Integrating conservation targets and ecosystem services in landscape spatial planning from Portugal

Securing biodiversity values alongside ecosystem services and other socio-economic assets, is a priority in the European policy and territorial planning. Here, we design a landscape planning approach that identifies priority conservation areas and informs on their ecosystem services’ potential in the context of a legally binding spatial planning instrument in central Portugal. Our approach included a spatial prioritisation approach of biodiversity, a literature review on the potential supply of ecosystem services, the participation of political stakeholders, and expert-based field validation in the Municipality of Alvaiázere. Firstly, we used the decision-support software Marxan to help prioritising biodiversity conservation efforts. Then, we evaluated the potential supply of multiple ecosystem services from a systematic literature review. Finally, we selected priority areas for landscape planning and management through a participatory approach with local politicians, considering the relevance of those areas to safeguard biodiversity assets alongside ecosystem services’ potential supply for the region. A total of nine priority areas, with both high biodiversity values and potential for ecosystem services’ supply, were identified. For the first time in the country, those areas have been considered in the design of the main spatial planning instrument for the region, together with practical recommendations for in situ management. Our approach represents a first step to engage local administration in the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, focused on the protection and restoration of biodiverse areas with ecosystem services’ potential through legally binding landscape planning.