Understanding spatial patterns of ecosystem service supply and demand in Savannakhet Province, Laos

We spatially assess supply of and demand for key ecosystem services (ES) across the diverse landscapes of Savannakhet province in Laos. We used InVEST models and spatial statistics to model ES supply, and assessed ES demand by means of a survey. We analyse the spatial distribution of ES supply and demand, and identify spatial hot and cold spots of overall ES supply and ES demand, respectively. In addition, we derive synergies and trade-offs among ES. All analyses are conducted in relation to ecological zonation, socio-economic orientation, conservation efforts, and remoteness. Our results suggest that ES supply is relatively high in areas with high shares of forest and shifting cultivation systems, except the supply of the ES Food, which is relatively high in the western lowlands, with high shares of paddy rice and agriculture in general. Compared to supply, ES demand is much more evenly spread throughout the province. We identified a slight trade-off between Food and Species. Synergies were found for Water quality, Water, and Tourism. ES supply hotspots are found in less intensely used landscapes, mainly in healthy, well-functioning ecosystems, while ES supply cold spots occur near urban areas. Demand hotspots are found in all landscapes. Demand cold spots are found in urban and in remote or protected areas. ES supply increases along the ecological gradient, except for Food, which decreases. ES demand tends to decrease along the ecological gradient. ES supply varies widely by indicator and landscape type, while ES demand seems more balanced across landscapes and peoples’ socio-economic orientation. Our results underline the importance of maintaining multifunctional landscapes, which are rapidly transforming into intensely used monocultures. The baseline presented here can guide interventions to improve ES supply towards those places in Savannakhet where they might yield the best outcome in terms of satisfying land users’ demands.