Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

A Global Meta-Analysis for Estimating Local Ecosystem Service Value Functions

Version 1 : Received: 18 June 2021 / Approved: 21 June 2021 / Online: 21 June 2021 (10:04:14 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Magalhães Filho, L.; Roebeling, P.; Bastos, M.I.; Rodrigues, W.; Ometto, G. A Global Meta-Analysis for Estimating Local Ecosystem Service Value Functions. Environments 2021, 8, 76. Magalhães Filho, L.; Roebeling, P.; Bastos, M.I.; Rodrigues, W.; Ometto, G. A Global Meta-Analysis for Estimating Local Ecosystem Service Value Functions. Environments 2021, 8, 76.

Abstract

Meta-analysis has increasingly been used to synthesize the ecosystem services literature, with some testing of the use of such analyses to transfer benefits. These are typically based on local primary studies. However, meta-analyses associated with ecosystem services are a potentially powerful tool for transferring benefits, especially for environmental assets for which no primary studies are available. In this study we use the Ecosystem Service Valuation Database (ESVD), which brings together 1350 value estimates from more than 320 studies around the world, to estimate meta-regression functions for provisioning, regulating & maintenance and cultural ecosystem services across 12 biomes. We tested the reliability of these meta-regression functions and found that even using variables with high explanatory power, transfer errors could still be large. We show that meta-analytic transfer performs better than simple value transfer and, in addition, that local meta-analytical transfer (i.e. based on local explanatory variable values) provides more reliable estimates than global meta-analytical transfer (i.e. based on mean global explanatory variable values). Thus, we conclude that when taking into account the characteristics of the study area under analysis, including explanatory variables such as income, population density and protection status, we can determine the value of ecosystem services with greater accuracy.

Keywords

Ecosystem services; Benefit transfer; Meta-analysis; Meta-regression function.

Subject

Environmental and Earth Sciences, Atmospheric Science and Meteorology

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