Map of coastal Ecological Infrastructure demand, flow, capacity, and performance in South Africa

It is important to integrate ecosystem services into planning processes especially into systematic conservation planning. Using Ecological Infrastructure as a framework is one way to do so. This is the first version of a coastal Ecological Infrastructure map containing information on capacity, flow, demand, and performance of Ecological Infrastructure sites associated with the three ecosystem services nature-based sports events, nature-based recreational outdoor activities and coastal protection from flooding and erosion positioned in the seashore zone of the South African coast. The single sites of Ecological Infrastructure are delineated by the latest integrated map of coastal ecosystem types (2018) from the terrestrial, marine, and estuarine realms in South Africa. The capacity, flow, demand and performance indicators were built with simple additive models consisting of various direct and indirect variables based on causal relationships. The spatial information for the single variables was derived from various sources. A detailed description of the data sources and their use for the identification of Ecological Infrastructure sites and the assessment of capacity, demand, flow and performanc can be found in the methods section of Chapter 3 and Appendix 2 of the underlying PhD thesis “Interpretation, application and integration of Ecological Infrastructure in systematic conservation planning in the coastal zone”. (see link below). <br> <strong>Coordinate Reference system:</strong> Define PROJCS["AEA_RSA_WGS84", GEOGCS["GCS_WGS_1984", DATUM["D_WGS_1984", SPHEROID["WGS_1984",6378137.0,298.257223563]], PRIMEM["Greenwich",0.0], UNIT["Degree",0.0174532925199433]], PROJECTION["Albers"], PARAMETER["False_Easting",0.0], PARAMETER["False_Northing",0.0], PARAMETER["Central_Meridian",25.0], PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_1",-24.0], PARAMETER["Standard_Parallel_2",-33.0], PARAMETER["Latitude_Of_Origin",0.0], UNIT["Meter",1.0]] <strong>Field Name and Description</strong> FID Automatically generated row number and ID of the single Ecological Infrastructure (EI) sites Shape Feature geometry. FIN_ECOTYP This is the name of the Ecosystem Type that takes precedence in the latest Integrated Ecosystem Map (2018) CPEI Indicates whether a polygon was identified as an EI site delivering coastal protection from flooding and erosion. Yes=1 and No=0 ROAEI EI site delivering nature-based recreational outdoor activity. Yes=1 and No=0 SEEI Indicates whether a polygon was identified as an EI site delivering nature-based sports events. Yes=1 and No=0 CPFlow Indicator value for the flow of the ecosystem service of coastal protection from flooding and erosion from the specific EI site. The flow indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the coastal protection from flooding and erosion flow. The flow value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no flow) and 1 (max flow). CPCap Indicator value for the capacity for the delivery of the ecosystem service of coastal protection from flooding and erosion of the specific EI site. The capacity indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the coastal protection from flooding and erosion capacity. The capacity value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no capacity) and 1 (max capacity). CPDem Indicator value for the demand for the ecosystem service of coastal protection from flooding and erosion per EI site. The demand indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the coastal protection from flooding and erosion demand. The demand value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no demand) and 1 (max demand). ROAFlow Indicator value for the flow of the ecosystem service of nature-based recreational outdoor activities per EI site. The flow indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the nature-based recreational outdoor activities flow. The fow value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no flow) and 1 (max flow). ROACap Indicator value for the capacity for the delivery of the ecosystem service of nature-based recreational outdoor activities per EI site. The capacity indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the nature- based recreational outdoor activites service. The capacity value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no capacity) and 1 (max capacity). ROADem Indicator value for the demand for the ecosystem service of nature-based recreational outdoor activities per EI site. The demand indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the nature-based recreational outdoor activities demand. The demand value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no demand) and 1 (max demand). SEFlow Indicator value for the flow of the ecosystem service of nature-based sports events per EI site. The flow indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the nature-based sports events flow. The flow value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no flow) and 1 (max flow). SECap Indicator value of the capacity for the delivery of the ecosystem service of nature-based sports events per EI site. The capacity indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the nature-based sports events capacity. The capacity value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no capacity) and 1 (max capacity). SEDem Indicator value for the demand for the ecosystem service of nature-based sports events per EI site. The demand indicator was modeled indirectly through various variables specific for the nature-based sports events demand. The demand value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no demand) and 1 (max demand). CPPer Indicator value for the performance (i.e., the importance of the EI site for society) per EI site with regards to the ecosystem service of coastal protection from flooding and erosion. The performance indicator was modeled by combining the flow, demand and capacity values per site. The performance value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no capacity) and 1 (max capacity). ROAPer Indicator value for the performance (i.e., the importance of the EI site for society) per EI site with regards to the ecosystem service of nature-based recreational outdoor activities. The performance indicator was modeled by combining the flow, demand and capacity valuesper site. The performance value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no performance) and 1 (max performance). SEPer Indicator value for the performance (i.e., the importance of the EI site for society) of the specific EI site with regards to the ecosystem service of nature-based sports events. The performance indicator was modeled by combining the flow, demand and capacity values per site. The performance value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no perfromance) and 1 (max performance). MultSerPer Indicator value for the multiple-service performance of the specific Ecological Infrastructure site. The multiple-service performance was modeled by combining the performance values for all three ecosystem services of the specific EI site. The multiple-service performance value was normalized on a scale between 0 (no performance) and 1 (max performance). <strong>Restrictions</strong> This dataset may not be reproduced by any means, nor redistributed via web site or ftp site, without prior permission. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of data, users are advised to use the dataset and conclusions drawn from its use with caution. Users noting errors and omissions are requested to notify Myriam Perschke ([e-mail]) to improve data accuracy. These data are not for resale or replicating. This digital version is in the public domain requiring only the conventional acknowledgement of source in publications and reports. APPROPRIATE USE OF THIS DATASET: The Ecological Infrastructure Map has been created for national purposes, and the used ecosystem types that underlie the single Ecological Infrastructure sites do not necessarily represent an ecologically functional unit (see Harris et al. (2019) for a detailed description on how the ecosystem types were delineated). Also, the models that were used to evaluate capacity, flow, demand and performance of the Ecological Infrastructure were rather simple and included several variables mainly based on indirect data. Therefore, the map may act as a guide to coastal EI in a region but might not be appropriate for any work requiring fine-scale investigations. The map and the EI evaluation still require field verification.