Six-Step Guide for Making Nature-Based Infrastructure Decisions Comparing the Benefits of Multiple Ecosystem Services
Lauren Harper
Houston Wilderness
Los Angeles, CA
Authors: Deborah January-Bevers, Lindsey Roche and Lauren Harper
Natural landscapes serve our well-being in a variety of ways including water purification, flood protection, hurricane protection, carbon capture, recreation and wildlife enhancement. Identifying and understanding the benefits of services provided by local ecosystems can lead to cost-effective solutions to infrastructural and environmental problems while also creating enhanced biodiversity in urban/suburban areas. For the storm-prone Greater Houston region, the critical need to better connect the ecosystem services (ES) provided by the diverse assemblages of forests, prairies, wetlands, riparian waterways and estuaries to long-term resilience and disaster protection is taking shape following four years of increased rain events, severe hurricane destruction and sea level rise. Adding to these challenges are the region's unique, clay-rich soil composition, made up largely of vertisols and alfisols which greatly influence watershed infiltration and runoff, especially during heavy rain events. These same soils affect environmental enhancement and recovery efforts in the region's rivers, bayous, bays and estuaries, where the dynamics of various commercial industries intersect with riverine systems, fisheries, coastal wetlands and marine life. This Houston Wilderness’ Ecosystem Services Primer, 2nd Edition discusses ways for determining ecosystem services (ES) benefits and values using different established study/valuation methods depending on targeted infrastructure/project goals. In Six Steps designed to aid decision-makers in infrastructure options, this Primer follows a framework for comparison and valuation of the natural environment and how to improve ES and the critical services that they provide. The Six Steps include: determining the nature-based infrastructure goals, understanding the role of various ES in decision making, establishing an ES baseline for the targeted area(s), evaluating benefit relevant indicators, considering regional/local challenges, and using optimal ES valuation methods. In this way, the HW ES Primer considers the environment as a whole – bringing together land, water, air, soil and biodiversity, recognizing that their linkages provide a wide variety of services and benefits that are not specific to any one part. Local and regional stream and riparian-based case examples are discussed, where science-based ES benefits and valuation options are analyzed and practical nature-based solutions were implemented, often as alternatives to more structural, gray infrastructure options.
About Deborah January-Bevers
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