To better understand realized ecosystem services: An integrated analysis framework of supply, demand, flow and use

TL;DR

This paper introduces the SDFU framework to analyze realized ecosystem services, integrating supply, demand, flow, and use, and demonstrates its application in urban green parks to improve understanding and management.

Contribution

The study proposes a novel integrated framework for analyzing realized ecosystem services and applies it to practical urban examples to assess actual service use.

Findings

The framework differentiates potential and actual ES demand.

It identifies supply-limited, demand-limited, and balanced ES types.

Application in parks demonstrates assessment of real-world ES use.

Abstract

Realized ecosystem services (ES) are the actual use of ES by societies, which is more directly linked to human well-being than potential ES. However, there is a lack of a general analysis framework to understand how much ES was realized. In this study, we first proposed a Supply-Demand-Flow-Use (SDFU) framework that integrates the supply, demand, flow, and use of ES and differentiates these concepts into different aspects (e.g., potential vs. actual ES demand, export and import flows of supply, etc.). Then, we applied the framework to three examples of ES that can be found in typical urban green parks (i.e., wild berry supply, pollination, and recreation). We showed how the framework could assess the actual use of ES and identify the supply-limited, demand-limited, and supply-demand-balanced types of realized ES. We also discussed the scaling features, temporal dynamics, and spatial characteristics of realized ES, as well as some critical questions for future studies. Although facing challenges, we believe that the applications of the SDFU framework can provide a systematic way to accurately assess the actual use of ES and better inform management and policy-making for sustainable use of nature's benefits. Therefore, we hope that our study will stimulate more research on realized ES and contribute to a deeper understanding of their roles in enhancing human well-being.