Mapping and modelling ecosystem services for science, policy and practice

Ecosystem services are a significant research and policy topic and there are many modelling and mapping approaches aimed at understanding the stocks, demands and flows of ecosystem services on different spatial and temporal scales. The integration of geo-biophysical processes and structure assessments provides insights into actual ecosystem service supply and the ecological and biodiversity base (ecosystem functions). Information and data potential on ecosystem service beneficiaries (demand), their actual rates of use and consumption and how these components are interconnected (flows and trade-offs) can be analysed, integrated and represented by available tools such as thematic mapping, GIS, remote sensing, multi-criteria analysis, and dynamic geo-biophysical and decision process models. This Special Issue of Ecosystem Services is mainly an outcome of the Quantifying, Mapping, Modelling and Indicators of Ecosystem Services Workshop that was organized by the Special Issue guest editors at the 4th Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) Conference1 entitled Ecosystem Services: Integrating Science and Policy in October 2011 in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The Special Issue's thematic orientation and several articles present research and development activities related to the ESP Thematic Working Groups Modelling Ecosystem Services2 and Mapping Ecosystem Services3. The Groups are collaborating to develop tools, guidelines and standards for improving dynamic and spatial analyses of ecosystem services and their representation in ecosystem service modelling and mapping tools.