Informing landscape planning and design for sustaining ecosystem services from existing spatial patterns and knowledge

摘要: Over the last decade we have seen an increased emphasis in environmental management and policies aimed at maintaining restoring multiple ecosystem services landscape scales. This has resulted from recognition that of specific targets requires understanding processes spatial scales maintain those services. Moreover, become increasingly aware influence broad-scale drivers such as climate change on they support. Studies assessments relative success designs is mostly lacking. likely reflects relatively high cost a commitment to implement monitoring programs document responses different designs. However, argue there considerable variation natural human-caused pattern local continental this may facilitate analyses how responded patterns. wall-to-wall data land cover use national permit characterization mapping gradients. We discuss four broad interrelated focus areas should enhance our influences services: (1) characterizing gradients; (2) quantifying relationships between patterns services, (3) evaluating with regards (4) applying adaptive concepts improve effectiveness sustaining opportunities well challenges each these areas. believe agenda could lead spatially explicit solutions managing range Spatially options are critical protecting landscapes, especially given communities organizations often limited their capacity make changes The issues potential discussed paper expand upon call by Nassauer Opdam (Landscape Ecol 23:633–644, 2008) include design fundamental element ecology research (planned or designed) It also expands idea “learning doing” what already been done.”