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

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...

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Main Authors: 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.-J., Villa, F.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2025
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173916
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author 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.-J.
Villa, F.
author_browse Adamo, G.
Affinito, F.
Alfieri, A.
Athanasiadis, I. N.
Bagstad, K. J.
Balbi, S.
Buchhorn, M.
Drakou, E. G.
Edens, B.
Harmackova, Z. V.
Hayashi, K.
Magrach, A.
Morales, L. G.
Niamir, A.
Sanz, M.-J.
Smets, B.
Vari, A.
Villa, F.
Willcock, S.
author_facet 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.-J.
Villa, F.
author_sort Bagstad, K. J.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description 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.
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spelling CGSpace1739162025-10-26T13:02:36Z Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom? 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.-J. Villa, F. 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. 2025-04 2025-03-28T10:17:36Z 2025-03-28T10:17:36Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173916 en Open Access Elsevier 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.-J.; Villa, F. 2025. Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom?. Ecosystem Services, 72:101705. [doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101705]
spellingShingle 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.-J.
Villa, F.
Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom?
title Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom?
title_full Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom?
title_fullStr Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom?
title_full_unstemmed Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom?
title_short Interoperability for ecosystem service assessments: why, how, who, and for whom?
title_sort interoperability for ecosystem service assessments why how who and for whom
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/173916
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