The role of ecological networks for the conservation of biodiversity is well established (Pahl-Wostl & Ulanowicz, 1993). Ecological networks have contributed not just to the conservation of natural species and habitat but to the evidence regarding the importance of nature to human health and well-being (Pretty, 2011). Health and well-being are driving the demand for outdoor leisure activities and the green infrastructure to support those activities. The ambitions for the recently created Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN) are based on the recognition that natural areas, in particular ecological and green networks, are important for sustainable development. It is to provide an infrastructure to support healthier lifestyles, to support the adaptation to climate change, as well as transforming Central Scotland “into a place where the environment adds value to the economy and where people’s lives are enriched by its quality” by 2050 (CSGN, 2011).
A key challenge to achieving sustainable development has been the bias in decision making towards those components in socio-ecological systems with an economic value. The concept of ecosystem services (MEA, 2005) allows the non-economic and intrinsic values of natural resources to be included in decision making and the trade-off process. Progress in the application of ecosystem services (ESS) has focused on the development of indicators and methods of mapping ESS (Burkhard et al 2012). The key challenges for application of ESS in policy decision making are the extent to which we can measure and monitor ESS and assess trade-offs effectively (Haines-Young et al, 2012) as well as our ability to manage the spatial and temporal nature of ecosystem services for continued delivery of ecosystem services and increases resilience and adaptibility to change (Syrbe & Walz, 2012).
This paper will use the CSGN as an example to explore the role of ecological and green networks in landscape character and the delivery of demands for ESS from multifunctional landscapes dominated by large urban centres.
References:
Burkhard, B, Kroll, F, Nedkov, S and Müller, F 2012 Mapping ecosystem service supply, demand and budgets. Ecological Indicators 21, 17-29
Central Scotland Green Network 2011 The Vision. CSGN
Haines-Young R, Potschin M & Kienast F 2012 Indicators of ecosystem service potential at European scales: Mapping marginal changes and trade-offs. Ecological Indicators 21, 39-53.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA) 2005 Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Synthesis. Island Press, Washington, DC.
Pretty, J 2011 Health Values from Ecosystems, in UK NEA.
Pahl-Wostl C & Ulanowicz Re 1993. Quantification of species as functional units within an ecological network. Ecological Modelling 66, 65-79.
Syrbe Ru & Walz U 2012 Spatial indicators for the assessment of ecosystem services: Providing, benefiting and connecting areas and landscape metrics. Ecological Indicators 21, 80-88.
