Abstract
Background and aims
When nitrogen (N) measures are implemented the main focus is on the nitrate leaching reductions and the direct costs. However, the measures that include changes in land use will also have an effect on the provision of a range of ecosystem services. This stresses the need to include additional factors in evaluations of the cost and benefits of implementing N measures. This study addresses the effects of changes in agricultural land use on the provision of ecosystem services in three study areas in Denmark. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects on the provision of ecosystem services are evaluated based on both stakeholder-guided and expert-guided land use scenarios.
Methods
The scenarios cover the catchments areas of the water courses Hagens Møllebæk, Binderup Å, and Gjøl canal. The land use scenarios are formulated with special focus on change from arable land to more extensive land uses. Based on the scenarios the impact on ecosystem services of land use changes is estimated. The
scenarios are developed in a GIS based landscape model where N leaching is estimated with the Nles4 model. The effects on ecosystem services are estimated in the MAES model.
Results
The results show that land use characteristics have an effect on the provision of ecosystem services. The estimated provision of ecosystem services in the current (baseline) land use is compared with the provision in relation to three scenarios with focus on implementing land based measures to reduce N leaching. The
evaluated scenarios focus on wetlands, drinking water protection (afforestation), and extensive grassland.
Conclusions
The results indicate that the cost of implementing measures to reduce N leaching is partly compensated by the benefits of increased provision of the ecosystem services in focus. Consequently, the external effects of implementing N specific measures should be taken into account in impact assessments. In relation to
collaborative planning processes it is important to include as many ecosystem services as possible to engage with the objectives of the different stakeholder.
Acknowledgements
This study is developed within the Strategic Research Alliance dNmark: Danish Nitrogen Mitigation Assessment: Research and Know-how for a sustainable low-Nitrogen food production (2013-2017) funded by The Danish Council for Strategic Research (now Innovationsfonden)
When nitrogen (N) measures are implemented the main focus is on the nitrate leaching reductions and the direct costs. However, the measures that include changes in land use will also have an effect on the provision of a range of ecosystem services. This stresses the need to include additional factors in evaluations of the cost and benefits of implementing N measures. This study addresses the effects of changes in agricultural land use on the provision of ecosystem services in three study areas in Denmark. The aim of the study is to evaluate the effects on the provision of ecosystem services are evaluated based on both stakeholder-guided and expert-guided land use scenarios.
Methods
The scenarios cover the catchments areas of the water courses Hagens Møllebæk, Binderup Å, and Gjøl canal. The land use scenarios are formulated with special focus on change from arable land to more extensive land uses. Based on the scenarios the impact on ecosystem services of land use changes is estimated. The
scenarios are developed in a GIS based landscape model where N leaching is estimated with the Nles4 model. The effects on ecosystem services are estimated in the MAES model.
Results
The results show that land use characteristics have an effect on the provision of ecosystem services. The estimated provision of ecosystem services in the current (baseline) land use is compared with the provision in relation to three scenarios with focus on implementing land based measures to reduce N leaching. The
evaluated scenarios focus on wetlands, drinking water protection (afforestation), and extensive grassland.
Conclusions
The results indicate that the cost of implementing measures to reduce N leaching is partly compensated by the benefits of increased provision of the ecosystem services in focus. Consequently, the external effects of implementing N specific measures should be taken into account in impact assessments. In relation to
collaborative planning processes it is important to include as many ecosystem services as possible to engage with the objectives of the different stakeholder.
Acknowledgements
This study is developed within the Strategic Research Alliance dNmark: Danish Nitrogen Mitigation Assessment: Research and Know-how for a sustainable low-Nitrogen food production (2013-2017) funded by The Danish Council for Strategic Research (now Innovationsfonden)
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Titel | Innovative solutions for sustainable management of nitrogen : Conference proceedings |
| Antal sider | 1 |
| Forlag | Aarhus Universitet |
| Publikationsdato | 2017 |
| Sider | 116 |
| ISBN (Trykt) | 978-87-93398-82-5 |
| Status | Udgivet - 2017 |
| Udgivet eksternt | Ja |
| Begivenhed | Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Management of Nitrogen - Aarhus Universitet, Aarhus, Danmark Varighed: 26 jun. 2017 → 28 jun. 2017 |
Konference
| Konference | Innovative Solutions for Sustainable Management of Nitrogen |
|---|---|
| Lokation | Aarhus Universitet |
| Land/Område | Danmark |
| By | Aarhus |
| Periode | 26/06/2017 → 28/06/2017 |