar, Vidima and Yantra were assessed. Based on the modelling results, fl ood regulating ecosystem service supply capacities were quantifi ed and mapped in the three watersheds. A digital elevation model, land cover information and accessibility data were used to compile maps of demands for fl ood regulating ecosystem services. Supply-demand budgets were calculated and mapped for the study areas using the fl ood regulation supply and demand maps. The results quantify and illustrate complex ecosystem function–service–benefi t relations in watersheds. Comparable procedures and calculation algorithms can be applied for other ecosystem functions and services relevant on the watershed scale. The approach is transferable to other regions and can provide important information for integrated watershed management.

KW - Agwa

KW - Demand

KW - Flood regulation

KW - Kineros

KW - Supply

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84943153173&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1007/978-94-017-9846-4_7

DO - 10.1007/978-94-017-9846-4_7

M3 - Contribution to book/anthology

AN - SCOPUS:84943153173

SN - 9789401798457

SP - 133

EP - 149

BT - Ecosystem Services and River Basin Ecohydrology

PB - Springer Netherlands

ER -