Mapping ecosystem services in support of sustainable forest management

森林认证和环境影响评估对于证明使用自然资源的人正在尽职尽责地实施可持续发展至关重要。所采用的一种办法是由涉及有关自然资源的主要有关部门的专家组成一个小组。这些小组提出了有用但主观的解决方案，导致缺乏可量化/可重复的结果。另一种可能产生可重复结果的方法是使用确定性模型。然而，这些模型在校准、验证和应用于新的地理区域时很复杂。我们建议采用一种新的方法来满足森林认证和自然资源运营环境影响评估的报告要求：设计用于绘制生态系统服务（ES）的空间分析框架。这个框架允许比专家意见更多的可量化/可重复的结果，它比确定性模型更适合年度管理。提出的框架使用从可用空间数据计算的代理变量。这些代理变量代表了描述蜜蜂所必需的生态功能指标。我们建议转让技术诀窍，将框架从UdeS应用到资源创新（RI）中。专门为林业领域的各种问题提供解决方案。应用该框架的能力将为国际扶轮提供新的能力，通过环境认证和评估来支持自然资源的可持续管理。该项目包括以下有效技术转让的可交付成果：(1)描述如何实施框架的指南，(2)使用ESRI ArcGIS实施框架的工具包，以及(3)关于测试用例的报告：框架在纽芬兰哈里河流域的两个ES（水质和栖息地适宜性）的应用。该项目将支持一名来自美利坚大学的研究助理在国际扶轮工作大约四个月，以允许美利坚大学和国际扶轮之间的开发和技术转让。我们认为，这种新的环境评估方法将改进报告，以支持森林认证。

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.