Keywords

model coupling; ecosystem service; species distribution; land use change; ecological infrastructure

Start Date

7-7-2022 1:00 PM

End Date

7-7-2022 1:20 PM

Abstract

Title: ValPar.CH: Integrating land use change, Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity modelling to simulate pathways towards a functioning Ecological Infrastructure for Switzerland. Abstract: The ValPar.CH project commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) will simulate the future development of Switzerland’s Ecological Infrastructure (EI) under multiple scenarios with the aim of exploring policy interventions intended to secure a functioning EI by 2060. Within the scope of ValPar.CH, EI is defined as a network of high quality natural and semi-natural landscape elements planned and managed to provide ecosystem services (ES) and support biodiversity. As such, simulating the development of EI is operationalized through the coupling of Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC), ES provision and species distribution models. This coupling presents numerous practical challenges, one of which is a tradeoff between model complexity and interoperability which is often exacerbated by the demand upon collaborating researchers to demonstrate innovation in their respective fields. On the other hand, it also raises conceptual questions regarding how to present the results of modelling multiple environmental phenomena in a unified, coherent manner. Whilst there can be no objective solutions to these issues, we demonstrate the approaches taken to address them within the ValPar.CH project. Specifically, we highlight how flexibility is essential in the selection of modelling approaches with key considerations for interoperability being: adaptability to a commonly agreed spatio-temporal resolution of analysis, maximisation of overlap between predictors/data sources, and the possibility to realise the models in open source programming applications, such as R and Python. Furthermore, we present how stakeholder International Congress on Environmental Modelling & Software iEMSs participation can be used to derive a context specific indicator of EI combining components of ES, biodiversity and landscape metrics. Key words: model coupling; ecosystem service; species distribution; land use change; ecological infrastructure

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Jul 7th, 1:00 PM Jul 7th, 1:20 PM

ValPar.CH: Integrating land use change, Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity modelling to simulate pathways towards a functioning Ecological Infrastructure for Switzerland.

Title: ValPar.CH: Integrating land use change, Ecosystem Service and Biodiversity modelling to simulate pathways towards a functioning Ecological Infrastructure for Switzerland. Abstract: The ValPar.CH project commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) will simulate the future development of Switzerland’s Ecological Infrastructure (EI) under multiple scenarios with the aim of exploring policy interventions intended to secure a functioning EI by 2060. Within the scope of ValPar.CH, EI is defined as a network of high quality natural and semi-natural landscape elements planned and managed to provide ecosystem services (ES) and support biodiversity. As such, simulating the development of EI is operationalized through the coupling of Land Use Land Cover Change (LULCC), ES provision and species distribution models. This coupling presents numerous practical challenges, one of which is a tradeoff between model complexity and interoperability which is often exacerbated by the demand upon collaborating researchers to demonstrate innovation in their respective fields. On the other hand, it also raises conceptual questions regarding how to present the results of modelling multiple environmental phenomena in a unified, coherent manner. Whilst there can be no objective solutions to these issues, we demonstrate the approaches taken to address them within the ValPar.CH project. Specifically, we highlight how flexibility is essential in the selection of modelling approaches with key considerations for interoperability being: adaptability to a commonly agreed spatio-temporal resolution of analysis, maximisation of overlap between predictors/data sources, and the possibility to realise the models in open source programming applications, such as R and Python. Furthermore, we present how stakeholder International Congress on Environmental Modelling & Software iEMSs participation can be used to derive a context specific indicator of EI combining components of ES, biodiversity and landscape metrics. Key words: model coupling; ecosystem service; species distribution; land use change; ecological infrastructure