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Ecosystem Services Supply from Peri-Urban Watersheds in Greece: Soil Conservation and Water Retention

Author

Listed:
  • Stefanos Stefanidis

    (Forest Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, Vassilika, 57006 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Nikolaos Proutsos

    (Institute of Mediterranean Forest Ecosystems, Hellenic Agricultural Organization “DIMITRA”, Terma Alkmanos, 11528 Athens, Greece)

  • Vasileios Alexandridis

    (Laboratory of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (PERS Lab), School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

  • Giorgos Mallinis

    (Laboratory of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (PERS Lab), School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece)

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to investigate the supply of ecosystem services (ESs) within peri-urban watersheds (PUWs) across Greece, utilizing earth observation (EO) data and empirical models. To achieve these goals, several open-access geospatial datasets were utilized and processed within a GIS environment. Specifically, the supply of soil conservation and water retention services was assessed at the watershed scale. The results indicates that the supply soil conservation service withing the examined PUWs range from 44.41 t ha −1 y −1 to 441.33 t ha −1 y −1 with an average value of 161.99 t ha −1 y −1 . Water retention services vary from 35.09 to 154.63 mm within the PUWs, with an average of 91.45 mm. Additionally, the variation in ES values across distinct altitudinal zones and ecosystem types provides useful insights for implementing protection and management measures. It is evident from the analysis that the soil conservation service gradually increases with elevation, with alpine and subalpine areas exhibiting the highest values. Moreover, mountainous and semi-mountainous regions demonstrate higher values compared to the estimated average soil conservation services of the entire study area. Furthermore, the provision of water retention services varies across different altitudinal zones. Specifically, the mountainous and semi-mountainous areas exhibit the highest values, followed by the subalpine and hilly regions, while lower values are observed in the lowland and alpine regions. The analysis also reveals distinct patterns in ecosystem services across various ecosystem types within the PUWs. Woodland and forest, along with heathland and shrubs, demonstrate higher values in terms of both soil conservation and water retention services. Our findings contribute to understanding the dynamics of ESs in PUWs, highlighting their significance for sustainable land management, and informing policy decisions aimed at preserving ecosystem health and resilience.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefanos Stefanidis & Nikolaos Proutsos & Vasileios Alexandridis & Giorgos Mallinis, 2024. "Ecosystem Services Supply from Peri-Urban Watersheds in Greece: Soil Conservation and Water Retention," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-18, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:6:p:765-:d:1404568
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    2. Shuangfei Zhao & Wei Zeng & Qian Yang & Rong Zheng, 2025. "Research on the Driving Factors and Trade-Offs/Synergies of Woodland Ecosystem Services in Zhangjiajie City, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-30, April.

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