Optimizing the management of complex dynamic ecosystems: An ecological-economic modeling approach

Abstract

Ecosystems supply a wide range of goods and services to mankind. This includes, for example, timber supplied by forests, and animal feed supplied by rangeland systems. In addition, ecosystems supply a range of essential life support services, such as the regulation of climatic and biochemical processes, and they have a non-use value related to their importance for the conservation of global biodiversity. In response to a continuously growing global population as well as progressively expanding economic activities, human pressure on ecosystems has been steadily increasing. Currently, substantial areas have been degraded by pollution, overharvesting of resources, and/or ill-planned land-use conversion. Hence, in view of the importance of ecosystems for mankind, there is a need to ensure optimal management of the current stock of ecosystems.