Ecosystem Services
Case Studies
On this page we provide studies that deal with ecosystem services and how they can be used as indicators in the context of soil management.
In the first study of Paul et al. (2021) a standardization of soil-related ecosystem services is explained. For doing so, it was assessed which of the classes of the International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) are soil-related or affected by agricultural soil management.The analysis revealed several challenges of the CICES classification system when applied to soils. For instance, the distinction between biotic and abiotic components is problematic, as soils are by definition systems of interrelated biotic and abiotic components. However, CICES can help to standardize ecosystem service assessments and therefore improve their relevance to policy.
The second study of Paul et al. (2022) gives an insight about how the indicator factsheets for the assessment perspective of the ecosystem services were developed, and describes the dataset in more detail. The dataset is based on a literature review that identified 180 research articles about indicators of ecosystem services in agriculture, of which 121 paper met the selection criteria. For each indicator, the recommended spatial scale was recorded, and the category of the input data (e.g. direct measurement, survey, expert assessment) is provided.
Abstract: The concept of ecosystem services (ES) creates understanding of the value of ecosystems for human well-being. With regard to soils, it provides a framework for assessments of soil contributions and soil management impacts. However, a lack of standardization impedes comparisons between assessment studies and the building of synthesis information. The Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) is an important step forward, although its application to soils is not without difficulty. CICES version 5.1 defines 83 ES classes, of which only some are relevant for soils. We compiled two subsets of CICES classes: one set of soil-related ES comprising 29 services defined as directly and quantifiably controlled by soils and their properties, processes and functions, and another set of 40 ES defined as being affected by agricultural soil management. Additionally, we conducted a systematic literature review, searching for published lists of soil related ES that claim completeness. We identified 11 relevant lists. Of all CICES classes, 12 were included in more than 75% of the lists, whereas another 36 classes were included in 25–75% of them. Regarding the suitability of the CICES classification for addressing ES in the context of soils and their agricultural management, we identified constraints, such as overlaps, gaps, and highly specific or very broad class definitions. Close cooperation between the soil research and ES communities could ensure better consideration of soils in future CICES updates. A shortlist of 25 service classes affected by agricultural soil management facilitates a standardized approach and may function as checklists in impact assessments.
Citation: Paul C, Kuhn K, Steinhoff-Knopp B, Weißhuhn P, Helming K. Towards a standardization of soil-related ecosystem service assessments. Eur J Soil Sci. 2021; 72:1543–1558.
Link to the study: https://doi.org/10.1111/ejss.13022
Abstract: Ecosystem services represent an important concept for assessing the sustainability of agricultural management. However, in practical applications, it can be difficult to find indicators suitable for specific services or specific spatial scales. In order to create a toolbox of indicators for assessing the actual or potential supply of ecosystem services in the context of agricultural land and soil management, we conducted a keyword-based literature review in Web of Science Core Collection and SCOPUS, using the terms ecosystem service AND indicator AND agricultur*. The search was performed in January 2019 and was restricted to journal articles written in English. After eliminating duplicates, we identified 180 articles, out of which 121 met our selection criteria. We extracted information on addressed ecosystem services and indicators which used a full-text review. Where studies used ecosystem service definitions other than the Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES V.5.1), indicators were assigned to the corresponding CICES class or classes. We used the information derived from the review to create factsheets for 37 ecosystem services. Each factsheet provides tables with available indicators applicable at multiple spatial scales that range from field to global, information on the type of input data required, and a reference to the article or articles that the indicator was taken from. The dataset provides a toolbox for researchers to find indicators that fit their respective research needs.
Citation: Paul, C., Donmez, C., Koeppe, P., Robinson, J. S., & Barnickel, S. (2022). Dataset of Indicators for the Assessment of Ecosystem Services Affected by Agricultural Soil Management. Data, 7(8), 102.
Link to the study: https://doi.org/10.3390/data7080102
Dataset: The MS Word and PDF versions of the dataset are available through the BonaRes Repository (Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF), Germany, with the following data identification number: https://doi.org/10.20387/bonares-mpzr-ja21 (email required)