A web application to support the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services
Institution:
1. VITO, Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium;2. Ghent University, Department of Agricultural Economics, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;3. Ghent University, Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Aquatic Ecology, Jozef Plateaustraat 22, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;4. University of Antwerp, Department of Biology, Ecosystem management research group, Universiteitsplein 1-c, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium;5. University of East Anglia, Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment, Norwich NR4 7TJ, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom;6. INBO, Kliniekstraat 25, 1070 Brussels, Belgium;7. Technum, Coveliersstraat 15, 2600 Antwerp, Belgium;8. LNE, Koning Albert II-laan 20 box 8, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Abstract:
Assessing the impacts of policies on a wide range of ecosystem services can support the development of cost-effective policies that establish win–win situations across different environmental domains. To explore the quantity and value of ecosystem services, the web-based application “nature value explorer” was developed. The application allows to estimate the impact of land use and land cover change on regulating and cultural ecosystem services in Flanders, Belgium. To ensure the applicability in day-to-day decision making as part of environmental impact assessments, user requirements were investigated prior to tool development. Finding the optimal balance between accuracy and complexity on the one hand and flexibility and user-friendliness on the other hand was an important challenge. To date, the nature value explorer has been successful in drawing the interest of policy makers and has been used several times to support decisions in infrastructure projects as well as in nature restoration projects in Flanders. This paper discusses the user requirements, the main tool characteristics, potential policy applications and future improvements. Three case studies illustrate the functionalities of the tool in day-to-day decision making. The tool can be consulted on http://www.natuurwaardeverkenner.be.
