New publication on expert-based matrices for ecosystem services assessment from members of the ESP Mediterranean working group
C. Sylvie Campagne and Philip K. Roche from the National Research Institute of Science and Technology for Environment and Agriculture, Aix-en-Provence, France, have just published the article May the matrix be with you! Guidelines for the application of expert-based matrix approach for ecosystem services assessment and mapping in One Ecosystem, doi: 10.3897/oneeco.3.e24134.
This paper aims to propose a set of guidelines to produce Ecosystem Service (ES) matrices based on expert knowledge. Using expert elicitation enables quick and integrative ES scoring that can meet general demand for validated ES mapping and assessment at different scales. Nevertheless, guidance is needed on how to collect and to integrate expert knowledge to address some of the biases and limits of the expert elicitation method. The 7- steps approach presented in this study promotes cogency and coherency in the matrices produced. Besides, ES matrix should not only focus on ES central scores but also address the variabilities and uncertainties as part of the ES assessment. The analysis of these sources of variability allows the documentation of variations in the ES quantity but also an exploration into the lack of consensus or knowledge gaps that needs to be addressed.
You can access the full publication here.