National Ecosystem and Ecosystem Services Mapping Pilot

Ecosystems Services, Mapping and Assessment National Pilot

 ^{Ecosystems are multifunctional communities of living organisms interacting with each other and their environment.} 

 ^{Ecosystems provide a series of services for human well-being (ecosystem services) either directly (as food and fibre) or indirectly by providing clean air and water.} 

 ^{Biodiversity plays a key role in the functioning of ecosystems and their ability to provide ecosystem services. Biodiversity is highly threatened by human activities and continues to be lost.} 

 ^{The value of biodiversity and benefits from ecosystem services reach far beyond that which can be measured in financial terms. Many of interdependencies between biodiversity, ecosystems structures, functions and processes and benefits to humans are not yet fully understood or appreciated.} 

 ^{By assessing and valuing the known benefits of ecosystem services we can demonstrate how the loss of biodiversity affects our economy, society and future development opportunities and how the cost of conserving biodiversity and healthy ecosystems often outweighs the costs of neglect and restoration.} 

Project background:

 ^{In June 2015 National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage commissioned a short project for a National Ecosystem and Ecosystem Services Mapping Pilot for a suite of prioritised services based on available data.}  

 ^{The contract was awarded to a consortium led by Environment Systems, with Fabis Consulting, Team Projects and associate experts.}  

 ^{The following 'Story Maps' show the mapping outputs from the Project and should be viewed in conjunction with the project report, and supporting data which can be accessed through the  project page on the NPWS website}  .

About this Story Map:

 ^{The Story Maps illustrate the potential ecosystem services stocks prioritised and mapped, namely} 

•  ^{Soil carbon (Regulation of greenhouse gases (carbon))} 
•  ^{Vegetation carbon (Regulation of greenhouse gases (carbon))} 
•  ^{Marine carbon (Regulation of greenhouse gases (carbon))} 
•  ^{Areas of Land that temporarily store water (Flood Control)} 
•  ^{Areas of Land Promoting Good Water Quality - (Regulation of Water Quality)} 
•  ^{Vegetation carbon (Regulation of greenhouse gases (carbon))} 
•  ^{Areas of land supporting food production (Nutrition from crops, livestock  and wild food).} 
•  ^{Marine areas that provide food (Marine food (Provision)} 

 ^{These ecosystem services outputs are based on a national spatial framework of ecosystem services indicators based on available Irish spatial data. This is done using the SENCE (Spatial Evidence for Natural Capital Evaluation) approach through which direct and proxy spatial indicators are combined and weighted relative to each ecosystem service using a scientific Rules Base.}  

 ^{Key proxy indicators along with direct spatial indicators (such as elevation, soils, geology) form the basis for this spatial framework for ecosystem services for Ireland. The key proxy indicators developed in this project, are shared in this Story Map, namely} 

•  ^{Habitats Asset Register} 
•  ^{Species Coincidence}  
•  ^{Conservation Designations} 
•  ^{Ecological Networks (Woodlands, Grasslands, Wetlands)} 
•  ^{Terrestrial Biodiversity} 
•  ^{Marine Biodiversity} 

 ^{Metadata covering the spatial data in PDF format can be downloaded  here .} 

 ^{NPWS March 2017} 

 ^{Map: Areas of land that stores carbon} 

 ^{Regulating Service: Soil carbon (Regulation of greenhouse gases (carbon))} 

 ^{CICES Class: Global climate regulation by reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations} 

 ^{CICES Ireland Sub Class: Areas important for emissions reduction} 

How to interpret the map:

 ^{The darkest colours represent areas with high level of organic soil carbon overlain by vegetation which is actively helping the soil to store carbon. Lighter colours represent sandy soils with little organic carbon, which are regularly disturbed where carbon is released into the atmosphere.} 

Ecosystem service:

 ^{Climate change (regulation) - storage of carbon within soils} 

What the service is:

 ^{Soil organic matter is a heterogeneous mixture of organic compounds that are highly enriched in carbon, ranging in decomposition from fresh plant residues (leaf litter), to highly decomposed material known as humus. Organic carbon levels of different soil types are directly related to the amount of organic matter contained in soil from growth and death of plant roots and foliage, as well as indirectly from the transfer of carbon-enriched compounds from roots to soil microbes. Peat based soils contain the most carbon whilst sandy soils contain much less.} 

Why it is important:

 ^{Carbon storage in the soil is known as a major carbon sink; the more carbon stored in the soil, the less greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. Soil carbon storage results from interactions of different ecological processes.} 

How the map was created:

 ^{Information about soil type, landform and vegetation together with the management information (ploughing, for example, reducing potential for holding soil carbon), that are available, have been weighted (valued) and combined. The map has been created using existing datasets; including the Teagasc national soils and subsoils datasets and the derived habitat map. This does not include information on disturbance, which is particularly relevant on peatlands. The map should be interpreted as showing the best information with the current data available. The map is intended for use at a strategic scale. If exact carbon budgets are required for a specific site, field work should be carried out.} 

