The NEw frontier

MEASURING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

Ecosystem services are the essential benefits we gain from nature, from flood defences and clean water to the green spaces that enhance our communities. Once the preserve of academic research, ecosystem services are now recognised as an integral part of creating sustainable, resilient, healthy communities and developments, and are becoming essential for to understand across a variety of sectors.

For example, measuring these services can de-risk projects for developers, adding tangible value to developments by improving flood resilience, recreational spaces, and demonstrating commitment to biodiversity net gain principles, as well as streamline the planning process. For councils, our mapping provides the robust evidence needed for strategic planning, helping to meet climate and biodiversity targets while improving community health and wellbeing. For regulators, it offers a clear, data-driven way to assess policy and ensure environmental compliance, as well as helping inform critical infrastructure projects that can enhance resilience to changing climate conditions.

At Spectral Ecology, we make these benefits achievable. We use specialised predictive models that understand how different species react to their environment, allowing us to measure and map a wide range of ecosystem services across entire landscapes and deliver the critical insights your project needs

BEAUTIFUL BIOMASS

Knowing the amount of plant material (biomass) is vital for many businesses. This could be for forestry or construction needing accurate tree volume or timber estimates, seaweed harvesters needing to know stocks across shores, or for anyone needing to further model other natural benefits.

We use advanced predictive models that consider local and regional differences in plant and algae characteristics. This means our biomass estimates for many species are far more accurate than simpler, traditional survey methods.

If accurate biomass figures are important for your business, contact us today to see how we can assist.

If you're considering wetlands as a nature-based solution to help reduce flood risk, their location, size, and layout are key to success. We now understand that simply placing wetlands next to assets might not always work as expected*. By looking at how wetlands alter processes at the whole river or estuary scale we can help you design wetland projects that offer the best flood protection for assets and the wider area.

We use cutting-edge hydrodynamic models and deep ecological knowledge to understand how water flow, waves, and plants interact and provide flood protection. This helps us find the optimal wetland design to reduce flood impact at larger scales, providing the most value for money for expensive engineering projects.

Get in touch to see how we can help mitigate flood risk.

*Want to learn more? You can read our research articles on how wetland vegetation reduces waves, currents and flooding, and critically, how benefits can be realised at whole-river scales, rather than just for local wave protection of adjacent land.

WETLANDS FOR DEFENCE

PREVENTING POLLUTION

Multispectral mapping and function and services modelling can be used to effectively monitor and predict nutrient levels and pollutants. Whether monitoring algal blooms and nutrient testing, or understanding how algae, plants or animals can be leveraged to help reduce common pollutants using state-of-the-art modelling, we can help you understand how to minimise your environmental impacts.

Want to know how you can maximise the enjoyment and restorative potential of your new nature-inspired retreat? Want to understand how your coastal protection plans will be recieved by local communities, or want to see the impact of incorporating nature-based designs on community buy-in?

We can help with issues like these and many others. From viewshed analysis, aesthetics, and recreational benefits, we can provide comprehensive testing and consultancy for a wide range of cultural services for your project.

We can also perform stakeholder weighting analysis, looking at how different stakeholders perceive and value different services, allowing you to make informed decisions that keep clients, communities and users happy, while reducing project risks. 

*Want to learn more? You can read a selection of our research articles on how biodiversity and nature-based designs can influence peoples' perceptions and wellbeing outcomes.

THE CULTURAL CONNECTION

A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SERVICES

At Spectral Ecology, our scientists truly understand how ecosystems function and the benefits they provide. With over 10 years at the forefront of research developing new techniques to measure, predict, and map species and ecosystem services, we can help you understand the value of your sites.

From how algae clean water by removing pollution and nutrients, to how areas provide homes for wildlife, and even the cultural and recreational benefits of ecosystems – we can measure and map a wide variety of these natural services.

And if your need isn’t covered by existing techniques? We can help develop bespoke ways to measure it! Contact us today to get started.

CONTACT US

For the Past Decade, we’ve been obsessed with pushing the boundaries of ecology and mapping, and with Spectral Ecology we are finally opening up cutting-edge science to a wide gamut of users. Talk to us today to see how we can revolutionise your ecological and mapping needs.