Quantifying Ecosystem Disservice in the Philippines through Water Release Potential Estimation Using ES-Based Model: The Case of Balanac Watershed

Background: Rapid land use change and intensified climate change impacts have altered a landscape's natural hydrological processes and ecosystem services. These changes may cause flooding, water quality degradation, and water scarcity. Methods: This study used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) Water Yield model to estimate the potential amount of water released by varying land cover in the Balanac Watershed, Philippines. The model calculated the change in the amount of water that is being released as surface runoff from different land cover types across spatial units of the landscape. Results: Findings showed that vegetated areas had the lowest water yield estimate, while built areas had the highest due to increased surface runoff. Conclusion: The study offers valuable information, particularly regarding the relative differences in water releases across various land cover types. It contributes to the limited knowledge of ecosystem service-based modeling in the Philippines.