Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: Why, how, who, and for whom?

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Bagstad, K. J., Balbi, S., Adamo, G., Athanasiadis, I. N., Affinito, F., Willcock, S., Magrach, A., Hayashi, K., Harmackova, Z. V., Niamir, A., Smets, B., Buchhorn, M., Drakou, E. G., Alfieri, A., Edens, B., Morales, L. G., Vari, A., Sanz, M. and Villa, F. 2025. Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: Why, how, who, and for whom? Ecosystem Services. 72 (April), p. 101705. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101705

AuthorsBagstad, K. J., Balbi, S., Adamo, G., Athanasiadis, I. N., Affinito, F., Willcock, S., Magrach, A., Hayashi, K., Harmackova, Z. V., Niamir, A., Smets, B., Buchhorn, M., Drakou, E. G., Alfieri, A., Edens, B., Morales, L. G., Vari, A., Sanz, M. and Villa, F.
Abstract

Despite continued, rapid growth in the literature, the fragmentation of information is a major barrier to more timely and credible ecosystem services (ES) assessments. A major reason for this fragmentation is the currently limited state of interoperability of ES data, models, and software. The FAIR Principles, a recent reformulation of long-standing open science goals, highlight the importance of making scientific knowledge Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Critically, FAIR aims to make science more transparent and transferable by both people and computers. However, it is easier to make data and models findable and accessible through data and code repositories than to achieve interoperability and reusability. Achieving interoperability will require more consistent adherence to current technical best practices and, more critically, to build consensus about and consistently use semantics that can represent ES-relevant phenomena. Building on recent examples from major international initiatives for ES (IPBES, SEEA, GEO BON), we illustrate strategies to address interoperability, discuss their importance, and describe potential gains for individual researchers and practitioners and the field of ES. Although interoperability comes with many challenges, including greater scientific coordination than today’s status quo, it is technically achievable and offers potentially transformative advantages to ES assessments needed to mainstream their use by decision makers. Individuals and organizations active in ES research and practice can play critical roles in creating widespread interoperability and reusability of ES science. A representative community of practice targeting interoperability for ES would help advance these goals.

KeywordsArtificial Intelligence; Ecosystem service monitoring; FAIR; Interoperability; Knowledge reuse; Semantics
Year of Publication2025
JournalEcosystem Services
Journal citation72 (April), p. 101705
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101705
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Economic and Social Research Council
Funder project or codeResilient Farming Futures
Resilient Farming Futures (WP2): Detecting agroecosystem ‘resilience’ using novel data science methods
AgZero+
EnsemblES project – Using ensemble techniques to capture the accuracy and sensitivity of ecosystem service models
MobilES - Using mobile-phone technology to capture ecosystem service information
Publisher's version
Accepted author manuscript
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online04 Mar 2025
Publication process dates
Accepted28 Jan 2025
PublisherElsevier
ISSN2212-0416

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/99304/interoperability-for-ecosystem-service-assessments-why-how-who-and-for-whom

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