Ecological goods and services (EGS) represent the benefits humans derive from ecosystem functions. H ealthy rural landscapes provide important EGS such as groundwater recharge, erosion control, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. Interest is growing in programs that would compensate farmers for the EGS benefits they provide when cropped lands are converted to other uses including buffer strips, shelterbelts, wetlands, and native pasture. EGS incentive programs can encourage farmers and other landowners to make land-use decisions with more integrated social, economic and environmental results. Through our suite of geospatial and model-based tools, we can work with producers to design products and strategies to maximize financial benefits from the provision of several EGS, including greenhouse gas reduction, improved water use efficiency and water quality. |