Ecosystem services (ES) are the benefits provided by nature, and these have a direct impact on human wellbeing. However, ES valuation studies in Portugal are rare and often done at a local level.

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ASEBIO assesses and maps ES and their vulnerability in Portugal mainland, based on CORINE land cover (1990-2012). The project will quantify the impacts on ES and trade-offs considering different policy scenarios affecting land cover change (LCC) for 2040. Selected ES, such as water cleaning, food from agriculture, and others, will be monetarily valued by estimating the costs associated with the deterioration of ES. The project will propose a well-being indicator and assess the impact of LCC according to the different scenarios. A WebGIS will enable a spatially explicit prioritization and problem identification of ES and explore the different scenarios. The project proposes an innovative methodology for monitoring and valuing ES, and to better understand the impacts of LCC on ES, biodiversity, and human well-being.

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Led by: Nova Information Management School

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Funded by: Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

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Researchers: Maria Antonieta Cunha e Sá, Luis Catela Nunes, Carina Silva, Vladimir Otrachshenko, João Seixo, Jeffrey Peart

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To find out more about the project, click here.