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A backcasting approach for matching regional ecosystem services supply and demand

Type of publication Peer-reviewed
Publikationsform Original article (peer-reviewed)
Author Brunner Sibyl Hanna, Huber Robert, Grêt-Regamey Adrienne,
Project OPSOL: Matching soil functions and soil uses in space and time for sustainable spatial development and land management - operationalizing cross-scale interactions in a virtual collaborative decision support system
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Original article (peer-reviewed)

Journal Environmental Modelling & Software
Volume (Issue) 75
Page(s) 439 - 458
Title of proceedings Environmental Modelling & Software
DOI 10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.10.018

Open Access

URL http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsoft.2015.10.018
Type of Open Access Publisher (Gold Open Access)

Abstract

Ecosystem services (ES) modeling studies typically use a forecasting approach to predict scenarios of future ES provision. Usually, these forecasts do not inform on how specific policy alternatives will influence future ES supply and whether this supply can match ES demand – important information for policy-makers in practice. Addressing these gaps, we present a multi-method backcasting approach that links normative visions with explorative land-use and ES modeling to infer land-use policy strategies for matching regional ES supply and demand. Applied to a case study, the approach develops and evaluates a variety of ES transition pathways and identifies types, combinations and timings of policy interventions that increase ES benefits. By making explicit ES sensitivity towards regional policy strategies and global boundary conditions over time, the approach allows to address key uncertainties involved in ES modeling studies.
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