Rights statement: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Ecosystem Services. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Ecosystem Services, 42, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065
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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of land cover data on farm-scale valuations of natural capital
AU - Burke, Thomas
AU - Whyatt, Duncan
AU - Rowland, Clare S.
AU - Blackburn, Alan
AU - Abbatt, Jon
N1 - This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Ecosystem Services. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Ecosystem Services, 42, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065
PY - 2020/4/1
Y1 - 2020/4/1
N2 - The valuation of natural capital within individual farms could inform environmentally beneficial land use change and form the basis of agricultural subsidy schemes based on the provision of ecosystem services. Land cover extents can be used in a benefit transfer approach to produce monetary valuations of natural capital rapidly and at low cost. However, the methodology has not before been used within individual farms, and the impact of land cover data characteristics on the accuracy of valuations is uncertain. Here, we apply the approach to five UK farms of contrasting size, configuration and farming style, using three widely available land cover products. Results show that the land cover product used has a substantial impact on valuations, with differences of up to 58%, and the magnitude of this effect varies considerably according to the landscape structure of the farm. At most sites, valuation differences are driven by the extent of woodland recorded in the landscape, with higher resolution land cover products incorporating larger amounts of woodland through inclusion of smaller patches, leading to higher overall valuations. Integrating more accurate land cover data and accounting for the condition, configuration and location of natural capital has potential to improve the accuracy of valuations.
AB - The valuation of natural capital within individual farms could inform environmentally beneficial land use change and form the basis of agricultural subsidy schemes based on the provision of ecosystem services. Land cover extents can be used in a benefit transfer approach to produce monetary valuations of natural capital rapidly and at low cost. However, the methodology has not before been used within individual farms, and the impact of land cover data characteristics on the accuracy of valuations is uncertain. Here, we apply the approach to five UK farms of contrasting size, configuration and farming style, using three widely available land cover products. Results show that the land cover product used has a substantial impact on valuations, with differences of up to 58%, and the magnitude of this effect varies considerably according to the landscape structure of the farm. At most sites, valuation differences are driven by the extent of woodland recorded in the landscape, with higher resolution land cover products incorporating larger amounts of woodland through inclusion of smaller patches, leading to higher overall valuations. Integrating more accurate land cover data and accounting for the condition, configuration and location of natural capital has potential to improve the accuracy of valuations.
KW - Ecosystem service valuation
KW - land cover
KW - benefit transfer
KW - agriculture
KW - spatial resolution
KW - thematic resolution
U2 - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065
DO - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2020.101065
M3 - Journal article
VL - 42
JO - Ecosystem Services
JF - Ecosystem Services
SN - 2212-0416
M1 - 101065
ER -