Resources for identifying and selecting ecosystem services metrics
Monitoring of biophysical and ecological metrics is relatively common in natural resource management, but metrics for ecosystem services-related outcomes are less common. Reporting on ecosystem services metrics can be a good way to tell the story of natural resource management projects by linking environmental data with things that people care about.
Ecosystem service conceptual models (ESCMs) can provide an entry point for selecting ecosystem service metrics relevant to an intervention because they illustrate the connection between management actions and different types of outcomes (see figure below). We distinguish between ecological, human activity, and socio-economic outcomes of natural resource management; each of which can be monitored using different metrics. Because ecological metrics are relatively common and are addressed by other resources, we primarily focus here on human activity and socioeconomic metrics (see Figure below).
Resource Type | Description |
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Workshop guidance |
Download [PDF] - Guidance and example materials for workshops to help a U.S. Forest Service planning team identify key ecosystem service management outcomes and develop socioeconomic metrics for those outcomes using ecosystem service conceptual models (ESCMs), adapted from workshops held in summer 2020 with the Ashley National Forest. |
Metric criteria |
Download [PDF] - Pages 9-10 of the workshop guidance document include a list of criteria used to assess socioeconomic metrics during workshops held with the Ashley National Forest. |
Metrics database |
Example ecosystem services metrics [Excel] from a workshop with the Ashley National Forest, including measurement approaches for each metric and whether the metric is useful for planning or implementation Example access/experience matrix [PDF] for assessing impacts of planning alternatives on visitors’ use of the Ashley National Forest (blank, editable version of matrix [Excel]) |
Reference list |
Download [PDF] - A list of resources for finding socioeconomic metrics that have been used within USFS and related data sources. |
Predictive model library |
Predictive models are useful for quantifying the differences in effects of alternatives during scenario planning. This predictive model library [PDF] summarizes available predictive models related to fire and timber management. |