Mapping ecosystem services in support of sustainable forest management

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Forest certification and environmental impact assessment is essential to prove that sustainable development isbeing applied with due diligence by those using natural resources. One approach used involves a panelcomposed of experts covering the main relevant sectors of the natural resource concerned. These panelsproposed useful but subjective solutions leading to a lack of quantifiable/reproducible results. Anotherpotential approach to produce reproducible results is the use of deterministic models. However, such modelsare complex to calibrate, validate and apply to new geographical areas. We propose to transfer a new approachfor fulfilling the reporting requirements for forest certification and environmental impact assessment ofoperations on natural resources: a spatial analysis framework designed to map ecosystem services (ES). Thisframework allows more quantifiable/reproducible results than expert opinion and it is more adapted to yearlymanagement than deterministic models. The proposed framework uses proxy variables which are calculatedfrom available spatial data. These proxy variables represent ecological function indicators necessary to describeES. We propose to transfer the know-how to apply the framework from UdeS to Resource Innovations (RI). RIspecializes in providing solutions for a wide range of problems in forestry. The ability to apply the frameworkwill provide RI with new capabilities to support sustainable management of natural resources throughenvironmental certification and assessment. The project includes the following deliverables for efficienttechnology transfer: (1) a guide describing how to implement the framework, (2) a toolkit for implementationof the framework using ESRI ArcGIS, and (3) a report on a test case: the application of the framework to theHarry's River Watershed in Newfoundland for two ES (water quality and habitat suitability). The project willsupport a research associate from UdeS to work at RI for about four months to allow development andtechnology transfer between UdeS and RI. We believe that this new approach to environmental assessment willimprove reporting in support of forest certification.