The influence of discounting ecosystem services in robust multi-objective optimization – An application to a forestry-avocado land-use portfolio

Discounting is standard in economics to consider time preferences of people and account for future market changes. However, so far discounting has mainly been applied monetary flows ignored many ecosystem services. In multi-objective optimization, selectively disregarding preference some non-monetary services create bias. Here we study how a range service indicators influences public planner's optimal land allocation. We used robust optimization approach model mixed forestry-avocado farm portfolio South Africa. The objectives were the provisioning various disservices represented by four indicators: net present value, payback period, carbon sequestration, fertilizer use. To concerning indicator flows, specific discount rates each indicator, depending on its character (non-monetary or indicators). demonstrate that reduces deviations discounted sum indicators, which leads less diversified land-use portfolios. rate uncertainty, introduced three sets simultaneously, using different rate, was off setting effect decreasing diversification.