Resource information
The high variety of ecosystem service categorisation systems, assessment frameworks, indicators,
quantification methods and spatial localisation approaches allows scientists and decision makers to harness
experience, data, methods and tools. On the other hand, this variety of concepts and disagreements among
scientists hamper an integration of ecosystem services into contemporary environmental management and
decision making. In this article, the current state of the art of ecosystem service science regarding spatial
localisation, indication and quantification of multiple ecosystem service supply and demand is reviewed
and discussed. Concepts and tables for regulating, provisioning and cultural ecosystem service definitions,
distinguishing between ecosystem service potential supply (stocks), flows (real supply) and demands as
well as related indicators for quantification are provided. Furthermore, spatial concepts of service providing
units, benefitting areas, spatial relations, rivalry, spatial and temporal scales are elaborated. Finally, matrices
linking CORINE land cover types to ecosystem service potentials, flows, demands and budget estimates are
provided. The matrices show that ecosystem service potentials of landscapes differ from flows, especially for
provisioning ecosystem services.
