Application of GIS and Remote Sensing in Ecosystem Services Studies

Transcription

1 NRS509 Tingting Liu Application of GIS and Remote Sensing in Ecosystem Services Studies What is Ecosystem Services? Nowadays, more and more people are paying attention to ecosystem services as people are aware that with the increase in population, income, and consumption levels, humans are putting too much pressure on the natural environment to deliver these benefits. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment scientists found that 60 percent of ecosystem services assessed globally are either degraded or being used unsustainably, 70 percent of the regulating and cultural services evaluated in the assessment are in decline and they also predicted that ecosystem degradation could grow significantly worse in the first half of the 21st century, with significant consequences to human well being (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Reports, 2005). However, if policy makers take into account ecosystem services in socio economic planning, the nutrients from the farmland and industry can be recycled in place and less will be exported to downstream rivers, lakes and coastal areas; forests can be appropriately protected, habitats for both terrestrial and aquatic species can be enhanced, production efficiency can be enhanced and even better air quality can be provided for the public. Using GIS/Remote Sensing as Tools To carry out ecosystem services analysis, identification of the interest areas is the first step. However, this can be hampered due to competing economic interests, unequal distribution of benefits to different stakeholders, weak institutional support, and human demographic and resource use pressure (Carlos et al., 2006).This requires using the tools of remote sensing and GIS. Over the last few decades, GIS has been widely used for creating databases with spatial information, which can be applied to both human settlements and to the natural environment. Remote sensing technology has also been used increasingly by the scientific community to describe and monitor a variety of systems on a local or global scale. This evolving technology from pure visual imagery (e.g. panchromatic aerial photographs) to multi spectral imagery (e.g. Thematic Map) has provided a very powerful tool to study the human impact on the environment. Besides this, the spatial resolution has improved and reached a level at which the quality of publicly available space borne imagery challenges that of air borne imagery for the first time (Dahdouh Guebas et al., 2002). Existing reports and case studies provide strong evidence that urbanization negatively affects streams and results in water quality problems such as loss of habitat, increased temperatures, sedimentation and loss of fish populations (USEPA, 2000). A lot of studies have been done on the forest, wildlife habitat and conservation, as well as a few papers focusing on the watershed ecosystem services as a whole. Kreuter et al. (2001) are trying to quantify urban sprawl s impact on ecosystem services and functions in San Antonio, Texas, which is also one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the USA. Carlos et al (2006) focused on protected areas and explored multiple factors acting as drivers of change around protected areas. A lot of studies 1

2 have also been done in different areas and scales, such as protected areas (Carlos et al., 2006), in an Alpine region (Gret Regamey et al, 2008), tropical areas (Dahdouh Guebas et al, 2002), specific watersheds areas (Wu et al, 2004), and even some diversity of spatial scales and locations (Austin et al, 2002). In all the above cases, it is necessary to gather the information of topography, soil properties, watershed and even species information as the fundamental s to start the research. Using my project: Managing multiple ecosystems services from agricultural and forest in the rural urban fringe in southern New England as an example, due to the urban sprawl, the increasing impervious surface areas, and the widening urban fringes, pressure has been put on environmentally sensitive inland and coastal areas. With the aerial and satellite remote sensing technology, we can get forty years ( ) of land use and land cover data, which will show the impacts of changing landscape on southern New England s environment and ecosystem services. After measuring the extent of the changes in open space using pixel based digital image processing and GIS change analysis, GIS format maps that illustrate land cover changes, particularly those relative to impervious surface area can be generated. We will carefully document the correlation between the changes in land cover and the changes in open space for each administrative and 8 digit watershed in the study area. Next, we will measure the changes in key terrestrial habitat with two types of existing GIS maps: Distribution of Bird Species in Rhode Island (URI EDC, 1996) and the Rare Species of Rhode Island (RIDEM, 1997). The bird species map is based on vector digital data that shows the distribution of more than 150 breeding season bird species nesting in Rhode Island as documented in Enser (1992). The rare species map is also based on vector digital data that shows the estimated habitat and the range of rare species and noteworthy natural communities compiled through the Natural Heritage Program (RI DEM, 1997). Among these bird and rare species, we will focus on species that are dependent on agricultural and managed forests. We will overlay the two species maps with the land use management, topography, and soil maps to construct a habitat suitability index. Finally, we will then estimate how the bird and rare species habitat suitability index has changed over time and across space with changes in land use and management. Models and Technology Based on the GIS/Remote Sensing tools, a lot of software has been developed to study the field of Ecosystem services. USGS has developed SolVES social value for ecosystem services which provides the tool for assessing, mapping and qualifying the social values of Ecosystem Service (Sherrouse et al., 2010). USDA has developed SWAT (Soil, Water Assessment Tool). This software can predict the impact of crop management practices on water, sediment, and agricultural chemical yields in large, complex watersheds with varying soils, land use, and management conditions over a long period of time (Neitsch et al., 2002). SWAT requires extensive information on topography, soil properties, weather, and land management practices in the watershed. Besides these, climate models can be used to evaluate the possible impacts of climate change on water resources both in terms of water quantity and quality based on GIS/Remote Sensing. Other technology and models including the static model and dynamic model, as well as the optimization algorithms can be used in the study of ecosystem services. Data Researchers can acquire data from the Landsat remote sensing data and get the land cover data from it which is more accurate in the land cover to interpret the impervious area. Researchers 2

