Status of mapping, assessment and valuation of marine ecosystem services in the European seas

Abstract

While terrestrial ecosystems are easily monitored, marine systems suffer from a scarcity of spatial data due to their high dynamism nature and tri-dimensional environment. In this context, mapping is recognized as a critical instrument to bring ecosystem services (ES) into practical applications, and modelling could represent an essential resource for assessing marine ecosystem services. The scope of this study is to analyse the status quo of the spatially-explicit data of marine ecosystem services in European seas, (i) providing an overview of the mapping and assessment of marine ecosystem services in Europe; and (ii) highlighting the challenges and importance of including spatial analyses in the socio-economic valuation of marine ecosystem services. These results show that the mapping and assessment of ES in European marine and coastal areas are still limited and not harmonized in the evaluation approach. Most studies have provided a general assessment of marine and coastal ESs, and only few have performed detailed habitat-specific ES analyses, e.g. coastal lagoons, seagrass and meadows, neglecting the rest of marine and coastal ecosystems. Such disequilibrium was not only limited to habitat type, but it was also extended to the ES categories. Finally, the monetary and non-monetary valuation of marine ecosystems services is extremely relevant and fundamental in the process of boosting the conservation of marine habitats and resources, and of overseeing a more sustainable development for the maritime activities. Nevertheless, the methodology for the socio-economic valuation of marine assets is still under discussion due mainly to the hindrances intrinsic to marine environment. An outlook of future steps and recommendations is provided.