Ecosystem services of natural floodplain segment – Lužnice River, Czech Republic

Abstract

The river Lužnice floodplain in south Bohemia with a preserved floodplain ecosystem and hydrological regime has been investigated for selected ecosystem services (ES): flood mitigation, biodiversity refuge, carbon sequestration, and production of commodities. Two contrasting scenarios at 5 km long studying floodplain segment were compared: near-nature state as it is (Scenario A) and virtually transformed floodplain (Scenario B). For the flood mitigation service, we used an output from hydraulic analysis of modelled flood events (model FAST 2D) showing the effective retention volume 2.3 mil m 3 for A and 0.83 m 3 for B. For monetary evaluation, we used the method of replacement cost of this retention volume. For biodiversity refuge, the value of biotopes (real for A and arbitrary for B) and their contribution to the floodplain area were analysed according to the Hessen method. Carbon sequestration was measured by eddy-covariance method. All ES for both scenarios were converted to monetary value and scenarios A and B were compared. The contribution of particular ES to the total ecosystem value showed the importance of flood mitigation and biodiversity refugium compared to other services. Overall floodplain value was estimated as 17 213 EUR ha. .yr -1 for state as it is (A) and 6 254 EUR ha. .yr -1 for transformed floodplain (B), i.e. virtual floodplain transformation decreased its value to 36%.

Assessing impact of land use and climate change on regulating ecosystem services in the czech republic

“…On the regional level, Pithart et al. () assessed potential impact of different approaches to floodplain restoration on the provision of flood‐water retention and other ecosystem services. Nevertheless, important umbrella ecosystem services, for example, carbon sequestration and nutrient retention, remain hitherto not assessed in the context of the Czech Republic.…”

“…At the national level, the study on integrated assessment of ecosystem services was conducted using a benefit transfer valuation, which calculated that the average annual value of ecosystem services in the Czech Republic represents 1.5 the current gross national product (Frélichová et al 2014). On the regional level, Pithart et al (2010) assessed potential impact of different approaches to floodplain restoration on the provision of flood-water retention and other ecosystem services. Nevertheless, important umbrella ecosystem services, for example, carbon sequestration and nutrient retention, remain hitherto not assessed in the context of the Czech Republic.…”

Local perception of floods in the Czech Republic and recent changes in state flood management strategies

“…Wetlands are not clearly preferred as flood mitigation measures (Kenyon, ), and their general social perception may be ambivalent (Klvač, ). Nonetheless, wetlands are areas with high water retention capacity and high ecological value, as well as providers of important ecosystem services (Convention on Wetlands, ; Costanza et al ., ; Woodward and Wui, ; Brander et al ., ; Pithart et al ., ).…”

Indication of Importance of Including Soil Microbial Characteristics into Biotope Valuation Method

“…The term "ecosystem" evolved to describe mainly the functional relations (energy flows, trophic chains, and transfer of information) between biotic and abiotic parts of biotopes and their groups. Established methods for assessing and valuation of biotopes, according to Natura 2000 [1], rely predominantly on the plant and animal communities living on the terrestrial surface and do not reflect the species richness and quality of microbial life under the soil surface [1][2][3][4].…”