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Synthesis of Two Decades of US EPA’s Ecosystem Services Research to Inform Environmental, Community and Sustainability Decision Making
Citation:
Harwell, M. AND C. Jackson. Synthesis of Two Decades of US EPA’s Ecosystem Services Research to Inform Environmental, Community and Sustainability Decision Making. Sustainability. MDPI, Basel, Switzerland, 13(15):8249, (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158249
Impact/Purpose:
This article represents the final synthesis effort from SHC 2.61 (StRAP 2), presenting a review of two decades of ecosystem services assessment science from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the context of the final Ecosystem Services (also called FEGS) framework that has defined most of ORD’s ES research for StRAP 2 and StRAP 3. This synthesis presents both theoretical and methodological contributions, with the body of work organized around a conceptual framework focused on advancing the scientific knowledge about what types of ES information is needed to inform environmental, community, and sustainability decision making. After discussions with the guest editors, this synthesis manuscript is targeted for a Special Issue of the journal Sustainability, focused on “Assessing and Valuing Ecosystem Services”.
Description:
A conceptual framework is helpful to understand what types of ecosystem services (ES) information is needed to support decision making. Principles of structured decision making are helpful for articulating how ES consideration can influence different elements in a given decision context resulting in changes to the environment, human health, and well-being. This article presents a holistic view of an ES framework, summarizing two decades of the US EPA’s ES research, including recent advances in final ES, those ES that provide benefits directly to people. Approximately 150 peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and book chapters characterize a large ES research portfolio. In introducing framework elements and the suite of relevant US EPA research for each element, both challenges and opportunities are identified. Lessons from research to advance each of the final ES elements can be useful for identifying gaps and future science needs. Ultimately, the goal of this article is to help the reader develop an operational understanding of the final ES conceptual framework, an understanding of the state of science for a number of ES elements, and an introduction to some ES tools, models, and frameworks that may be of use in their case-study applications or decision-making contexts.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Synthesis of Two Decades of US EPA’s Ecosystem Services Research to Inform Environmental, Community and Sustainability Decision Making