3 can also download social, economic, regulatory, and infrastructural and environment data (e.g. soil, weather, water and other topography data) from the federal or state government websites (e.g. US Census, USGS, NCDC, NED, NRCS). Private GIS/ Remote sensing data may satisfy researchers if they need more specific data. Future of GIS/Remote Sensing in Ecosystem Services There is no doubt that the increasing quality and availability of fine scale spatial data will assist the future study of ecosystem services. However, with the higher levels of spatial and categorical precision and accuracy, first and foremost decision makers in the private sector and government need to identify critical areas. Since any given location in the landscape can provide a bundle of ecosystem services, the challenge will be how to manage landscapes in a manner that maximizes the benefits to the whole society while minimizing forgone profits loss (Dahdouh Guebas, 2002). Furthermore, there is a need for more comprehensive approaches and models that deal with new remote sensing technologies and analysis in a GIS environment such as choosing an optimization method to find out the maximum benefits for the critical area. Last but not least, private data sources (e.g. D&B, GeoEye, AggData) will play a more important role in the ecosystem services studies in the near future to meet researchers specific needs. 3

4 Annotated Bibliography Baral H., S. Kasel, R. Keenan, J. Fox, and N. Stork GIS based classification, mapping and valuation of ecosystem services in production landscapes: A case study of the Green Triangle region of south eastern Australia, working paper This paper presents a GIS based approach for classification, mapping and valuation of selected ecosystem services using market and non market valuation techniques. The authors identified and compiled a variety of spatial and non spatial data and developed a land cover typology of the study area into a GIS environment. Based on these data, they estimate the annual flow of economic value of each service using various economic valuation techniques. They found that the economic value of market ecosystem services such as timber and carbon was relatively straightforward. However the quantification and valuation of non market services such as biodiversity was complicated. Their spatial GIS approach and economic valuation techniques provide an operational basis in ecosystem services framework. Carlos, F. M., F.B Alisson, J. W.Stephen, M. E. Christine, L. H. Flora, and E. B. Richard Pressure on the Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve: Development and Land Use/Cover Change in the Northern Ecuadorian Amazon, World Development34: Carlos et al discuss how GIS / Remote Sensing are used to examine demographic and socioeconomic drivers of land use and land cover (LULC) change in and around the Cuyabeno Wildlife Production Reserve in the Northern Ecaudorian Amazon. The Authors found out that the drivers for LULC patterns range from changes in land tenure regimes, indigenous communities location; characteristics of the market economy, household characteristics, settlement patterns to petroleum exploration and production. The GIS/ Remote sensing data included household surveys and satellite image time series. The Authors explored multiple factors acting as drivers of change around protected areas. Dahdouh Guebas, F The use of Remote Sensing and GIS in the sustainable management of tropical coastal ecosystem. Environment, Development and Sustainability 4: , In this paper, GIS/Remote sensing is taken to study the sustainable use and management of important tropical coastal ecosystems (mangrove forests, sea grass beds and coral reefs). The paper highlights a selected number of remote sensing case studies on land cover patterns, population structure and dynamics, and stand characteristics from South East Asia, Africa and South America, with a particular emphasis on mangroves. It further shows how remote sensing technology and other scientific tools can be integrated in long term studies, in order to anticipate degradation and to take mitigating measures at an early stage. Guidelines for sustainable management that can result from remote sensing and GIS studies, and identify existent gaps and research priorities can be beneficial to my project. 4

