Comparative Spatial Assessment of Regulating and Supporting Ecosystem Services in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

Abstract

Rapid urban development may induce deterioration in biodiversity and ecosystem services (BD/ESs) at the global scale. According to Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) 2005, it is well known that biodiversity provides benefits in the form of ESs. In particular, four types of ESs (namely, provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services) were defined in a previous study. Here, a case study was conducted in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. First, the primary unit values of each ES were obtained based on a literature review. Second, by utilising a satellite image of Nay Pyi Taw from the Advanced Land Observing Satellite, land-use types were classified into five categories: forest areas, urban areas, agricultural land, water areas, and bare land. Then, the unit values of each ES were applied to develop seven types of ESs and habitat maps and a priority layer map was created using the Zonation software. The results revealed the spatial distribution of ESs and the priority areas for conservation. In future, this method can be used to consider a wider range of ESs.