Progress in ecosystem services research: A guide for scholars and practitioners

• Published in: Ecosystem services Vol. 49; p. 101267
• Main Authors: Valencia Torres, Angélica, Tiwari, Chetan, Atkinson, Samuel F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-06-2021
• Subjects: Biodiversity conservation; Economic valuation; Ecosystem services research; Guidance; Systematic literature review; Guidance; Biodiversity conservation; Economic valuation; Ecosystem services research; Systematic literature review
• ISSN: 2212-0416; 2212-0416
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoser.2021.101267

•This study provides guidance for scholars and practitioners starting research in the ecosystem services field.•Eight key themes and twenty-eight approaches were identified within ecosystem services research.•Conservation of biodiversity was the theme with the highest levels of activity and interest.•Non-monetary valuation and computational modelling are emerging approaches in ecosystem services research.•Research on the economic value of ecosystem services extends back to the beginnings of the field.
The study of ecosystem services enables the understanding of the services that ecosystems provide at the landscape level by explaining the relationship between natural capital, ecosystem services, and human wellbeing. The limited number of studies summarizing important themes and approaches used in this area constrain the ability of scholars and practitioners to initiate or incorporate ecosystem services in their own domains of research. This paper develops a structured process that traces efforts in this domain of knowledge and proposes a systematic review of key themes and approaches that have developed over the last 40 years. Further, this study identifies emerging and dominant areas of interest in the field. Key themes represent underlying meanings or ideas widely used in the ecosystem services field and includes trending or rising topics. Approaches include tools, frameworks, perspectives and management strategies to analyze, assess, and quantify ecosystem services. Analyses showed that, among key themes, conservation of biodiversity and landscape planning had the most activity and interest. Among approaches, economic valuation showed the highest levels of activity, while conceptual framework was the most cited. This review paper contributes a guide to progress in ecosystem service research and provides a comprehensive understanding of its evolution and development.