Tools for mapping and quantifying ecosystem services supply

Techniques for mapping and quantifying ecosystem services are gaining increased traction in recent years. They include powerful computational and visual tools for representing ecosystem service supply and for facilitating policy, planning, and management decisions. This chapter describes, evaluates, and critiques the tools and approaches for quantifying ecosystem service supply that are commonly used by both academics and practitioners. Drawing on relevant case studies, this chapter introduces the mapping methods available for characterizing and measuring both single and multiple ecosystem services and offers new insights for the identification of priority areas for ecosystem services management. Despite the growing use of approaches to ecosystem service modeling, current research and application challenges include: (1) Gaps in data availability; (2) inconsistency in mapping approaches; (3) Assessing uncertainties in ecosystem services mapping; and (4) Translating supply into actual benefits. The chapter concludes with suggestions to overcome these challenges through future research, engagement with end users, and integrating ecosystem service quantification and mapping into decision-making processes.