5 Gret Regamey A., P. Bebi, I. D. Bishopc, and W. A. Schmida Linking GIS based models to value ecosystem services in an Alpine region. Journal of Environmental Management 89: In this study, several existing process based models linked to economic valuation methods are integrated into GIS platform. The four ecosystem services (avalanche protection, timber production, scenic beauty, and habitat) evaluation requires the input of a digital elevation model, a land cover map, and a spatially explicit temperature dataset which are available for most regions in Europe. The authors found out urban expansion and tourist infrastructure developments have a negative impact on scenic beauty and habitats. These impacts outweigh the benefits of the developments in the long term. Kreuter U. P., H. G. Harris, M. D. Matlock, and R. E Lacey Change in ecosystem service values in the San Antonio area, Texas. Ecological Economics 39: In this paper, GIS / Remote Sensing are used to quantify urban sprawl s impact on ecosystem services and functions in San Antonio, Texas, which is also one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the USA. The authors have used LANDSAT MSS data to classify land use during a 15 year period in Bexar County and USGS Land use/land Cover data. Their result showed that urban sprawl in Bexar County resulted in a decline in the value of ecosystem services delivered by the affected land. What I learn from this paper is that LANDSAT data can be used to obtain coarse estimates of changes in ecosystem values at the watershed level. However, in order for this type of analysis to become valuable for policy formulation affecting land use, it is imperative to obtain a wider array of value coefficients for ecosystem services that more accurately reflect local conditions. Troy A. and A. Matthew Mapping ecosystem services: Practical challenges and opportunities in linking GIS and value transfer. Ecological Economics 60: In this paper, GIS/Remote sensing was used to estimate ecosystem service flow values and to map results for three case studies representing a diversity of spatial scales and locations: 1) Massachusetts; 2) Maury Island, Washington; and 3) three counties in California. In each case, a unique typology of land cover and aquatic resources was developed and mapped by GIS and relevant economic valuation studies were queried in order to assign estimates of ecosystem service values to each category in the typology. The result was a set of unique standardized ecosystem service value coefficients broken down by land cover class and service type for each case study. Other References: 1. Sherrouse B. C., J. L. Riegle and, Semmens Darius J Social Values for Ecosystem Services (SolVES): A GIS Application for Assessing, Mapping, and Quantifying the Social Values of Ecosystem Services Documentation and User Manual, Version 1.0. Geographic Analysis and Monitoring Program, USGS, 2010:1 48 5

6 2. Wu J.J., R. M. Adams, C.L. Kling, and K. Tanaka Assessing the Costs and Environmental Consequences of Agricultural Land Use Changes: A Site Specific, Policy Scale Modeling Approach, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 86: Neitsch, S. L., J. G. Arnold, J. R. Kiniry, and J. R. Williams Soil and Water Assessment Tool Theoretical Documentation (Version 2005), U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grassland, Soil and Water Research Laboratory; Blackland Research Center, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. 4. RI DEM (1997). RIDEM Natural Heritage Program Data Base. Providence, RI, RI DEM. 5. URI EDC (1996). Distribution of Bird Species in Rhode Island, RIGIS. 6. Enser, R. W The Atlas of Breeding Birds in Rhode Island. Providence, RI, RI Department of Environmental Management. 7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), Low Impact Development (LID): A Literature Review. Office of Water (4203), Washington, DC. October Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Reports,