  ^{Data Download}  

 ^{Map: Vegetated land that stores carbon} 

 ^{Regulating Service: Vegetation carbon (Regulation of greenhouse gases (carbon))} 

 ^{CICES Class: Global climate regulation by reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations} 

 ^{CICES Ireland Sub Class: Areas important for emissions reduction} 

How to interpret the map:

 ^{The darkest colours represent areas where there is more carbon storage in the vegetation. Lighter colours represent areas of land where vegetated carbon is removed from the land each year.} 

What the service is:

 ^{Atmospheric carbon is sequestrated by and stored in vegetation through the process of photosynthesis, resulting in vegetative growth. The more biomass present in the vegetation the more carbon that is stored, with mature woodland of higher importance and grasslands and bare ground providing a lesser amount of carbon storage.} 

Why it is important:

 ^{Terrestrial ecosystems such as woodlands help to mitigate climate change by binding carbon within its biomass, thereby reducing greenhouse gas concentrations.} 

How the map was created:

 ^{Data analysis identified areas of significant carbon storage within vegetation. Information derived from existing habitat and land management data. This included a habitat map derived from Corine, FIPS Forest 07 and Forest 12 and NPWS (Article 17, National Survey of Native Woodlands 2003-2008; and Ancient and Long-established Woodland Inventory 2010) datasets. Vegetation is valued high to low according to both its above and below ground likely sequestration of carbon.} 

 ^{The map should be interpreted as showing the best information using the data currently available.} 

NOTE

 ^{Whilst the Habitat Asset Register (HAR) is based on the best data currently available, it does contain some inherent limitations due to the manner in which LPIS categorises permanent pasture. This may lead to an underestimation of semi-natural grassland and heaths. For details, please refer to the section on data gaps and the section on the preparation of LPIS data for usage in the HAR.} 

  ^{Data Download}  

 ^{Map: Marine sediments that store carbon} 

 ^{Regulating Service: Marine carbon (Regulation of greenhouse gases (carbon))} 

 ^{CICES Class: Global climate regulation by reduction of greenhouse gas concentrations} 

 ^{CICES Ireland Sub Class: Areas important for emissions reduction} 

How to interpret the map:

 ^{The darkest colours represent areas where there is more carbon storage in the marine environment. Lighter colours represent areas where the marine environment stores a lesser amount of carbon.} 

What the service is:

 ^{Atmospheric carbon is sequestrated by and stored in the marine environment through the process of photosynthesis by phytoplankton with the resulting microbes passing into the food chain. The other main method is via dissolution and chemical reaction of carbon dioxide and water forming bicarbonate which is likely to be stored in marine sediments.} 

Why it is important:

 ^{The marine environment is one of the largest on Earth. The role the sea plays in storing carbon helps reduce atmospheric contributions as carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas concentrations.} 

How the map was created:

 ^{Data analysis identified areas of significant carbon storage in the seas surrounding Ireland. This included data from the EU Seamap (Atlantic Habitats) and collated seabed substrate. Attributes from each dataset were analysed and valued from high to low where circalittoral mud was considered to store more carbon and coarse sediments and sand likely to store less carbon. Attributes assigned with only rock or seabed were scored as neutral to negligible. The map should be interpreted as showing the best information using the data currently available.} 

  ^{Data Download}  

 ^{Map: Land that temporarily stores water} 

 ^{Regulating Service Areas of Land that temporarily store water (Flood Control)} 

 ^{CICES Class: Hydrological cycle and water flow maintenance} 

 ^{CICES Ireland Sub Class:  Water storage} 

How to interpret the map:

 ^{Darker colours represent areas that are helping to slow water. The lighter colours represent areas where water is moving quickly through the environment and therefore contributing to flood risk down the catchment.} 

​Ecosystem service:

 ^{Regulation and mediation of liquid flows - Land that temporary stores water helping to mitigate flooding} 

What the service is:

 ^{This map shows where the environment is helping to slow the movement of surface water run-off over the land into rivers (also known as overland flow), and where is most at risk of flooding.} 

Why it is important:

 ^{Increased climate variability will increase the risk of both floods and drought, both of which will be mitigated against to varying degrees by vegetation and substrate. For example, habitats such as woodlands have many layers of vegetation, which help slow down the rain drops by friction. Therefore, by the time they reach the ground they have, to some extent, been dispersed and are subsequently travelling slowly enough to sink into the soil.} 

 ^{The other contributing factors are soil type, landform and land management.} 

How the map was created:

