Looking at our ecosystem service mapping approach in general,
several points worth discussing emerge. One major issue, not
really addressed yet, refers to questions related to spatial and temporal
scales. Considering our approach to be a generic conceptual
model, it can be applied at any scale and would use data appropriate
to the scale of analysis. Nevertheless, resolutions reflecting
peculiarity of the given habitats and temporal dynamics have to
be chosen. It seems like the CORINE data set and statistics based
on annual values are suitable starting points. For more detailed
analyses, further data with higher spatial (e.g. land survey data,
airphotos, topographic maps) and temporal (seasonal or monthly)
resolution could be used. With regard to the values in the matrices
(Figs. 2–4), it has to be taken into account that no real weighting
system between the different services was applied. Therefore, also
the calculated sums for the different ecosystem service groups in
the matrices provide only an overview on total service provision
with only limited accuracy when used for detailed interpretation.