We use spatial data and models to quantify, map, and value the benefits provided by ecosystems, such as carbon storage, water filtration, food provision, and timber production.
For the spatial analysis, we use an open-source suite of software models developed by Stanford University—the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST). The maps produced by InVEST show us where ecosystem services are provided and how they would change under different scenarios, for instance, when land uses change. We can analyze different spatial scales, such as entire landscapes or a single town.