Land-cover scores for ecosystem service assessment

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This note describes a simple method for mapping ecosystem services based on scoring different types of land cover from 0 to 5, depending on their ability to supply different services. We have applied this approach to the Bicester area, by adapting a matrix of land-cover scores generated from a study in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull (WC&S). This note describes how the scores were generated in the initial study and how they have been modified for Bicester, providing explanation and justification for the scores. It presents some example results and considers the next steps. The scores derived for Bicester are shown in Tables 3 and 4 of Appendix 1, and the ecosystem service maps generated from these scores are shown in Appendix 2. We are continuing to refine the scores as part of a new eco-metric tool that is being developed by Natural England (release expected in late 2019).

Authors: Smith, A; Dunford, R

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford
• Place of publication: Oxford, UK
• Publication date: 2018-06-30
• Language: English