New article in Ecosystem Services: Uncertainties in ecosystem services assessments and their implications for decision support

Ecosystem services assessments aim to inform decision making, yet their integration remains low. Inherent uncertainties linked to scenario development, modeling, and transfering results to decision-makers are often seen as barriers. But the review of 904 studies revealed that assessing uncertainties relates to improved uptake of ecosystem services assessment results in decision making.
Regression analyses show that uptake improves when ecosystem services assessments: 

• Explicitly address the policy context to produce more salient and timely findings. 
• Use suitable models that integrate uncertainty, enhancing credibility while keeping information costs low.
• Engage stakeholders throughout the research process to strengthen legitimacy.

By assessing uncertainties and involving stakeholders, ecosystem services assessments can better support informed decision making about ecosystems and their services.
Read the full article here:
F. Walther, D. N. Barton, J. Schwaab, J. Kato-Huerta, B. Immerzeel, M. Adamescu, E. Andersen, M. V. Arámbula Coyote, I. Arany, M. Balzan, A. Bruggeman, C. Carvalho-Santos, C. Cazacu, D. Geneletti, R. Giuca, M. Inácio, E. Lagabrielle, S. Lange, S. Le Clec’h, Z. Y. V. Lim, U. Mörtberg, S. Nedkov, A. P. Portela, A. Porucznik, T. Racoviceanu, P. Rendón, D. Ribeiro, J. Seguin, M. Šmid Hribar, V. Stoycheva, H. Vejre, C. Zoumides and A. Grêt-Regamey, 2025. Uncertainties in ecosystem services assessments and their implications for decision support – A semi-systematic literature review. Ecosystem Services. 73.
external page https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101714