| Title: | Comparing the applicability of commonly used hydrological ecosystem services models for integrated decision-support |
| Authors: | Lüke, A. and J. Hack |
| Year: | 2018 |
| Journal: | Sustainability |
| Volume (Issue): | 10(2) |
| Pages: | |
| Article ID: | 346 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/su10020346 |
| URL (non-DOI journals): | |
| Model: | SWAT |
| Broad Application Category: | hydrologic and pollutant |
| Primary Application Category: | model and/or data comparison |
| Secondary Application Category: | sediment loss and transport |
| Watershed Description: | 180.64 km^2 Chiquito River, located in the Department León in northwest Nicaragua. |
| Calibration Summary: | |
| Validation Summary: | |
| General Comments: | |
| Abstract: | Different simulation models are used in science and practice in order to incorporate
hydrological ecosystem services in decision-making processes. This contribution compares
three simulation models, the Soil and Water Assessment Tool, a traditional hydrological model
and two ecosystem services models, the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs
model and the Resource Investment Optimization System model. The three models are compared on
a theoretical and conceptual basis as well in a comparative case study application. The application
of the models to a study area in Nicaragua reveals that a practical benefit to apply these models
for different questions in decision-making generally exists. However, modelling of hydrological
ecosystem services is associated with a high application effort and requires input data that may not
always be available. The degree of detail in temporal and spatial variability in ecosystem service
provision is higher when using the Soil and Water Assessment Tool compared to the two ecosystem
service models. In contrast, the ecosystem service models have lower requirements on input data and
process knowledge. A relationship between service provision and beneficiaries is readily produced
and can be visualized as a model output. The visualization is especially useful for a practical
decision-making context. |
| Language: | English |
| Keywords: | hydrological ecosystem services; hydrological modelling; decision support; model
comparison; Nicaragua; ecosystem service quantification; river basin management |