 ^{This map was created using a combination of datasets. Habitat information from the derived habitat map, together with slope, soil and geology data have been considered. The soil and geology are also important, as some areas can absorb and hold water whilst others hold very little. Topography is significant, where flat land holds water whilst steep slopes shed water rapidly. The map should be interpreted as showing the best information with the current data available.} 

  ^{Data Download}  

 ^{Map: Areas of land that purify water}  

 ^{Regulating Service: Areas of Land Promoting Good Water Quality - (Regulation of Water Quality)} 

 ^{CICES Class:  Chemical condition of freshwaters}  

 ^{CICES Ireland Sub Class:  Terrestrial & freshwater habitats which provide nutrient retention and pH buffering} 

How to interpret the map:

 ^{The darkest colours represent land that contributes most to filtering sediment from the water and, therefore, 'better' water quality. Lighter colours represent land that may be inputting impurities into the water environment.} 

Ecosystem service:

 ^{Regulating and maintaining chemical condition of freshwater – Water Quality Regulation} 

What the service is:

 ^{Contribution of the land to the filtration and supply of fresh water.} 

Why it is important:

 ^{Pure clean water is essential for human health and underpins the whole environment.} 

How the map was created:

 ^{The map has been created using information on soil type from the Teagasc national soils and subsoils datasets, landform in terms of slope angle and habitats from the compiled habitat map. It uses scientific knowledge to model which areas of land are likely to be filtrating water and which areas of land are potentially having an adverse effect by inputting impurities. The map should be interpreted as showing the best information with the current data available. The map is intended for use at a strategic scale. If information is needed about current site specific water quality a detailed field survey should be undertaken.} 

  ^{Data Download}  

 ^{Map: Marine areas that provide food} 

 ^{Provisioning Service: Marine areas that provide food (Marine food)} 

 ^{CICES Classes: Wild plants, algae and their outputs, Wild animals and their outputs, Plants and algae from in-situ aquaculture, Animals from in-situ aquaculture} 

  ^{CICES Ireland Sub Classes: Commercial sea fisheries, Coastal aquaculture, Coastal mariculture, Coastal shellfish harvest (inshore), Red / Green / Yellow / Brown algae (splash zone to lower shore)} 

How to interpret the map:

 ^{Green colours represent areas with a high contribution to marine food provision, based on data on fisheries effort; turquoise and blue areas have a lower direct contribution to marine food provision.} 

What the service is:

 ^{This service includes everything taken from the sea for human consumption. This includes fish (marine and diadromous), shellfish, crustaceans, and algae, both from wild harvest and from aquaculture.} 

Why it is important:

 ^{Increasing populations globally create increasing demand for food provision and are putting pressure on the marine ecosystem. Understanding current food provision, particularly in the coastal zone, is important in future marine spatial planning.} 

How the map was created:

 ^{The most important datasets for mapping of this service are direct measures relating to fisheries. Protected areas are included in the scoring, as they can help protect fish stock and juvenile life stages. Terrestrial habitats have been included in the mapping where they are of direct relevance, such as saltmarshes, which form nursery areas and support marine fisheries. Anthropogenic structures can impact marine food provision, if they are associated with fisheries restrictions.} 

 ^{This map does not consider how different substratum types support marine fisheries.} 

  ^{Data Download}  

 ^{Map: Areas of land that provide food} 

 ^{Provisioning Service: Areas of land supporting food production (Nutrition from crops, livestock and wild food)} 

 ^{CICES Classes: Cultivated crops, Reared animals and their outputs, Wild animals and their outputs, Materials from plants, algae and animals for agricultural use} 

 ^{CICES Ireland Sub Classes: Grain crops, Pollinated crops, Market vegetables, Dairy and Beef cattle, Sheep, Forage, Wild plants, fruits and fungi, Wildfowl, Terrestrial game birds, Deer} 

How to interpret the map:

 ^{In the main map, the darkest colours represent areas where there is greater production of food such as cultivated crops and improved pasture. Lighter colours represent areas where the land provides lower amounts of food such as wild food gathering (fungi and game etc). The insert highlights area primarily under agricultural land use in orange.} 

What the service is:

 ^{Land being used for producing crops, rearing livestock and which could be used to forage for wild foods such as fungi and berries or hunting game.} 

Why it is important:

 ^{Increasing populations globally and requirement for increase in housing and other resources such as timber and minerals is putting pressure on land use.} 

 ^{Understanding current food provision resource is important in planning future land use strategy.} 

How the map was created:

 ^{The map was created using information on cropping types from the Land Parcel Information System, soil data from Teagasc and habitat data from NPWS. Arable crops and improved grassland (permanent pasture) are shown as high whilst land that provides for wild food provision only is scored low. The map is intended for use at a strategic scale and not at individual farm level. Current activity on an individual land parcel would need to be assessed to give a complete field scale result.} 

 ^{The map should be interpreted as showing the best information using the data currently available.} 

  ^{Data Download}