Ecosystem services research in Latin America: The state of the art

Ecosystem services science has developed at a fast rate in Latin America, a region characterized by a high biological and cultural diversity, strong emphasis in foreign investment, and high socioeconomic inequities. Here we conducted the following analyses at the regional and national scales: (1) how and when did the study of ecosystem services arise in each country?, (2) what is our present understanding of ecosystem service supply, delivery to societies, and social and economic values?, (3) what is the state of the art in integrating tradeoffs among services and in using interdisciplinary perspectives?, and (4) how has ecosystem service research been connected to policy design or management for sustainability? A large literature review (>1000 references) showed that in Latin America ES supply and links to policy have been the most frequently assessed. Overall, emphasis has been placed on a few services, namely carbon and water. Payments for ecosystem services have received considerable attention in the region, though with strong differences across nations and with important limitations in their application. The future of the ecosystem service paradigm in Latin America will largely depend on its capacity to demonstrate effectiveness in meeting both conservation and development goals. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.Fil: Balvanera, Patricia. University of Stanford; Estados Unidos. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; México. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Uriarte, María. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Almeida-Leñero, Lucía. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Altesor, Alice. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: DeClerck, Fabrice. Bioversity International; ItaliaFil: Gardner, Toby. University of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: Hall, Jefferson. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute; PanamáFil: Lara, Antonio. Universidad Austral de Chile; Chile. Fundación Centro de los Bosques Nativos; ChileFil: Laterra, Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Peña Claros, Marielos. University of Agriculture Wageningen; Países BajosFil: Silva Matos, Dalva M.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Vogl, Adrian L.. University of Stanford; Estados UnidosFil: Romero Duque, Luz Piedad. Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales; ColombiaFil: Arreola, Luis Felipe. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Caro Borrero, Ángela Piedad. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Gallego, Federico. Universidad de la República; UruguayFil: Jain, Meha. Columbia University; Estados UnidosFil: Little, Christian. Fundación Centro de los Bosques Nativos; Chile. Universidad Austral de Chile; ChileFil: de Oliveira Xavier, Rafael. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Paruelo, José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaFil: Peinado, Jesús Emilio. Universidad Católica de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Poorter, Lourens. University of Agriculture Wageningen; Países BajosFil: Ascarrunz, Nataly. Instituto Boliviano de Investigación Forestal; BoliviaFil: Correa, Francisco. Universidad de Medellin; ColombiaFil: Cunha Santino, Marcela B.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; BrasilFil: Hernández Sánchez, Amabel Paula. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Vallejos, María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentin