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Ecosystem services
The tool allows the user to visualise the changes in three ecosystem services from current conditions resulting from the land use scenarios as modified by their slider preferences:
- Sediment export: We used the literature to determine the efficiency that each land use type retains sediment. The model takes into account the land use type as well as slope, soil properties and rainfall intensity. The map outputs therefore show the predicted change, in ratio to the present, in Sediment exported from each sub-catchment under each of the land configuration options generated by the tool.
- Nitrogen retention: We used the literature to determine the efficiency that each land use type retains nitrogen The model takes into account net run-off and topography. The predictions take into account the fact that crops receive more inorganic N but also retain it in the crop more effectively than woodland. Woodland only receives atmospheric N. For each scenario of land configuration the map outputs therefore show the change in Nitrogen retention capability, in ratio to the present, of each sub-catchment under each of the land configuration options generated by the tool.
- Carbon: The carbon change from baseline i.e. in ratio to the present, is represented as CO2 equivalent. Carbon (kg C) stocks are calculated at the 25 x 25 m grid resolution and compartmentalised into below ground (soil) carbon and above ground (vegetation) carbon. The change in the total net flow of carbon in term of CO2 is calculated by adding changes in the soil organic carbon, the vegetation carbon and emissions carbon grids together.
You can read additional information by clicking here.
