Expert-Based Assessment and Mapping of Ecosystem Services Potential in the Nemunas Delta and Curonian Lagoon Region, Lithuania

The Curonian Lagoon (SE Baltic Sea) and the coastal wetland system play a vital role in maintaining overall cultural, economic ecological health of region. However, its value is still largely underestimated there lack integrated ecosystem management based on multiple services assessment. In this study, 34 (ES) were identified, assessed mapped following Common International Classification Ecosystem Services (CICES). Using expert opinion, 35 land cover classes scored for their ES potential, these being 15 CORINE (CLC) 20 Natura 2000 areas conservation (habitat types, i.e., Sites Community Importance). total potential was calculated by averaging opinions experts, using self-confidence scoring as weights, relative importance index derived from questionnaire. As result, three maps corresponding to each category (provisioning, regulation maintenance cultural) further used hot- coldspot analyses. Regulation cultural highly interrelated had highest studied area. Forested contributed significantly hotspots.