Marine and coastal ecosystem services mapping and assessment - an application to the municipality of Sines

Anthropogenic pressures threaten the provision of marine and coastal ecosystem services (MCES) that are essential for human well-being. Ecosystem-based marine spatial management that is informed by mapping and assessing MCES and pressures is needed. Using an expert-based matrix approach based on literature findings, this study maps and assesses the potential capacity of MCES provision in Sines. The results show that provisioning services are potentially provided at high levels, whereas regulatory and cultural services are only provided by certain habitats. The potential pressures were identified, which relate mainly to the maritime-industrial complex in Sines. An expert survey was conducted to obtain more precise data, the results of which cannot yet be presented.