Integrating ecosystem-service tradeoffs into land-use decisions

TLDR

Recent high‑profile efforts have called for integrating ecosystem‑service values into important societal decisions, yet few practical demonstrations exist. The study quantified ecosystem‑service values to aid Kamehameha Schools in designing a land‑use plan that balances private and public values across its 10,600‑ha North Shore holdings in O’ahu. Using the InVEST software, the authors evaluated environmental and financial outcomes for seven scenarios that combined biofuel feedstocks, food crops, forestry, livestock, and residential development. All scenarios produced positive financial returns versus the status quo, but tradeoffs appeared between carbon storage, water quality, and financial gains; the selected plan delivers a $10.9 million return, a 0.5 % increase in carbon storage, and a 15.4 % rise in potential nitrogen export—mitigated to 4.9 % with vegetation buffers—supporting climate mitigation, food security, and rural economic diversification.

Abstract

Recent high-profile efforts have called for integrating ecosystem-service values into important societal decisions, but there are few demonstrations of this approach in practice. We quantified ecosystem-service values to help the largest private landowner in Hawaii, Kamehameha Schools, design a land-use development plan that balances multiple private and public values on its North Shore land holdings (Island of O’ahu) of ∼10,600 ha. We used the InVEST software tool to evaluate the environmental and financial implications of seven planning scenarios encompassing contrasting land-use combinations including biofuel feedstocks, food crops, forestry, livestock, and residential development. All scenarios had positive financial return relative to the status quo of negative return. However, tradeoffs existed between carbon storage and water quality as well as between environmental improvement and financial return. Based on this analysis and community input, Kamehameha Schools is implementing a plan to support diversified agriculture and forestry. This plan generates a positive financial return ($10.9 million) and improved carbon storage (0.5% increase relative to status quo) with negative relative effects on water quality (15.4% increase in potential nitrogen export relative to status quo). The effects on water quality could be mitigated partially (reduced to a 4.9% increase in potential nitrogen export) by establishing vegetation buffers on agricultural fields. This plan contributes to policy goals for climate change mitigation, food security, and diversifying rural economic opportunities. More broadly, our approach illustrates how information can help guide local land-use decisions that involve tradeoffs between private and public interests.