WHERE TO START WITH FINAL ECOSYSTEM GOODS AND SERVICES (FEGS): CLASSIFICATION AND METRICS
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Final ecosystem goods and services (FEGS) are the subset of ecosystem services that directly benefit us in the myriad ways in which we use and appreciate ecosystems. To organize and categorize the full range of goods and services provided by ecosystems we developed a classification system. That classification system – the National Ecosystem Goods and Services Classication System (NESCS Plus -- https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/national-ecosystem-services-classification-system-nescs-plus) has two primary structural dimensions. The first dimension is a hierarchal represention of ecosystem classes. The second is listing of the ways in which people use and appreciate ecosystems. This listing is provided as a hierarchial listing of beneficiaries, or as a hierarchial listing of uses and users. The system also identifies the broad ecosystem features, or attributes used or appreciated by each beneficiary or use and user combination. This system is valuable in providing a complete internally consistent scheme for representing the ecosystem goods and services used and appreciated by people.
A classificaiotn system is a vital structural and organizational element, but practical guidance benefits from the specification of metrics of FEGS. This specification provides guidance to ecological monitoring and modeling programs and encourages the development of infomation of critical use to communications and benefits analysis. In response to this requirement we proposed FEGS metrics for seven different ecosystems and dozens of different ways in which we benefit from ecosystems. This broad based effort incorporated both natural and social science perspectives.
The method used to generate the hypotheses was to start by identifying beneficiaries for each ecosystem. Based on literature reviews, group discussion and common sense we identify broad attributes that matter directly to beneficiaries and then specific metrics of those attributes. Each of these key steps is consistent with the specifications of the NESCS Plus system. We then examine the availability of data, particularly spatial explicit data available over large regions, and identify gaps in the existing capacity to quantify FEGS metrics. The result (https://www.epa.gov/eco-research/final-ecosystem-goods-and-services-fegs-metrics-report) is the provision of a consistent approach to positing FEGS metrics, the identification of metrics for further evaluation, and greater interdisciplinary competence.