Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Abstract
Many decision-makers are looking to science to clarify how nature supports human well-being. Scientists' responses have typically focused on empirical models of the provision of ecosystem services (ES) and resulting decision-support tools. Although such tools have captured some of the complexities of ES, they can be difficult to adapt to new situations. Globally useful tools that predict the provision of multiple ES under different decision scenarios have proven challenging to develop. Questions from decision-makers and limitations of existing decision-support tools indicate three crucial research frontiers for incorporating cutting-edge ES science into decision-support tools: (1) understanding the complex dynamics of ES in space and time, (2) linking ES provision to human well-being, and (3) determining the potential for technology to substitute for or enhance ES. We explore these frontiers in-depth, explaining why each is important and how existing knowledge at their cutting edges can be incorporated to improve ES decision-making tools.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Rights Information
© 2017 The Authors
Recommended Citation
Rieb JT, Chaplin-Kramer R, Daily GC, Armsworth PR, Böhning-Gaese K, Bonn A, Cumming GS, Eigenbrod F, Grimm V, Jackson BM, Marques A. When, where, and how nature matters for ecosystem services: challenges for the next generation of ecosystem service models. BioScience. 2017 Sep 1;67(9):820-33.
DOI
10.1093/biosci/bix075
Link to Article at Publisher Website
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Community Health Commons, Human Ecology Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Sustainability Commons