Mapping Ecosystem Services in the Sierra Nevada, California

The Nature Conservancy

Average Annual Water Yield

Average Annual Water Retention

Carbon Storage (Live Tree Biomass)

Biodiversity: Habitat Quality

Natural ecosystems provide many services ranging from necessities, such as food and water, to services, such as erosion control, flood regulation and storm protection, to cultural values of open space for recreation and spiritual renewal. The Natural Capital Project, a partnership between Stanford University, The Nature Conservancy, and the World Wildlife Fund, is developing, testing, and applying innovative methods for mapping ecosystem services, including water, agricultural production, carbon sequestration, and pollination.

The northern Sierra Nevada, which extends from south of Lake Tahoe to Lassen Volcanic National Park, is home to exceptional natural, cultural, and recreational resources of statewide and global significance. The region also faces immediate threats from development and catastrophic wildfire as well as the likelihood that global climate change will significantly affect the region's natural resources.

Shown here are four ecosystem services in the Northern Sierra Nevada: water yield, water retention, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity. These maps represent the first step in mapping the delivery, distribution, and economic value of ecosystem services in the Sierra Nevada of California.

Courtesy of The Nature Conservancy.

Map Book Page [PDF]

Conservation Maps

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