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A Geographically-Broad Assessment of Rangeland Ecosystem Services

A Geographically-Broad Assessment of Rangeland Ecosystem Services. Shannon White, Shannon.white@ualberta.ca Thomas J. Habib, and Dan Farr Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta. A Geographically-Broad Assessment of Rangeland Ecosystem Services. Shannon White,

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A Geographically-Broad Assessment of Rangeland Ecosystem Services

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  1. A Geographically-Broad Assessment of Rangeland Ecosystem Services Shannon White, Shannon.white@ualberta.ca Thomas J. Habib, and Dan Farr Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta

  2. A Geographically-Broad Assessment of Rangeland Ecosystem Services Shannon White, Shannon.white@ualberta.ca Thomas J. Habib, and Dan Farr Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute University of Alberta

  3. Ecosystem services

  4. Rangelands provide all these services (and more) Forage production Pollination Carbon storage Biodiversity Water filtration & storage Species at risk

  5. ES in AB Rangelands • AB has twice the remaining untilled prairie than the US • Conversion continues • Current market doesn’t account for ES • New markets for ranchers

  6. Status of Rangeland • Less than half of rangeland in “good” condition (Prairie Agricultural Landscapes, AAFC) • Potential to better manage rangelands • Especially if there is incentive

  7. Status of Rangeland Less than half of rangeland in “good” condition (Prairie Agricultural Landscapes, AAFC) Potential to better manage rangelands Especially if there is incentive

  8. Ecosystem Services Assessment Project • Develop detailed, spatially-explicit models to measure and map these focal ES across Alberta, as well as how they change with land management activities • Part of a province-wide initiative led by AIBio, the Ecosystem Services Research and Innovation Roadmap • Will further incorporate this knowledge into market-based instruments

  9. Quantifying ES • Water purification • Pollination • Biodiversity • Carbon storage • Forage production • Timber production

  10. Quantifying ES • Water purification • Pollination • Biodiversity • Carbon storage • Forage production • Timber production • “Beta release March 2014” • Open source; open data

  11. Water purification Track water flow using DEM Water picks up sediment based on landcover/ land-use Track sediment deposition Determine important upslope source areas for points of interest (e.g. cities, recreational lakes)

  12. Pollination Map canola fields

  13. Pollination Map canola fields Map bee habitat

  14. Pollination Map canola fields Map bee habitat Use field studies to understand contribution of bees to canola production

  15. Pollination Map canola fields Map bee habitat Use field studies to understand contribution of bees to canola production Determine $/ha

  16. Biodiversity (ABMI) Monitor species abundance and habitat across province

  17. Biodiversity Monitor species abundance and habitat across province Develop detailed maps of land cover & use

  18. Biodiversity Monitor species abundance and habitat across province Develop detailed maps of land cover & use Develop statistical relationships between land use and observed species

  19. Biodiversity • Monitor species abundance and habitat across province • Use detailed map of land use • Develop statistical relationships between land use and observed species • Use these relationships to predict biodiversity “Intactness” across province

  20. Forage production & Carbon storage • Uses CENTURY ecosystem model • Soil Organic Matter • Plant Production • Hydrological • Nutrient Cycling • Management and events

  21. Forage production & Carbon storage Uses CENTURY model Based on soil, climate & land cover data

  22. Forage production & Carbon storage Uses CENTURY model Based on soil, climate & land cover data Run model for each Agrasid polygon

  23. Forage production & Carbon storage Uses CENTURY model Based on soil, climate & land cover data Run model for each Agrasid polygon Link results to GIS (native grassland)

  24. Results: Carbon Modelling Total Soil C (tonnes/ha)  μ = 87 tonnes C/ha

  25. Results: Carbon Modelling Total Soil C (tonnes/ha)  μ = 87 tonnes C/ha  μ = 319 tonnes CO2/ha

  26. Results: Carbon Modelling Total Soil C (tonnes/ha)  μ = 87 tonnes C/ha  μ = 319 tonnes CO2/ha

  27. Results: Forage Modelling Available Forage (kg/ha/yr)  μ = 2391 kg/ha

  28. Results: Forage Modelling Available Forage (kg/ha/yr)  μ = 2391 kg/ha Value? $60/tonne? $143/ha/yr3

  29. Caveat • Preliminary results • Modelling • Benefits • Drawbacks • CENTURY is well used model • But need model validation

  30. What questions can we ask? • Large spatial extent: what is the value? • Effect of land use/management • Conversion of prairie to cropland • Adjusting grazing intensity • Trade-offs between multiple ES • How will climate change affect ES? • Scaling down

  31. Applications • Scorecards • For a region, or industry • Scenario modelling • Market-based instruments • i.e. Conservation offsets • Payment for ecosystem services…

  32. Carbon Credits for Grassland >4X C in soil than atmosphere

  33. Carbon Credits for Grassland Accounting based off CENTURY model

  34. Many more ES

  35. Acknowledgements Funders: Collaborators:

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