CHALLENGES AND TRENDS IN THE VALUATION OF ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN AGRO-ECOSYSTEMS: A SYSTEMATIC REVISION

Abstract

Background. Climate change, the loss of ecosystems, the increase of poverty, the rise of marginality within rural communities and the decrease of food security, are global concerns in need of urgent attention. In this regard, an important number of studies focus on studying the way agro-ecosystems may face such challenges, as they provide ecosystem services (ES), which generate higher levels of resilience, adaptability, productivity and self-sufficiency. Hence, the valuation of ecosystem services plays a relevant role in the decision-making process toward the design and management of agro-ecosystems. Nevertheless, the assignment of value to these ES is usually done exclusively under the economic-monetary dimension, thus leaving other dimensions of value aside. Objective. To propose a hierarchical structure of Ecosystem Services assessment that integrates the value dimensions principles and criteria. Methodology. The method employed to define the hierarchical structure was a comprehensive literature review the fields of Agroecology and Ecological Economics, based on information search strategy and classification. 182 scientific publications were full paper screened within the period between 2000 and 2017. Implications. Outcomes of this work provide a foundation for further discussion of ES assessments and its potential application in agro-ecosystem and specific contexts. Conclusion. There is an important number of studies identifying the significance of ES in agroecosystems from different dimensions. Nevertheless, such works do not associate their importance with the value of such services. Therefore, it remains a challenge for research projects to achieve relating their contributions to their multidimensional valuation.