7. Ecosystem services – Land use, ecosystem service change, and tradeoffs

Question 1

Define ‘flow area’

Answer 1

Flow area is the area that allows a flow between provisioning and benefiting areas.

Question 2

Define telecoupling

Answer 2

Telecoupling relates to socioeconomic and environmental interactions between coupled human and natural systems over distances.

Question 3

Define globalization

Answer 3

Globalization is socioeconomic interactions between human systems over distances.

Question 4

Define teleconnections

Answer 4

Teleconnections are environmental interactions between natural systems over distances.

Question 5

Give an example of a substitute for ES services.

Answer 5

• Climate regulation: CO2 capture
• Filtration of drinking water
• Dikes/sea walls instead of mangrove forest
• Hand pollination

Question 6

Why are many ESs not replaceable? Provide an example.

Answer 6

• One cannot replace phylogenetic and functional diversity due to intrinsic value.
• CO2 capture is imperfect and expensive
• Hand pollination is expensive and it might not be ethical to let people do this tedious job

Question 7

What are trade-offs?

Answer 7

Trade-offs refer to the concept of making decisions that involve balancing competing or conflicting objectives, goals, or values when it comes to the management of natural resources, conservation efforts, or addressing environmental issues. These trade-offs are often encountered when trying to find solutions to complex environmental problems, as there are typically multiple, sometimes conflicting, factors to consider.

Question 8

Between which domains may trade-offs occur? Name 3.

Answer 8

• Services
• Beneficiaries
• Locations
• Management options
• Value dimensions
• Short-term and long-term

Question 9

What is one way to minimize trade-offs?

Answer 9

Through efficiency gains and system optimization we can try to minimize the tradeoff.

Question 10

There can be tradeoffs between value dimensions. Which are the 3 value dimensions?

Answer 10

1. Biophysical dimension
2. Socio-cultural dimension
3. Economic dimension

Question 11

What is meant with levers?

Answer 11

Multi-actors interventions are levers: integrative, adaptive, informed and inclusive governance approaches, including smart policy mixes.

Question 12

What is meant with leverage points?

Answer 12

Leverage points: opportunities for intervention in the direct drivers of global social and economic system where they can make the biggest difference.

Question 13

What is meant with nexuses?

Answer 13

Nexuses: interdependent and complementary outcomes or goals with synergies and minimal tradeoffs.

Question 14

Why are locations not independent?

Answer 14

There are flows and telecouplings.

Question 15

How can we identify location specific tradeoffs and avoid generic statements?

Answer 15

Through spatial assessments and modelling.